Chapter IV: Section 2: And be it further enacted, That on the (1)

admission of every new State into the Union, one
star be added to the union of the flag; and that
such addition shall take place on the fourth day of
July then next succeeding such admission.]

[Footnote 30: See INTRODUCTION, pages x, xi, xiii,
xvi, xvii, xxx, xxxv; and B, xxxvi.]

The legend of the obverse of this medal, originally proposed by (p. 009) the French Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres, was HORATIO GATES DUCI PROVIDO COMITIA AMERICANA; and that of the reverse, SALUS PROVINCIARUM SEPTENTRIONALIUM.

NICOLAS MARIE GATTEAUX was born in Paris, August 2, 1751, and in the latter part of the reign of Louis XVI. was appointed engraver of medals to the king. During the French Revolution he was intrusted with the execution of various works of art for different branches of the public service. The process followed in the printing of assignats, of bills of exchange, and of lottery tickets, as well as the printing-press which works at the same time with the dry and wet stamp, were his inventions. He designed and engraved a number of medals representing eminent persons, or important events of the period, including three relating to the War of Independence, viz., those of General Gates, General Wayne, and Major John Stewart He died in Paris, June 24, 1832.

HORATIO GATES was born in Malden, England, in 1728. He entered the British army when young, and served under General Lord Cornwallis in Nova Scotia, and afterward under General Braddock in his campaign against Fort Duquesne, but, being severely wounded during the retreat, left the army and settled in Virginia. Having received a commission as adjutant-general, with the rank of brigadier, he accompanied Washington to Cambridge in July, 1775. While commander-in-chief of the northern army, he defeated General John Burgoyne at Stillwater, September 17, 1777, and received his surrender at Saratoga on the 17th of October following, for which most important achievement Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal.[31] He was appointed commander-in-chief of the southern department in June, 1780, but, being defeated shortly afterward at Camden, on the 16th of August, he was superseded by General Greene. During the remainder of the war he played no prominent part, and, at the conclusion of peace, retired to his estate, in Virginia. In 1790 he removed to New York city, where he died, April 10, 1806.

[Footnote 31: The victory at Saratoga is also
commemorated in the Libertas Americana medal, No.
14, page 86, which was struck in Paris in 1783,
under the direction of Dr. Franklin.]

_____

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS. (p. 010)

_Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to General Gates._

IN CONGRESS.

_Resolved_, That the thanks of Congress, in their own name, and
in behalf of the inhabitants of the thirteen United States, be
presented to Major-General Gates, commander-in-chief in the
northern department, and to Major-Generals Lincoln and Arnold,
and the rest of the officers and troops under his command, for
their brave and successful efforts in support of the independence
of their country, whereby an army of the enemy, of ten thousand
men, has been totally defeated; one large detachment of it,
strongly posted and intrenched, having been conquered at
Bennington; another repulsed with loss and disgrace from Fort
Schuyler; and the main army of six thousand men, under
Lieutenant-General Burgoyne, after being beaten in different
actions, and driven from a formidable post and strong
intrenchments, reduced to the necessity of surrendering
themselves upon terms honourable and advantageous to these
States, on the 17th day of October last, to Major-General Gates;
and that a medal of gold be struck, under the direction of the
Board of War, in commemoration of this great event, and in the
name of these United States presented by the President to
Major-General Gates.

Tuesday, November 4, 1777.

_____

_General Gates to the President of Congress._

To His Excellency
John HANCOCK, Esq., Camp Saratoga,
President of Congress. October 18, 1777.

Sir: I have the satisfaction to present Your Excellency with the
convention of Saratoga, by which His Excellency
Lieutenant-General Burgoyne has surrendered himself and his whole
army into my hands, and they are now upon their march for Boston.
This signal and important event is the more glorious, as it was
effected with so little loss to the army of the United States.

This letter will be presented to Your Excellency by my
adjutant-general, Colonel Wilkinson, to whom I must beg leave to
refer Your Excellency for the particulars that brought this great
business to so happy and fortunate a conclusion.

