J. F. Loubat

“ That the thanks of the United States in Congress assembled, be presented to the officers and men of the Maryland and Virginia brigades, and Delaware battalion of continental troops, for the unparalleled bravery and heroism by them displayed, in advancing to the enemy through an incessant fire, and charging them with an impetuosity and ardour that could not be resisted. ”

“ The hardy courage and humanity of your action in springing overboard in a squall of violent wind and rain, at the peril of your life, and saving this stranger, cannot fail to be appreciated, and fully deserves the public recognition and esteem which the award of a medal to you, involves. In sending you this testimonial to your brave and humane conduct, I am deeply gratified that it was so well won, and by a seaman of the revenue marine. ”

“ The commanding general congratulates the army under his command upon the signal success which has crowned its recent operations against the enemy. The coolness and steadiness of the troops during the action of the 8th, and the brilliant impetuosity with which the enemy's position and artillery were carried on the 9th, have displayed the best qualities of the American soldier. To every officer and soldier of his command, the general returns his thanks for the noble manner in which they have sustained the honor of the service and of the country. ”

“ As it will scarcely be possible to represent distinctly the deeply interesting scenes of the memorable victory of Erie on one face of the medal, it may be well to omit the portrait of Commodore Perry, and divide the representation of the action into two prominent and distinct parts which mark the crisis of the battle, in the first terminating with the abandonment of the Lawrence, and the passage of the hero in his gig, with his flag, from that ship to the Niagara. ”

“ Beginning with the 19th of August, and ending the 14th instant, this army has gallantly fought its way through the fields and forts of Contreras, San Antonio, Churubusco, Molinos del Rey, Chapultepec, and the gates of San Cosmo and Tacubaya or Belen, into the capital of Mexico.
When the very limited numbers who have performed those brilliant deeds shall have become known, the whole world will be astonished, and our own countrymen filled with joy and admiration. ”

“ Every officer and every man of the 9th and 22d, 11th and 15th regiments did his duty with a zeal and energy worthy of the American character. When every officer stands so pre-eminently high in the path of his duty and honour, it is impossible to discriminate, but I cannot deprive myself of the pleasure of saying, that Major Leavenworth commanded the 9th and 22d, Major Jessup the 25th, and Major McNeil the 11th. ”

“ That the loss of such a citizen should be lamented by us, among whom he lived, whom he so long and eminently served, and who feel their country advanced and honoured by his birth, life and labours, was to be expected, but it remained for the National Assembly of France to set the first example of the Representative of one nation doing homage by a public act to the private citizen of another, and by withdrawing arbitrary lines of separation, to reduce into one fraternity the good and the great, wherever they have lived or died. ”

“ There was only one of mediocre merit (and he a foreigner) found for the army. What the state of this art may now be in the United States I know not. But I beg leave again to suggest that the honour of the country requires that medals, voted by Congress, should always exhibit the arts involved, in their highest state of perfection wherever found: for letters, science, and the fine arts constitute but one republic, embracing the world. So thought our early Government, and Mr. Jefferson—a distinguished member of that general republic. ”

“ Should the general think it safe to order the whole of Cass's brigade to the right, without replacing it with another, General Cass will march to the right, formed in oblique eschelons of companies. It will be the business of General M'Arthur, in the event of his wing being refused to watch the motions of the enemy, with the assistance of the artillery, to prevent his front line at least from interrupting the progress of our right. ”

“ ANDREW JOHNSON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 1865. Undraped bust of President Johnson, facing the right PAQUET, F. (fecit) .
America is giving her hand to an Indian chief, before a mausoleum, upon which, in a crown of laurel, is the word PEACE. The mausoleum is surmounted by a small undraped bust of Washington, facing the right; to the left, at the feet of the Indian, are the attributes of savage life, and behind him a buffalo hunt; to the right, at the feet of America, are the emblems of civilization, and behind her a railway train. ”

“ On a previous call of Pillow, Worth had just sent him a re-enforcement, Colonel Clarke's brigade.
The broken acclivity was still to be ascended, and a strong redoubt, midway, to be carried, before reaching the castle on the heights. The advance of our brave men, led by brave officers, though necessarily slow, was unwavering, over rocks, chasms, and mines, and under the hottest fire of cannon and musketry. The redoubt now yielded to resistless valor, and the shouts that followed announced to the castle the fate that impended. The enemy were steadily driven from shelter to shelter. ”

“ I therefore determined to refuse my left to the Indians, and to break the British lines at once by a charge of the mounted infantry; the measure was not sanctioned by any thing I had seen or heard of, but I was fully convinced that it would succeed. The American backwoodsmen ride better in the woods than any other people. A musket or rifle is no impediment to them, being accustomed to carry them on horseback from their earliest youth. I was persuaded, too, that the enemy would be quite unprepared for the shock, and that they could not resist it. ”

“ Where only one medal of a kind is wanted, it seems an unthrifty way to form dies for it in steel to strike the two sides of it, the whole expense of the dies resting on that medal.
It was by this means that the medal voted by Congress for M. de Fleury cost one hundred guineas, when an engraving of the same figures and inscriptions might have been beautifully done on a plate of silver of the same size for two guineas.
The ancients, when they ordained a medal to record the memory of any laudable action, and do honour to the performer of that action, struck a vast number and used them as money. ”

“ Nothing could equal this zeal of our allies but the imitating spirit of the American officers, whose ardour would not suffer their exertions to be exceeded.
The very uncommon degree of duty and fatigue, which the nature of the service required from the officers of engineers and artillery of both armies, obliges me particularly to mention the obligations I am under to the commanding and other officers of those corps. ”

