Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-10-07
THE FIRST WAR MEDALS.
Were Presented to Army and Navy
Officers by Congress During the
Revolutionary War.

The first medals ever presented by
congress were given to the officers OF
the American army and navy during
the revolutionary war, and OF those
only - were issued. Gen. Washington
was the first American who received
medal from his government. Gen.
Gates received one because he beat the
British at Saratoga; Gen. Wayne for
attacking and capturing Stony Point
on the Hudson; Gems. Greene, Lee,
Morgan and five other American Of
ticers for victories obtained, by them
over the enemy. Congress presented
Paul Jones with medal for his sue.
cessful sea fights against the British
battleships. At the close of the war,
when Washington was elected the first
president of the United States, con.
gress had struck off in his honor a
medal. AS it was one of the first
given to anyone during time of peace,
a short description of it may be of in.
terest to the boys who read this
article. The medal was about the
size of the present silver dollar; on one
side was stamped the head of Washing
ton, with the inscriptions: Washing
ton, President, 1891" On the reverse
were arrows, an eagle and laurel
| wreath and the words: "Unum Il
Pluribus." An earlier medal, made in
1855, was of copper; it was stamped
with a sun, surrounded by 13 stars, a
laurel wreath entwined about the let
tiers III. ST. and bore the inscription.
'Libertas ct Justitia, 1885," Nearly al
of the first medals presented by the
American congress were made ir
France.
During the war of 1912 congress pre-,
scented 81 medals of honor to the ma
TONS sailors and soldiers, but most Of
these were given to commanders OF
the navy. Hull, the first commander
of the frigate Constitution, received
a medal from congress for his victory
over British ship. 1t was also the
custom in those days for congress to
give sum of money to the city at
which they first landed to get up ban
quet in honor of the captain and crew.
Four medals were given during the
Mexican war, but it was not until the
late civil war, in 1861, that the presen'
/ .tation of medals by On act of congress
Gagged any Roadway. In 1861 congress
directed the secretary of the navy to
have made medals of honor to be given
to petty officers and sailors in the navy
who distinguished themselves by acts
of bravery. Three hrndred and twenty
persons received them; they WePe IN
the shape of a five-pointed star. Other
medals were also presented by con-
| gress to men in the army and navy
whom the government wished to hon
or. It has always been the purpose OF
congress to recognize brave actions
among American sailors by present.
ing medal, and the small number
which have been given out make them
all the more valuable.
Perhaps the most famous peace med
al and certainly one of the first which
was ordered to be struck by congress
was the one in commemoration of the
treaty of peace between the United
States and the English governments
and which ended the war of 1912. 1t
was widely circulated and was eager
ly welcomed by the people. England
also caused to be made peace medal
in honor of the treaty.
The custom of giving medal to such
chiefs as visited Washington was
begun at very early date in the his
tory of the government. The most
famous of this class was the one pre-
sented to Red Jacket, noted chief.
He was very proud of the honor con-
ferred upon him and always carried it
it in prominent place.
One of the first medals presented
during the civil war Maj. Anderson re-
ceived for his brave defense of Fort
Sumter. This was more simple than
those given by the government dur
ing the war of 1912. One side was
stamped with the head of Maj. An
derson; on the reverse was soldier
planting the American flag upon the
top of a fort. This medal was pre-
sented by the chamber of commerce
of New York to the commander Of
Sumter and to each man of the gar
rison. - Cincinnati Enquirer.
Cuban Courtesy.
The ever-present politeness of the