The Medallic History of the United States of America Part 6

M. Dacier, the perpetual secretary, then read the subjects of the medals asked for by Congress for the three general officers.

_For Mr. Was.h.i.+ngton._

On one side, his head.

_Legend_: GEORGIO WAs.h.i.+NGTON SUPREMO DUCI EXERCITUUM ADSERTORI LIBERTATIS.

_Exergue_: COMITIA AMERICANA.

_Reverse_: The taking of Boston, the English army fleeing toward the sh.o.r.e to embark, etc.

_Legend_: HOSTIBUS or ANGLIS PRIMUM FUGATIS.

_Exergue_: BOSTONIUM RECUPERATUM DIE 17 MARTII ANNO 1776.

_For Mr. Gates._

On one side, his head.

_Legend_: HORATIO GATES DUCI PROVIDO COMITIA AMERICANA.

_Reverse_: The enemy's general at the head of his army, surrenders his sword to General Gates, at the head of the American army.

_Legend_: SALUS PROVINCIARUM SEPTENTRIONALIUM.

_Exergue_: HOSTE AD SARATOGAM IN DEDITIONEM ACCEPTO DIE 17 8{bris} 1777.

_For Mr. Green._

On one side, his head.

_Legend_: NATHANIELI GREEN EGREGIO DUCI COMITIA AMERICANA.

_Reverse_: Victory treading under her feet broken arms.

_Legend_: SALUS PROVINCIARUM AUSTRALIUM.

_Exergue_: HOSTIBUS AD EUTAW DEBELLATIS DIE ... 1781.

Friday, May 13, 1783.

After observations by the commissioners, it was thought proper to change, in the two medals of General Gates and of General Green, the word _Provinciarum_ to that of _Regionum_. And in the medal of Gates, on the side of the head, instead of _Duci provido_ to subst.i.tute _Duci strenuo_.

Friday, November 25, 1785.

The secretary also read a letter of Colonel Humphreys, Secretary of Emba.s.sy of America, in which he requested the academy, in the name of Congress, to compose three medals voted by the same Congress: one for General Morgan, the second for Colonel Was.h.i.+ngton, the third for Colonel Howard.

The discussion was laid over, according to custom, until next week.

Tuesday, December 6, 1785.

Messrs. Barthelemy, Des Brequigny, Le Blond, and Brotier, were named to compose the medals asked for by the Congress of the United States of America.

Tuesday, December 13, 1785.

The secretary read the three reports agreed upon by the commissioners for the medals for General Morgan and Colonels Was.h.i.+ngton and Howard, as follows:

_For General Morgan._

_Device_: The general, at the head of his troops, charges the army of the enemy, which takes to flight.

_Legend_: VICTORIA LIBERTATIS VINDEX.

_Exergue_: CAESIS AUT CAPTIS AD COWPENS HOSTIUM ... SIGNIS RELATIS ... 17 JAN. 1781.

_Reverse_: America, recognizable by her s.h.i.+eld, rests her left hand upon a trophy of arms and of flags, and with her right crowns the general, who bends before her.

_Legend_: N. MORGAN DUCI EXERCITUS.

_Exergue_: COMITIA AMERICANA ANNO ...

_For Colonel Was.h.i.+ngton._

_Device_: The colonel, at the head of a few soldiers, rushes on the enemy, who begin to fly, and whom Victory, hovering over his head, points out to him.

_Legend_: N. WAs.h.i.+NGTON LEGIONIS N. PRAEFECTO.

_Exergue_: COMITIA, etc.