I desire to be permitted to recommend this gallant officer in the
warmest manner to Congress, and entreat that he may be continued
in his present office, with the brevet of a brigadier-general.

The honourable Congress will believe me when I assure them that,
from the beginning of this war, I have not met with a more
promising military genius than Colonel Wilkinson, and whose
services have been of the greatest importance to this army.

I am, Sir, Your Excellency's most obedient and humble servant,
Horatio GATES.

_____

_Articles of Convention between Major-General Gates and (p. 011) Lieutenant-General Burgoyne._

I.

The troops under Lieutenant-General Burgoyne to march out of
their camp, with the honours of war and the artillery of the
intrenchments, to the verge of the river, where the old fort
stood, where the arms and artillery are to be left, the arms to
be piled by word of command from their own officers.

II.

A free passage to be granted to the army under Lieutenant-General
Burgoyne to Great Britain, on condition of not serving again in
North America during the present contest; and the port of Boston
is assigned for the entry of transports to receive the troops
whensoever General Howe shall so order.

III.

Should any cartel take place by which the army under General
Burgoyne, or any part of it, may be exchanged, the foregoing
article to be void, as far as such exchange be made.

IV.

The army under Lieutenant-General Burgoyne to march to
Massachusetts Bay by the easiest, most expeditious and convenient
route, and to be quartered in, near, or as convenient as possible
to, Boston, that the march of the troops may not be delayed when
transports arrive to receive them.

V.

The troops to be supplied, on their march and during their being
in quarters, with provisions, by General Gates's orders, at the
same rate of rations as the troops of his own army; and, if
possible, the officers' horses and cattle are to be supplied with
forage at the usual rates.

VI.

All officers to retain their carriages, bathorses, and other
cattle, and no baggage to be molested or searched,
Lieutenant-General Burgoyne giving his honour that there are no
public stores secreted therein. Major-General Gates will, of
course, take the necessary measures for the due performance of
this article. Should any carriages be wanted, during the march,
for the transportation of officers' baggage, they are, if
possible, to be supplied by the country at the usual rates.

VII.

Upon the march, and during the time the army shall remain in
quarters in Massachusetts Bay, the officers are not, as far as
circumstances admit, to be separated from their men. The officers
are to be quartered according to rank, and are not to be hindered
from assembling their men for roll-call, and other necessary
purposes of regularity.

VIII. (p. 012)

All corps whatsoever of Lieutenant-General Burgoyne's army,
whether composed of sailors, bateaumen, artificers, drivers,
independent companies, and followers of the army, of whatever
country, shall be included in the fullest sense and the utmost
extent of the above articles, and comprehended in every respect
as British subjects.

IX.

All Canadians and persons belonging to the Canadian
establishment, consisting of sailors, bateaumen, artificers,
drivers, independent companies, and many other followers of the
army, who come under no particular description, are to be
permitted to return there; they are to be conducted immediately,
by the shortest route, to the first British post on Lake George,
are to be supplied with provisions in the same manner as the
other troops, and are to be bound by the same condition of not
serving during the present contest in North America.

X.

Passports to be immediately granted for three officers, not
exceeding the rank of captains, who shall be appointed by
Lieutenant-General Burgoyne to carry despatches to Sir William
Howe, Sir Guy Carleton, and to Great Britain, by the way of New
York; and Major-General Gates engages the public faith that these
despatches shall not be opened. These officers are to set out
immediately after receiving their despatches, and are to travel
the shortest route and in the most expeditious manner.

XI.

During the stay of the troops in Massachusetts Bay the officers
are to be admitted on parole, and are to be allowed to wear their
side arms.

XII.

Should the army under Lieutenant-General Burgoyne find it
necessary to send for their clothing and other baggage to Canada,
they are permitted to do it in the most convenient manner, and
the necessary passports granted for that purpose.

XIII.

