The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 Part 70

The proposed method presents the advantage of greater economy.

The last Indian Medal dies, which were the cheapest we have had made, cost $1,160; Mr. Peale, our chief coiner, is willing to undertake the execution of those for President Tyler, for $800.

The Medals for President Van Buren were begun, and in fact completed, in antic.i.p.ation of the necessary appropriation by Congress, and I would suggest to you, whether the same course would not be desirable now.

I present the following estimate, for the appropriation to be asked:

For furnishing three head dies........................... $800.00 For preparing, striking, ringing, etc., 60 of the largest Medals at $2.37 each..... 142.20 For 200 of the two smaller sizes at $1.37 each................................. 274.00 Fine silver used for the Medals.............. 1,000.00 Contingencies.................................. 283.80 --------- $2,500.00

[Footnote 113: The Libertas Americana medal.]

It may perhaps be judged proper to introduce Indian Medals of President Harrison into the series.

In this case, the estimate need not be doubled, for it is not to be supposed that many more _Medals_ would be wanted. I should suppose that an additional appropriation of $1000 would be sufficient. I may remark, however, that Washington is not in the series of Indian Medals, and that Harrison, like Washington, is in the series of those voted by Congress to our successful military commanders.

I wait your instructions, which I shall execute with great pleasure.

Very respectfully, your faithful servant, R. M. PATTERSON, _Director_.

_____

_J. C. Spencer to R. M. Patterson._

To DOCTOR R. M. PATTERSON, Department of War.

Director of the Mint, Washington, Nov. 13, 1841.

Philadelphia, Penn.

Sir: I have had the pleasure to receive your letter of the 2d instant, respecting the means of procuring the dies for Medals bearing the likeness of President Tyler. The advantages of the mode you propose are sufficiently attested by the execution of the Medal accompanying your letter, and, in accordance with your suggestions, measures have been adopted to have a medallion likeness of the President taken, the execution of which has been entrusted to Mr. Pettrich, whose merit as an artist cannot be unknown to you.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. C. SPENCER.

_____

_R. M. Patterson to John C. Spencer._ (p. 279)

To the Honorable John C. SPENCER, Mint, U.S.

Secretary of War. September 17, 1842.

Sir: Permit me to ask whether an appropriation was made at the late session of Congress for defraying the expense of making a set of medals bearing the head of the President, to be given to Indian chiefs, as has been the custom heretofore. In consequence of our former correspondence on this subject, you are aware that some steps have already been taken for accomplishing this object.

Let me inquire of you whether the work is to go forward.

R. M. PATTERSON, _Director_.

_____

_D. Parker to R. M. Patterson._

R. M. PATTERSON, Esq., War Department.

Director of the Mint, Washington, D. C., Sep. 21, 1842.

Philadelphia.

Sir: In answer to your letter of the 17th instant, in the absence of the Secretary of War, I have to state that $2,500 was appropriated during the last session of Congress for making medals bearing the head of the President, to be given to Indian chiefs. Of this $50 was paid to Mr. Pettrich, and a requisition has this day been made in your favor for $1,500, which the Treasury Department is requested to remit to you as early as practicable.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, D. PARKER, _Chief Clerk_.

No. 58. (p. 280) PLATE LIX.

_March 4, 1845--March 4, 1849._

James K. Polk, President of the United States, 1845. [Rx]. Peace and friendship.

PRESIDENT JAMES KNOX POLK.

[_Eleventh President of the United States of America._]

JAMES K (_Knox_) POLK PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 1845. Bust of President Polk, facing the left.

PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP. Two hands clasped in token of amity; on the cuff of the left wrist three stripes, and b.u.t.tons with the American eagle on them; the other wrist bare; above the hands, a calumet and tomahawk crossed--Indian emblems of peace and war.

The obverse of this medal, though not signed, was made by Franklin Peale, as may be seen by the following extract from a despatch of R.

M. Patterson, director of the Mint, to William Medill, commissioner of Indian Affairs, and dated Philadelphia, June 15, 1846. "The Indian medals, with the head of President Polk, being nearly finished by our chief coiner, Mr. Peale, etc."

JAMES KNOX POLK was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, November 2, 1795. He was graduated at the University of North Carolina, 1818; was admitted to the bar in Nashville, Tennessee, 1820; member of the State Legislature, 1823-1825; member of Congress, 1825-1839; speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, 1835-1839; governor of Tennessee, 1839-1841; President of the United States, 1845-1849. He died in Nashville, June 15, 1849.

No. 59. (p. 281) PLATE LX.

_May 8 and 9, 1846._

Major General Zachary Taylor. [Rx]. Resolution of Congress, July 16th, 1846, etc.

MAJOR-GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR.

[_Victories on the Rio Grande._]

MAJOR GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR. Bust of General Taylor, in uniform, facing the right.

Within a wreath of laurel and palm inclosing a serpent biting its tail--emblem of immortality through glory and victory: RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS JULY 16{TH} 1846. PALO ALTO MAY 8{TH} 1846 RESACA DE LA PALMA MAY 9{TH} 1846.[114]

[Footnote 114: See INTRODUCTION, pages xxiv and xxv.]

ZACHARY TAYLOR was born in Orange County, Virginia, September 24, 1784. His father soon after removed to a plantation near Louisville, Kentucky, where young Taylor pa.s.sed the early years of his life. He entered the army as first lieutenant of infantry, 1808; was captain, 1810; distinguished himself by his defence of Fort Harrison, on the Wabash river, against the Indians led by Tec.u.mseh, September 5, 1812, for which he was breveted major; full major, 1814; lieutenant-colonel, 1819; colonel, 1832. He served during all this period against the Indians on the north-west frontier; he was ordered to Florida in 1836, and won the battle of Okechobee against the Seminoles, December 25, 1837, for which he was made brigadier-general by brevet and commander-in-chief in Florida, 1838; commander of the first division in the south-west in 1840, in which year he removed from Kentucky to Louisiana, where he bought a plantation near Baton Rouge. Appointed commander of the army of occupation in Texas, July, 1845, he defeated the Mexican armies in battle at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, May 8 and 9, 1846; at Monterey, September 24, same year; and at Buena Vista, February 22 and 23, 1847. For these victories Congress gave him a vote of thanks and three gold medals.[115] He was made (p. 282) major-general, June 29, 1846; became President of the United States, March 5, 1849, and died at the White House in Washington, July 9, 1850. His soldiers gave him the sobriquet of "Old Rough and Ready."