“ The man who is honoured only by a single medal is obliged to show it to enjoy the honour, which can be done only to a few and often awkwardly. I therefore wish the medals of Congress were ordered to be money, and so continued as to be convenient money, by being in value aliquot parts of a dollar.
Copper coins are wanting in America for small change. We have none but those of the King of England. After one silver or gold medal is struck from the dies, for the person to be honoured, they may be usefully employed in striking copper money, or in some cases small silver. ”

“ He has signalized himself in more than one instance since; and in the late assault on Stony Point he commanded one of the attacks, was the first that entered the enemy's works, and struck the British flag with his own hands, as reported by General Wayne. It is but justice to him to declare that, in the different stations in which he has been employed, he has rendered services of real utility, and has acquitted himself in every respect as an officer of distinguished merit, one whose talents, zeal, activity, and bravery alike entitle him to particular notice. ”

“ Major-General Brown has the gratification to say, that the soldiers of the 2d division, west of the Niagara, merit greater applause than he is able to bestow in general orders; they merit the highest approbation of the country. The conduct of Brigadier-General Scott's brigade, which had the opportunity to engage the whole force of the enemy, the greater part, it is believed, of all in the peninsula, removes on the day of this battle the reflection on our country, that its reputation in arms is yet to be established. ”

“ What happiness it is to the commanding general, that, while danger was before him, he was, on no occasion, compelled to use, towards his companions in arms, either severity or rebuke. If, after the enemy had retired, improper passions began their empire in a few unworthy bosoms, and rendered a resort to energetic measures necessary for their suppression, he has not confounded the innocent with the guilty, the seduced with the seducers. ”

“ Mayo, Acting-Lieutenant Brownlow, of the marines, sailing master Romney, and other officers, seamen, and marines I have the honour to command, was in the highest degree creditable to them, and calls for my warmest recommendation. I cannot, indeed, do justice to their merits. The satisfaction which was diffused throughout the ship when it was ascertained that the stranger was an enemy's sloop of war, and the alacrity with which every one repaired to quarters, fully assured me that their conduct in the action would be marked with coolness and intrepidity. ”

“ Our artillery consisted of one ten-inch mortar, two twenty-four-pounder howitzers, and four light field batteries of four guns each; the mortar being the only piece suitable to the operations of a siege.
Our loss is twelve officers and one hundred and eight men killed; thirty-one officers and three hundred and thirty-seven men wounded. That of the enemy is not known, but is believed considerably to exceed our own.
I take pleasure in bringing to the notice of the government the good conduct of the troops, both regulars and volunteers, which has been conspicuous throughout the operations. ”

“ Lieutenant-Colonel Washington brought up the corps of reserve upon the left, where the enemy seemed disposed to make further resistance, and charged them so briskly with the cavalry and Captain Kirkwood's infantry as gave them no time to rally or form. Lieutenant-Colonels Polk and Middleton, who commanded the State infantry, were no less conspicuous for their good conduct than their intrepidity; and the troops under their command gave a specimen of what may be expected from men, naturally brave, when improved by proper discipline. ”

“ American humanity has been again signally manifested. Self-preservation strongly dictated, on the retreat, the putting the prisoners to death, and British cruelty fully justified it, notwithstanding which, not a man was wantonly hurt.
During the progress of the troops in the works, from the different reports of my officers, I conclude not more than fifty of the enemy were killed, and a few wounded. Among the killed is one officer, supposed (from his description) to be a captain in Colonel Buskirk's regiment. Our loss, on this occasion, is very trifling. ”

“ In the Libertas Americana medal, which recalls, if we except the evacuation of Boston, the two most memorable events of the War of Independence, namely, the capitulation of General Burgoyne, at Saratoga, in October, 1777, and that of General Lord Cornwallis, at Yorktown, in October, 1781, Dupré has represented the new-born Liberty, sprung from the prairies without ancestry and without rulers, as a youthful virgin, with disheveled hair and dauntless aspect, bearing across her shoulder a pike, surmounted by the Phrygian cap. ”

“ It is the first time this nation has had an opportunity to offer to other than its own citizens the medal of the life-saving service, and it is a matter of congratulation that the occasion is more than worthy of the token. ”

“ Within an hour after my arrival in camp, I was informed that General Ripley had returned without annoyance, and in good order. I now sent for him, and after giving him my reasons for the measure I was about to adopt, ordered him to put the troops in the best possible condition; to give to them the necessary refreshment; to take the pickets and camp-guards, and every other description of force; to put himself on the field of battle as the day dawned, and there to meet and beat the enemy if he again appeared. To this order he made no objection, and I relied upon its execution. ”

“ Every exertion was made to dislodge them. Lieutenant-Colonel Washington made most astonishing efforts to get through the thicket to charge the enemy in the rear, but found it impracticable, had his horse shot under him, and was wounded and taken prisoner. Four six-pounders were ordered up before the house—two of our own and two of the enemy's, which they had abandoned—and they were pushed on so much under the command of the fire from the house and the party in the thicket as rendered it impracticable to bring them off again when the troops were ordered to retire. ”

“ With what patience did you submit to privations; with what fortitude did you endure fatigue; what valour did you display in the day of battle! You have secured to America a proud name among the nations of the earth; a glory which will never perish. ”

“ Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell fell as he was leading his troops to the charge, and though he fell with distinguished marks of honour, yet his loss is much to be regretted; he was the great soldier and the firm patriot.
Our loss in officers is considerable, more from their value than their number; for never did men or officers offer their blood more willingly in the service of their country. ”