These articles are to be mutually signed and exchanged to-morrow
morning at nine o'clock, and the troops under Lieutenant-General
Burgoyne are to march out of their intrenchments at three o'clock
in the afternoon.

Horatio GATES, Major-General.
J. BURGOYNE, Lieutenant-General.

Saratoga, October 16, 1777.

To prevent any doubts that might arise from Lieutenant-General
Burgoyne's name not being mentioned in the above treaty,
Major-General Gates hereby declares that he is understood to be
comprehended in it as fully as if his name had been specifically
mentioned.

Horatio GATES.

_____

_Thomas Jefferson to Colonel Humphreys._ (p. 013)

To
Colonel HUMPHREYS, Paris, December 4, 1785.
London.

Dear Sir: I inclose a letter from Gatteaux, observing that there
will be an anachronism if, in making a medal to commemorate the
victory of Saratoga, he puts on General Gates the insignia of the
Cincinnati, which did not exist at that date. I wrote him, in
answer, that I thought so, too, but that you had the direction of
the business; that you were now in London; that I would write to
you, and probably should have an answer within a fortnight; and
that, in the mean time, he could be employed on other parts of
the die. I supposed you might not have observed on the print of
General Gates the insignia of the Cincinnati, or did not mean
that that particular should be copied. Another reason against it
strikes me: Congress have studiously avoided giving to the public
their sense of this institution. Should medals be prepared to be
presented from them to certain officers, and bearing on them the
insignia of the order, as the presenting them would involve an
approbation of the institution, a previous question would be
forced on them, whether they would present these medals. I am of
opinion it would be very disagreeable to them to be placed under
the necessity of making this declaration. Be so good as to let me
know your wishes on this subject by the first post, and be
assured of the esteem with which I am, dear Sir, your friend and
servant,
Th: JEFFERSON.

_____

_Colonel Humphreys to Thomas Jefferson._

To
Thomas JEFFERSON, Esq., London, Leicester Square, No. 18.
Paris.

Dear Sir: I have been honoured with your favour of December 4th,
and on the subject of Gatteaux' application take the liberty to
inform you that I never had an idea of his engraving the insignia
of the Cincinnati. I clearly see the impropriety of it. I should,
therefore, be much obliged if you would take the trouble of
giving him definitive instructions on this and any other points
that may occur in the execution of the medal....

I am, with the sincerest affection, dear Sir, your most obedient
and humble servant,
D. HUMPHREYS.

No. 3. (p. 014) PLATE III.

_July 15, 7779._

Antonio Wayne duci exercitus Comitia Americana. [Rx].
Stoney-Point expugnatum.

BRIGADIER-GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE.

[_Taking of Stony Point._]

ANTONIO WAYNE DUCI EXERCITUS COMITIA AMERICANA. (_The American Congress to General Anthony Wayne._) America, personified as an Indian queen, standing, and having at her feet a bow, an alligator, and the American shield, presents to General Wayne a laurel and a mural crown. GATTEAUX.

STONEY-POINT (_sic_) EXPUGNATUM. (_Stony Point carried by storm._) The American troops carrying Stony Point by assault. Six ships on the Hudson River. Exergue: XV JUL. MDCCLXXIX. (_15 Julii, 1779: July 15, 1779._) On the platform, GATTEAUX.[32]

[Footnote 32: See INTRODUCTION, pages x, xix,
xxviii, xxx, xxxv; D, xli; and H, xlvii.]

