Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-09-02
Virginia's two Heroes--The Living ant
,. n..

V%irginia's two Heroes--The Living ana
III Dead.
On the 9th of March last, two resolutions
were adopted by the General Assembly OF
Virgi"ia, in honor Of Capt. William Lewis
Hsrndoo, and Lieut.. Pegram.
The two testimonials Of honor prepared In
obedience to these resolutions, are now rea-
dy for the respective acceptance OF Lieut..
Pegram, and tue widow of the lamerted
Herndon. Through the kiGdness OF the Be-
cretsry of the Commonwealth, we have been
enabled to testow particular examination on
| both these works Of art.
The Herndon medal is Of pure gold, about
two inches in diameter. Ga one side Is de-
pic.ed in bold relief the scene OF the tenn
pest, the life boat crowded with passengers
aud struggling With the waves, the steamer
half dlsman lei, and the heroic commander
sanding resolutely on an elevated part OF the
wreck. The necessarily small scale OF the
| picture d res not admit o! any strict accuracy
ia the depletion of the human figures, hut,
like the beautiful symbolic engraVings from
| the antique, i. is sufficiently distinct TO re-
late 10 an ~unmistakeaoie form Tue now well
known story Of the Christina hefo's self
sacr!i :ing devotion. Around this device are
inscribed the following words:
DEVOTION TO DUTY. CHRISTIAN CoHDUCr AND gen
Use HEROISM RESPECTED AND EkNGRED.
The reverse Of The medal bears the tDlloT-
ing inscription, surrCuuded by O delicate
olive wre.th, wrought with exquisite finish
and minu!eDes-:
PRESENTED TO THE WIDOW or
r. WI \ "
UNITED sPATES NAVY,
by
VIRGINIA,
AS A TESTIMONIAL or RESPECT FOR HER
VlRIUuUS SUA,
A NOBLE AND GALLANT
OFFICER.
The blade of well-tempcred steel offered
to Lieut.. Pegran, is beautifully decorated
with u variety Of appropriate emnletns, mari
time, natlonal, and mythulog.cal. "a one
eide appears the Inscription:
A MOTHERS GIFT To HER DEVOTED son.
o. the other slds OF the blade Is IN Inscribed,
VIRGINIA, TO LIEUTENANT ROBERT Il. PEGRAM, L. $
NAVY, KULAS, ARA AUGUST, loJJ.
The hilt OF the sword 10 sGrm0unted by an
eagle surrounded with tairteeo stars, the
guard being ia the form OF a dolphin. "
handsome scabbards accompany the blade;
one Of Ill .ck shark SKIN, with git nountings,
according to service regulations; the other OF
gulf metal, highly ornam. nted With maritime
devices.
The medal was executed by Messrs. Smith
4 III ,rtmau, OF New York; tic sword by the
Ames Manufacturing Company, OF Chico
pee, Massachusetts. Each firm has reason
to be proud Of its workmanship. For the
appropriate designs, devices and emtlems
employed, We are Indebted to the taste and
invention of our hcGJred and accomplished
friend, the Secretary OF the Commonwealth,
under whose direction, assisted by the adj
vice of Major William Muuford, b,th testi-
mODials were prepared.
Br0uze copies Of the Herndou medal have
been presented to Governor Wise and Colo
nei Munford.
These witnesses Of N!rgiaii'a glory are
deposited for the present ia the SITE Libra
re-. They will 30 examined with deep inter
est BIZ all If cur citizens whose hearts have
throbbed (wEose has not?) over the solemn
triumph OF the hero Of TIE ten pest, and tue
MT less thrilling incidents Of the victory .!
kuian.--Rich EaJHjTer.