Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-01
AMERICAN HEROES.
Memorials Of Glorious Deeds Preserved
in the War Department.

in the War Department.
| 4 NEGLECTED COLLECTION OF MEDALS THAT TELL
THE STORY OF HARD WON VICTORIES IN THE
CAUSE OF FREEDOM-HONORS BESTOWED UPON
BRAVE SOLDIERS BY THE AMERICAN CONGRESS
REVOLUTIONARY LEADERS WHO RECEIVED SPE-
CIAL RECOGNITION, ETC.
| For many years past a case of bronze medals
| mas lain neglected in the library OF the War
| department. No one seems to know appa-
rentiy When or why it was placed there. The
! collection has recently been removed from Its
hiding place and brought down stairs to the
| oecretary's office After the medals have been
more suitably mounted they will probably be
| placed In the Secretary's handsome ante-room
which already contains 20 many objects of in
| terest. As STAR reporter was waiting in the
chief clerks room the other day, in the eypec-
| fancy OF securing an item. his attention was at
tracted by the modest little case standing in the
| corner. Upon examination it was found TO con-
tain hfty-three bronze medals, duplicates of
gold and silver medals presented at different
| times to army and naval officers principally in
recognition of deeds of bravery and daring at
important crises in the struggles of our country.
| The duplicates We're evidently placed in the War
! department for preservation.
Upon further examination It was found that
% OF the medals were given to army officers
nineteen to naval officers one to Thomas Jeffer-
| son (struck in 1S0l), In cOmmemoration of the
! Declaration OF independence; one to KosciuskO,
ana three OF the same design to the CaptOrs of
! Major Andre, there being. however but one
| duplicate. As far as can be learned the collec-
ton contains every medal that was given to an
| army or naval officer by act of Congress, from
| that voted to Washington upon the evacuation
! of Boston, March 18th. 1716, to that given to
| Gen scott in 1913 in honor of his many Mexican
victories. The number of medals given to
| Presidents. however. does not seem to be quite
complete up to the latter date. Twelve of the
| medals We're awarded to the heroes of the reyo-
lutiOnary war Counting the Andre capture
medals as one). and but one of the twelve to a
naval officer. The hOnOred recipients were Gen.
| Washington, Gen. Gates. Gen. Wayne, Col De
| Fleury, Major John Stewart, Gen Dan'l Morgan.
Lieut.: Col. Jno. Egar Howard, Lieut.. Col. VIM.
" ashlngton, Major Henry Lee. Andres captOrs.
| Gen. Greene and Commodore John Paul Jones.
GENERAL wAsHINGToN's MEDAL
was presentedby Congress in honor of the evac-
uation OF Boston by the British March 17th
11'6 The recovery of that city caused great
JOY throughout the colonies and congratulations
were received by Washington and his officers
from various legislative bodies, assemblages of
| citizens and individuals The Continental Con-
| gress received intelligence of the evacuation by
! express ON the 25th of March, and Immediately
on motion Of John Adams, passed a vote of
thanks to the cOmmander-in-chieta and the SOL
diers under his command, and also ordered the
! gold medal referred to to be struck and
presented to the general. john Adams,
John Jay and Stephen Hopkins were APP
| pointed committee to prepare letter
OF thanks and proper device for the medal.
! It was struck in Paris from die cut by Duyi-
/ Vler. The device is Il head of Washin gton in
| profile, with the Latin legend Georgia Wash
! lngton Supreme duel eXercituum adsert orr lib
! ertatis comitia Americana 1.-The American
congress to George Washington. COmmander-iu-
chief of its armies. the assertors Of freedom"
TN the reverse of the medal troops are repre-
seAted marching toward the town others march
ing toward the water, upon which ships may be
seen at anchor. ready to receive the departing
hostS. zen. Washington may be readily recog
hlZed in the foreground. mounted with his staff
ABOUT him. whose attention he is directing to
the embarhing enemy. The legend is .'Hostibus
primo fugatiS THE enemy for the first time
put to flight" The eXergue under the device is:
.Eostonum recuperatum XVII. Martii, MDCCL-
hANl 'BOStOn recovered 18th March, ITO"
MAJOR GENERAL GATES.
The medal given by Congress to Major Gen.
eral Gates was in recognition of his victory over
the British under General Burgoyne at Saratoga,
October Il. III. The surrender of Burgoyne
was an event Of great Importance to the strug-
Cling republicans and it was followed by gem
, eral rejoicing throughout the land Hitherto
the prepOnderance OF success had been with the
British. All eyes were anXiOusly turned to the
army OF the north. and upon it the hopes of the
patriots rested. The good was proclaimed
by General Gates messenger to Congress. and
thanks were at once voted to the victorious
general and his army, and it was decreed
that he should be presented with gold medal
In cOmmemOratiOn of such glorious victory
On one side of the medal is a bust of Gen
Gates. with the inscription Gin Latin) ''The
American Congress, to HOratiO Gates. the val
liant leader The reverse represents Burgoyne
In the attitude OF delivering up his sword to his
captOr. In the back ground, on either side of
these figures, can be seen the two armies of
England and America, the former in the act of
laying down their arms. At the top is Latin
inscription, meaning Safety of the northern
department" and below the inscription, also in
Latin. ENEMY at Saratoga surrendered Octo-
Der II, III"
THE CAPTURE OF STONY POINT.
Congress awarded a gold medal to General
/ Wayne in honor of the stOrming and capture of
Stony Point. July Is, 1119. and also silver med
ais to Lieut.. COL De Fleury and Major Stewart
| the commanders of the two columns which be-
haved so handsomely on that memorable occa-
| sion. The capture of Stony Point was one of
| the most brilliant events of the war regarded
| as exhibition of skill and courage Gen
/ Wayne the leader of the ENTERPRISE was every
! where greeted with applause. Congress testi-
fed their grateful sense OF his services by vote
of thanks 'fOr his brave prudent and sOldierly
conduct" and resolved that medal emblemati-
| cal of his action be struck in his honor. One
/ side OF the medal represents an Indian queen,
! crowned. a culver on her back. and wearing q
/ short tunic OF feathers A mantle hangs from
! her waist behind, the upper end of which up
pears as if passed through the girde Of her
tunic. and han-s gracefully by her lett side.
/ With her right hand she is presenting wreath
. to Gen. Wayne; In her left she is holding
/ up mural crown toward his head. At her feet
on the eft an alligator is lying, with the Ameri-
can shield resting upon it. On the reverse is
fort on top of hill, with the British flag flying
| Troops can be seen advancing up the hill in
| single file. and large number living at the bot
| tom. Artillery is seen in the foreground and
six vessels are lying at anchor in the river. The
inscription is "StOny Point. Captured July Is,
! 1779"
The silver medals awarded at the same time
| to Lieut.. Colonel De Fleury and Major Stewart
! for their gallant conduct upon this occasion, are
a little smaller than the one described and
somewhat larger than silver dollar. That of
| the former represents a helmeted soldier stand
| ing in front of the ruins of fort. In his eX-
/ tended right hand he holds sword with his
| left he grasps the staff of stand of cOOrs. The
| cOlOrs he trails upOn.the ground and tramples
under his feet. The legend Tin Latin) is "A
memorial and reward Of valor and daring
| The American Republic has bestowed (this
medal on Col. D. de Fleury native of France
the first over the walls" On the reverse are
| pjcturad tuO wator hiatt q fort IN tho hill