ANTHONY WAYNE was born at Waynesborough, Chester County, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1745. He was educated in Philadelphia. In 1774 he was elected a member of the Pennsylvania Convention, and in 1775 was appointed colonel of a regiment under General Thomas in Canada, and took part in the engagements at Three Rivers and at Ticonderoga. In 1777 he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general under Washington, and fought at the Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth. On the night of July 15, 1779, he surprised and took Stony Point, on the Hudson River, for which gallant deed Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. He afterward served in the South, occupied Savannah, July 11, 1782, and Charleston, South Carolina, on the 14th of December following, and retired to his estate at the close of the war. On April 3, 1792, he was appointed major-general and commander-in-chief in the war against the western Indians, and in 1794 gained an important victory over the Miami tribe of Indians. He died at Presque Isle, (p. 015) now Erie, Pennsylvania, December 14, 1796. In 1809, his son, Colonel Wayne, removed his remains to the cemetery of Radnor church, near Waynesborough, where the Pennsylvania State Society of the Cincinnati caused a handsome monument to be erected to his memory. He was known during the Revolutionary War by the sobriquet of "Mad Anthony."

_____

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.

_Resolutions of Congress Voting Medals to General Wayne, to Lieutenant Colonel de Fleury, and to Major Stewart, etc._

IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED.

_Resolved unanimously_, That the thanks of Congress be given to
His Excellency General Washington for the vigilance, wisdom, and
magnanimity with which he hath conducted the military operations
of these States, and which are among many other signal instances
manifested in his orders for the late glorious enterprize and
successful attack on the enemy's fortress on the bank of Hudson's
river.

_Resolved unanimously_, That the thanks of Congress be presented
to Brigadier-General Wayne for his brave, prudent, and soldierly
conduct in the spirited and well-conducted attack of Stony Point.

_Resolved unanimously_, That Congress entertain a proper sense of
the good conduct of the officers and soldiers under the command
of Brigadier-General Wayne, in the assault of the enemy's works
at Stony Point, and highly commend the coolness, discipline, and
firm intrepidity exhibited on that occasion.

_Resolved unanimously_, That Lieutenant-Colonel Fleury and Major
Stewart, who by their situation in leading the two attacks had a
more immediate opportunity of distinguishing themselves, have, by
their personal achievements, exhibited a bright example to their
brother soldiers, and merit in a particular manner the
approbation and acknowledgment of the United States.

_Resolved unanimously_, That Congress warmly approve and applaud
the cool determined spirit with which Lieutenant Gibbons and
Lieutenant Knox led on the forlorn hope, braving danger and death
in the cause of their country.

_Resolved unanimously_, That a medal, emblematical of this
action, be struck:

That one of gold be presented to Brigadier-General Wayne, and a
silver one to Lieutenant-Colonel Fleury and Major Stewart
respectively.

_Resolved unanimously_, That brevets of captain be given to
Lieutenant Gibbons and Lieutenant Knox.

That the brevet of captain be given to Mr. Archer, the bearer of
the general's letter, and volunteer aid to Brigadier-General
Wayne.

That Congress approve the promises of reward made by General (p. 016)
Wayne, with the concurrence of the commander-in-chief, to the
troops under his command.

That the value of the military stores taken at Stony Point be
ascertained, and divided among the gallant troops by whom it was
reduced, in such manner and proportion as the commander-in-chief
shall prescribe.

Monday, July 26, 1779.

_____

_General Washington to the President of Congress._

To New Windsor, half-past nine o'clock,
THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. July 16, 1779.

Sir: I have the pleasure to transmit to Your Excellency the
inclosed copy of a letter from Brigadier-General Wayne, which
this moment came to hand. I congratulate Congress upon our
success, and what makes it still more agreeable from the report
of Captain Fishbourn, who brought me General Wayne's letter, the
post was gained with but very inconsiderable loss on our part. As
soon as I receive a particular account of the affair, I shall
transmit it.

I have the honour to be, etc.,
Geo. WASHINGTON.

_____

_General Wayne to General Washington._

To Stony Point, two o'clock A.M.,
General WASHINGTON. July 16, 1779.

Dear General: The fort and garrison with Colonel Johnson are
ours. Our officers and men behaved like men who are determined to
be free.
Yours, most sincerely,
Anthony WAYNE.

_____

_General Washington to the President of Congress._

To
THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. New Windsor, July 20, 1779.

Sir: On the 16th instant I had the honour to inform Congress of a
successful attack upon the enemy's post at Stony Point, on the
preceding night, by Brigadier-General Wayne and the corps of
light infantry under his command. The ulterior operations on
which we have been engaged have hitherto put it out of my power
to transmit the particulars of this interesting event. They will
now be found in the inclosed report, which I have received from
General Wayne. To the encomiums he has deservedly bestowed on the
officers and men under his command, it gives me pleasure to add,
that his own conduct throughout the whole of this arduous
enterprize merits the warmest approbation of Congress. He (p. 017)
improved upon the plan recommended by me, and executed it in a
manner that does signal honour to his judgment and to his
bravery. In a critical moment of the assault, he received a flesh
wound in the head with a musket ball, but continued leading on
his men with unshaken firmness.

I now beg leave, for the private satisfaction of Congress, to
explain the motives which induced me to direct the attempt. In my
former letters I have pointed out the advantages which the enemy
derived from the possession of this post and the one on the
opposite side, and the inconveniences resulting from it to us. To
deprive them of the former, and to remove the latter, were
sufficient inducements to endeavour to dispossess them. The
necessity of doing something to satisfy the expectations of the
people, and reconcile them to the defensive plan we are obliged
to pursue, and to the apparent inactivity which our situation
imposes upon us; the value of the acquisition in itself, with
respect to the men, artillery, and stores, which composed the
garrison; the effect it would have upon the successive operations
of the campaign, and the check it would give to the immediate
depredations of the enemy at the present season; all these
motives concurred to determine me to the undertaking. The certain
advantages of success, even if not so extensive as might be
hoped, would, at all events, be very important; the probable
disadvantages of a failure were comparatively inconsiderable,
and, on the plan which was adopted, could amount to little more
than the loss of a small number of men.

After reconnoitering the post myself, and collecting all the
information I could get of its strength and situation, I found
that, without hazarding a greater loss than we were able to
afford, and with little likelihood of success, the attempt to
carry it could only be by way of surprize. I therefore resolved
on this mode, and gave my instructions to General Wayne
accordingly, in hopes that Verplanck's Point might fall in
consequence of the reduction of the other. Dispositions were made
for the purpose, which unluckily did not succeed. The evening
appointed for the attack, I directed Major-General McDougall to
put two brigades under marching orders to be moved down toward
Verplanck's, as soon as he should receive intelligence of the
success of the attempt on this side, and requested General Wayne
to let his despatches to me pass through General McDougall, that
he might have the earliest advice of the event. But by some
misconception, they came directly to headquarters, which
occasioned a loss of several hours. The next morning
Major-General Howe was sent to take the command of those troops,
with orders to advance to the vicinity of the enemy's works, and
open batteries against them. I was in hopes that this might
either awe them, under the impression of what had happened on the
other side, to surrender, or prepare the way for an assault. But
some accidental delays, in bringing on the heavy cannon and
intrenching tools necessary for an operation of this kind,
unavoidably retarded its execution, till the approach of the
enemy's main body made it too late. General Howe, to avoid being
intercepted, found himself under the necessity of relinquishing
his project and returning to a place of security. I did not unite
the two attacks at the same time and in the same manner, because
this would have rendered the enterprize more complex, more liable
to suspicion, and less likely to succeed for want of an exact
co-operation, which could hardly have been expected.
When I came to examine the post at Stony Point, I found it (p. 018)
would require more men to maintain it than we could afford,
without incapacitating the army for other operations. In the
opinion of the engineer, corresponding with my own and that of
all the general officers present, not less than fifteen hundred
men would be requisite for its defence; and, from the nature of
the works, which were opened toward the river, a great deal of
labour and expense must have been incurred, and much time
employed to make them defensible by us. The enemy, depending on
their shipping to protect their rear, had constructed the works
solely against an attack by land. We should have had to apprehend
equally an attack by water, and must have inclosed the post.
While we were doing this, the whole army must have been in the
vicinity, exposed to the risk of a general action, on terms which
it would not be our interest to court, and too distant to assist
in carrying on the fortifications at West Point, or to support
them in case of necessity. These considerations made it a
unanimous sentiment to evacuate the post, remove the cannon and
stores, and destroy the works, which was accomplished on the
night of the 18th, one piece of heavy cannon only excepted. For
want of proper tackling within reach to transport the cannon by
land, we were obliged to send them to the fort by water. The
movements of the enemy's vessels created some uneasiness on their
account, and induced me to keep one of the pieces for their
protection, which finally could not be brought off without
risking more for its preservation than it was worth. We also lost
a galley, which was ordered down to cover the boats. She got
under way on her return the afternoon of the 18th. The enemy
began a severe and continued cannonade upon her, from which
having suffered some injury she was run on shore, which disabled
her from proceeding. As she could not be got afloat till late in
the flood-tide, and one or two of the enemy's vessels under
favour of the night passed above her, she was set on fire and
blown up.

Disappointed in our attempt on the other side, we may lose some
of the principal advantages hoped from the undertaking. The enemy
may re-establish the post at Stony Point, and still continue to
interrupt that communication. Had both places been carried,
though we should not have been able to occupy them ourselves,
there is great reason to believe the enemy would hardly have
mutilated their main body a second time, and gone through the
same trouble to regain possession of posts where they had been so
unfortunate. But though we may not reap all the benefits which
might have followed, those we do reap are very important. The
diminution of the enemy's force, by the loss of so many men, will
be felt in their present circumstances. The artillery and stores
will be a valuable acquisition to us, especially in our scarcity
of heavy cannon for the forts. The event will have a good effect
upon the minds of the people, give our troops greater confidence
in themselves, and depress the spirits of the enemy
proportionably. If they resolve to re-establish the post, they
must keep their force collected for the purpose. This will serve
to confine their ravages within a narrower compass, and to a part
of the country already exhausted. They must lose part of the
remainder of the campaign in rebuilding the works; and when they
have left a garrison for its defence, their main body, by being
lessened, must act with so much the less energy, and so much the
greater caution.

They have now brought their whole force up the river, and
yesterday they landed a body at Stony Point. It is supposed not
impossible that General Clinton may retaliate by a stroke (p. 019)
upon West Point; and his having stripped New York and its
dependencies pretty bare, and brought up a number of small boats,
are circumstances that give a colour to the surmise. Though all
this may very well be resolved into different motives, prudence
requires that our dispositions should have immediate reference to
the security of this post; and I have, therefore, drawn our force
together, so that the whole may act in its defence on an
emergency. To-morrow I shall remove my own quarters to the fort.

It is probable Congress will be pleased to bestow some marks of
consideration upon those officers who distinguished themselves
upon this occasion. Every officer and man of the corps deserves
great credit; but there were particular ones, whose situation
placed them foremost in danger, and made their conduct most
conspicuous. Lieutenant-Colonel Fleury and Major Stewart
commanded the two attacks. Lieutenants Gibbons and Knox commanded
the advanced parties, or _forlorn hope_; and all acquitted
themselves as well as possible. These officers have a claim to be
more particularly noticed. In any other service promotion would
be the proper reward, but in ours it would be injurious. I take
the liberty to recommend in preference some honourary present,
especially to the field-officers. A brevet captaincy to the other
two, as it will have no operation in regimental rank, may not be
amiss.

Congress will perceive that some pecuniary rewards were promised
by General Wayne to his corps. This was done with my concurrence;
and in addition to them, as a greater incitement to their
exertions, they were also promised the benefit of whatever was
taken in the fort. The artillery and stores are converted to the
use of the public, but, in compliance with my engagements, it
will be necessary to have them appraised, and the amount paid to
the captors in money. I hope my conduct in this instance will not
be disapproved. Mr. Archer, who will have the honour of
delivering these despatches, is a volunteer aid to General Wayne,
and a gentleman of merit. His zeal, activity, and spirit are
conspicuous on every occasion.

I have the honour to be, &c.,
Geo. WASHINGTON.

P.S. Congress may be at a loss what to do with Mr. Archer. A
captain's brevet, or commission in the army at large, will be
equal to his wishes; and he deserves encouragement on every
account. Lest there should be any misapprehension as to what is
mentioned about the manner of sending despatches through General
McDougall, I beg leave to be more explicit. I directed General
Wayne, when he marched from his ground, to send his despatches in
the first instance to the officer of his baggage guard, left at
the encampment from which he marched, who was to inform his
messenger where I was to be found. I left word with this officer
to forward the messenger to General McDougall, and I desired
General McDougall to open the despatches. The messenger, who was
Captain Fishbourn, came directly on, either through misconception
in General Wayne, in the officer of the guard, or in himself.

I forgot to mention that there are two standards taken, one
belonging to the garrison and one to the Seventeenth regiment;
these shall be sent to Congress by the first convenient
opportunity.

_____

_General Wayne to General Washington._ (p. 020)

To
General WASHINGTON. Stony Point, July 17, 1779.

Sir: I have the honour to give you a full and particular relation
of the reduction of this Point, by the light infantry under my
command.

On the 15th instant, at twelve o'clock, we took our line of march
from Sandy Beach, distant fourteen miles from this place; the
roads being exceedingly bad and narrow, and having to pass over
high mountains, through deep morasses and difficult defies, we
were obliged to move in single files the greatest part of the
way. At eight o'clock in the evening the van arrived at Mr.
Springsteel's, within one mile and a half of the enemy, and
formed into columns as fast as they came up, agreeably to the
order of battle annexed; namely, Colonels Febiger's and Meigs'
regiments, with Major Hull's detachment, formed the right column;
Colonel Butler's regiment and Major Murfey's two companies the
left. The troops remained in this position until several of the
principal officers with myself had returned from reconnoitering
the works. At half-past eleven o'clock, being the hour fixed on,
the whole moved forward. The van of the right consisted of one
hundred and fifty volunteers, properly officered, who advanced
with unloaded muskets and fixed bayonets, under the command of
Lieutenant-Colonel Fleury; these were preceded by twenty picked
men, and a vigilant and brave officer, to remove the abatis and
other obstructions. The van of the left consisted of one hundred
volunteers, under the command of Major Stewart, with unloaded
muskets and fixed bayonets, also preceded by a brave and
determined officer with twenty men, for the same purpose as the
other.

At twelve o'clock, the assault was to begin on the right and left
flanks of the enemy's works, while Major Murfey amused them in
front; but a deep morass covering their whole front, and at this
time overflowed by the tide, together with other obstructions,
rendered the approaches more difficult than was at first
apprehended, so that it was about twenty minutes after twelve
before the assault began. Previously to which I placed myself at
the head of Febiger's regiment, or the right column, and gave the
troops the most pointed orders not to fire on any account, but
place their whole dependence on the bayonet, which order was
literally and faithfully obeyed. Neither the deep morass, the
formidable and double rows of abatis, nor the strong works in
front and flank, could damp the ardour of the troops, who, in the
face of a most tremendous and incessant fire of musketry, and
from cannon loaded with grape-shot, forced their way at the point
of the bayonet through every obstacle, both columns meeting in
the centre of the enemy's works nearly at the same instant. Too
much praise cannot be given to Lieutenant-Colonel Fleury (who
struck the enemy's standard with his own hand) and to Major
Stewart, who commanded the advanced parties, for their brave and
prudent conduct.

Colonels Butler, Meigs, and Febiger conducted themselves with
that coolness, bravery, and perseverance that will ever insure
success.

Lieutenant-Colonel Hay was wounded in the thigh, bravely fighting
at the head of his battalion. I should take up too much of Your
Excellency's time were I to particularize every individual who
deserves it, for his bravery on this occasion. I cannot, (p. 021)
however, omit Major Lee, to whom I am indebted for frequent and
very useful intelligence, which contributed much to the success
of the enterprize, and it is with the greatest pleasure I
acknowledge to you, that I was supported in the attack by all the
officers and soldiers under my command, to the utmost of my wishes.
The officers and privates of the artillery exerted themselves in
turning the cannon against Verplanck's Point, and forced the
enemy to cut the cables of their shipping, and run down the river.

I should be wanting in gratitude were I to omit mentioning
Captain Fishbourn and Mr. Archer, my two aids-de-camp, who, on
every occasion, showed the greatest intrepidity, and supported me
into the works after I received my wound in passing the last
abatis.

Inclosed are the returns of the killed and wounded of the light
infantry, as also of the enemy, together with the number of
prisoners taken; likewise of the ordnance and stores found in the
garrison.

I forgot to inform Your Excellency that, previously to my
marching, I had drawn General Muhlenberg into my rear, who, with
three hundred men of his brigade, took post on the opposite side
of the marsh, so as to be in readiness either to support me, or
to cover a retreat, in case of accident; and I have no doubt of
his faithfully and effectually executing either, had there been
any occasion for him.

The humanity of our brave soldiery, who scorned to take the lives
of a vanquished foe calling for mercy, reflects the highest
honour on them, and accounts for the few of the enemy killed on
the occasion.

I am not satisfied with the manner in which I have mentioned the
conduct of Lieutenants Gibbons and Knox, the two gentlemen who
led the advanced parties of twenty men each. Their distinguished
bravery deserves the highest commendation. The former belongs to
the Sixth Pennsylvania regiment, and lost seventeen men killed
and wounded in the attack; the latter belongs to the Ninth
Pennsylvania regiment, and was more fortunate in saving his men,
though not less exposed.

I have the honour to be, &c.,
Anthony WAYNE.

No. 4. (p. 022) PLATE IV.

_July 15, 1779._

Virtutis et audaciæ monum. et præmium. [Rx]. Aggeres paludes
hostes victi.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL DE FLEURY.

[_Taking of Stony Point._]

VIRTUTIS ET AUDACIÆ MONUM. ET PRÆMIUM. (_Virtutis et audaciæ monumentum et præmium: A memorial and reward of courage and boldness._) Lieutenant-Colonel de Fleury, as a Roman soldier, helmeted, stands amidst the ruins of a fort, holding in his right hand a sword, and in his left the staff of an enemy's flag, which he tramples under his right foot Exergue: D. (_sic_) DE FLEURY EQUITI GALLO PRIMO SUPER MUROS RESP. AMERIC. D.D. (_D. de Fleury equiti gallo primo super muros Respublica Americana dono dedit: The American Republic presented this gift to D. de Fleury, a French knight, the first to mount the walls._) DUVIVIER.

AGGERES PALUDES HOSTES VICTI. (_Fortifications, marshes, enemies overcome._) The fortress of Stony Point. Six vessels on the Hudson River. Exergue: STONY-PT. EXPUGN. XV JUL. MDCCLXXIX. (_Stony Point expugnatum, 15 Julii, 1779: Stony Point carried by storm, July 15, 1779_).[33]

[Footnote 33: See INTRODUCTION, pages ix, x, xi,
xii, xv, xxiii, xxviii, xxxv; G, xlv; and H,
xlvii.]

I give an extended biography of the Chevalier de Fleury, the only foreigner to whom a medal was awarded during the Revolutionary War, because no accurate account of him has hitherto been published. The facts were obtained partly from the archives of the French Ministry of War, through the politeness of M. Camille Roussel, member of the French Academy, and at the time historiographer of the Ministry of War, and partly from the archives of the Ministry of Marine. I am (p. 023) also indebted to M. Roussel for the memorial (petition) of M. de Fleury, a translation of which is given below.

FRANÇOIS LOUIS TEISSEIDRE DE FLEURY, son of François Teisseidre, Seigneur de Fleury, was born at St. Hippolyte, