Resolutions of Congress Voting Medals

 

"Resolutions of Congress Voting Medals to General Morgan and to Lieutenant-Colonels Washington and Howard, etc.

By the United States in Congress Assembled.

Considering it as a tribute due to distinguished merit to give a public approbation of the conduct of Brigadier-General Morgan, and of the officers and men under his command, on the 17th day of January last, when with 80 cavalry and 237 infantry of the troops of the United States, and 553 militia from the States of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, he obtained a complete and important victory over a select and well appointed detachment of more than 1,100 British troops commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton; do therefore resolve:—

That the thanks of the United States in Congress assembled be given to Brigadier-General Morgan, and the officers and men under his command, for their fortitude and good conduct displayed in the action at the Cowpens, in the State of South Carolina, on the 17th day of January last:

That a medal of gold be presented to Brigadier-General Morgan, and a medal of silver to Lieutenant-Colonel Washington (William), of the cavalry, and one of silver to Lieutenant-Colonel Howard, of the infantry of the United States; severally with emblems and mottoes descriptive of the conduct of those officers respectively on that memorable day:

That a sword be presented to Colonel Pickens, of the militia, in testimony of his spirited conduct in the action before mentioned:

That Captain Edward Giles, aid-de-camp of Brigadier-General Morgan, have the brevet commission of major; and that Baron de Glasbuch, who served with Brigadier-General Morgan as a volunteer, have the brevet commission of captain in the army of the United States; in consideration of their merit and services.

Ordered, That the commanding officer in the southern department communicate these resolutions in general orders.

Friday, March 9, 1781."

BRIGADIER-GENERAL DANIEL MORGAN GOLD MEDAL, Victory of the Cowpens - DANIELI MORGAN DUCI EXERCITUS COMITIA AMERICANA. (The American Congress to General Daniel Morgan.) America, personified as an Indian queen, standing, places with her right hand a crown of laurel upon the head of General Morgan, while her left rests on a bow. To the left are seen trophies of the enemy's arms; against a cannon is the American shield, upon which lies a branch of laurel; to the right is a forest. dupré, fecit. VICTORIA LIBERTATIS VINDEX. (Victory, the vindicator of liberty) General Morgan is leading his troops, who advance with colors flying, and put to flight the British army; in the foreground, a combat between an Indian and a dismounted cavalry soldier. Exergue: FVGATIS CAPTIS AVT CAESIS AD COWPENS HOSTIBVS XVII. JAN. MDCCLXXXI. (Fugatis captis aut cæsis ad Cowpens hostibus, 17 Januarii, 1781: The enemy put to flight, taken, or slain at the Cowpens, January 17, 1781.) dupré inv et fecit (Dupré invenit et fecit) Obverse  

The legend of the exergue of this medal, as originally proposed by the French Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres, was CÆSIS AUT CAPTIS AD COWPENS HOSTIUM * * SIGNIS RELATIS * * 17 JAN. 1781. The change was made at the suggestion of Delegate Thomas Jefferson.

Daniel Morgan was born in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, in 1736. In early life he served as a teamster in General Braddock's army, and afterward settled in Frederick (now Clarke) County, Virginia. In 1775 he was captain of a rifle company, and served under Washington. He accompanied General Arnold to Canada, and was made prisoner at Quebec; he served again under Washington, as colonel of a rifle regiment, in 1776, and greatly distinguished himself under General Gates at Saratoga. He was brigadier-general in 1780, served in the South under Generals Gates and Greene, and won the brilliant victory of the Cowpens, January 17, 1781, for which Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. Soon afterward he resigned from ill health, and retired to his plantation. He was a member of Congress from 1795 to 1799. In 1780 he removed to Winchester, Virginia, where he died July 6, 1802.

Augustin Dupré was born in St. Etienne, France, October, 1748. He began life as a workman in a manufactory of arms. In 1768 he went to Paris as apprentice to an engraver, and became one of the most distinguished medal engravers of the latter part of the 18th century. Among his works are the celebrated five franc piece known as "à l'Hercule," the five centime and one decime pieces, on which the head of Liberty is the profile of Madame Récamier, and seven medals relating to America: John Paul Jones, General Morgan, General Greene, Libertas Americana, the Diplomatic medal, and two of Franklin. Dupré was engraver-general of the Paris Mint from July, 1791, to 1801, when he was dismissed by General Bonaparte, then first consul. He died at Armentières, January 31, 1833.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL WILLIAM AUGUSTINE WASHINGTON sSILVER MEDAL, Victory of the Cowpen, GULIELMO WASHINGTON LEGIONIS EQUIT. (equitum) PRÆFECTO COMITIA AMERICAN. (Americana.) (The American Congress to William Washington, commander of a regiment of cavalry.) Lieutenant-Colonel Washington, at the head of his men, is pursuing the enemy's cavalry. A winged Victory hovers above him, holding in her right hand a crown of laurel, and in her left a palm branch. Duvivier. Within a crown of laurel: QUOD PARVA MILITUM MANU STRENUE PROSECUTUS HOSTES VIRTUTIS INGENITÆ PRÆCLARUM SPECIMEN DEDIT IN PUGNA AD COWPENS XVII. JAN. (Januarii) MDCCLXXXI.(Because in vigorously pursuing the enemy with a handful of soldiers he gave a noble example of innate courage at the battle of the Cowpens, January 17, 1781)

William Augustine Washington, a distant relation of General Washington's, was born in Stafford County, Virginia, February 28, 1752. He was educated for the church, but entered the army as captain of infantry, and fought in the battles of Long Island, Trenton, and Princeton. In 1778 he was lieutenant-colonel of dragoons, and served in the South under Generals Lincoln, Greene, and Morgan. He distinguished himself at the victory of the Cowpens, for which he received from Congress a silver medal; was made a prisoner at Eutaw Springs, and remained in captivity in Charleston, South Carolina, till the close of the war, when he settled in that city. He served for some time in the South Carolina Legislature; was appointed on General Washington's staff with the rank of brigadier-general, in 1797, and died in Charleston, March 6, 1810.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL JOHN EAGER HOWARD SILVER MEDAL, Victory of the Cowpens, JOH. (Johanni) EGAR. (sic) HOWARD LEGIONIS PEDITUM PRÆFECTO COMITIA AMERICANA. (The American Congress to John Eager Howard, commander of a regiment of infantry.) Lieutenant-Colonel Howard, on horseback, is in pursuit of a foot-soldier of the enemy who is carrying away a standard. A winged Victory hovers over him, holding in her right hand a crown of laurel, and in her left a palm branch. Duvivier.  Within a crown of laurel: QUOD IN NUTANTEM HOSTIUM ACIEM SUBITO IRRUENS PRÆCLARUM BELLICÆ VIRTUTIS SPECIMEN DEDIT IN PUGNA AD COWPENS XVII. JAN. (Januarii) MDCCLXXXI. (Because by rushing suddenly on the wavering lines of the enemy, he gave a brilliant example of martial courage at the battle of the Cowpens, January 17, 1781)

John Eager Howard was born in Baltimore County, Maryland, June 4, 1752. On the breaking out of the Revolution he was appointed captain, and took part in the battle of White Plains. He was promoted to the rank of major in 1777, and fought at Germantown and Monmouth. He became lieutenant-colonel of the 5th Maryland regiment of infantry in 1779, and served in the South under Generals Gates, Greene, and Morgan, taking a brilliant part in every engagement. At the victory of the Cowpens he held in his hands at one time the swords of seven British officers who had surrendered to him. For his services in this battle Congress awarded him a silver medal. He was colonel of the 2d Maryland regiment at Eutaw Springs. At the close of the war he retired to Baltimore, and was governor of Maryland, 1789-1792, and United States senator, 1796-1803 When a war with France was expected in 1797, he was selected by General Washington for one of his brigadier-generals. He organized the defence of Baltimore in 1814, and died in that city, October 12, 1827.