The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-08
THE JACKSON MEDALS.
Mr.. Brooks Letter to Mr.. Harden Con-
corning Them.

C6IhAhB 4ACAhs
In discussing the Stonewan jackson
medals recently a letter received by Mr.
William Harden from MIR. Brock, in
Richmond, Va, was referred to. Mr..
Harden came into possession of one of the
medals in 1873, and being curious to
learn its history wrote to Mr.. Brock, who
was celebrated as a collector Of numis-
matlcs, for information.
When the recent discussion of the his
tory OF the medals, caused by the discov-
cry of large quantity of them in the
Lamar warehouse, arose, MIR. Harden
recalled to mind this letter, which he
had received over fifteen years ago. He
promised a copy of the letter to MORN
ING NEWS reporter. but was unable to lay
his hands on it at the time. He has since
found it, however. The letter reads as
follows:
Richmond, Va, Nov. %. 1s7s.-My Dear Mr.
Harden: 1 have delayed my reply TO your
query as to the Jackson medal. desiring to
give you more definite account OF its origin
IMAM my memory would serve me in doing, L
was under the impression that narrative
had appeared in the journal of Numismatics,
put, after a careful examination of the serial
nnd That was mistaken. Some time after
| the death of Gen jackson, in May, 1868,
| subscription was set on foot to raise funds to
| erect statue TO his memory. and in connec-
/ tion with THIS scheme these medals were de-
| VlseQ Inc artist TO execute the statue was
- Folck. Funds were raised by subscription
| mere invested in cotton which was shipped TO
| England, and there disposed of-how the
| money was disposed Of other than in part in
! the preparation of the medals, am not ad-
| Vlsed The latter were executed in Paris, and
| you VIII find the artist name in the eXerQue
| on the diverse side, beneath the bust of Jack
| son II my memory serves me. have a copy
! OF the medal In my collection of coins, but
| removal OF my residence some years ago ne.
cessitated u careful packing of them. They
| nave not yet been unpacked, and l have not
| seen them since
| The medal was delayed in its execution and
| was either captured in its blockade transit by
| the tederalS. or reached Richmond in the
| spring OF 1865, but little before the fall OF
| the confederate capitol. Soon after the en-
| trance OF the federals they were abundantly
| eXhlblted for sale at stands improvised by
| FEDERAL suffers. at the street corners.
| whether they were prey before or after the
| evacuation, am unable to say. l never saw a
| specimen in other than white metal, though I
! have heard that some were struck in silver.
Ihls needs verltcation. Faithfully yours.
X. A. BROCK.
From Mr. Brooks statement it seems
| that the medals ordered from
| Paris in connection with the movement
to erect monument to Gen. jackson
| reached Richmond towards the close of
the war where they fell into the hands
of the federal soldiers and were treated
| by them with the contumely described by
| Mr. Brock in his letter.
1uS u6udIS WHICH were IOuuu III ID
vannah were bought by Col. c. A. L. La
mar in Paris in 1868 and were shipped
through Wilmington in the lat
! ter part of 1868 or during
| 1864, being taken from Wilmington to
| Augusta, where they were stored away
| until 1871, in which year they were
| brought to Savannah. These facts are
| well attested to by the members of Col.
Lamars family now living in Savannah.
! Mr. Brooks letter shows that the medals
were received in Richmond and those
which are now in Savannah are of the
same design.
! The Savannah medals were private
| property, however. They are now in the
| hands of the ladies' auxiliary of the con-
| federate veterans association, and will
| be disposed of for the benefit of the
! veterans.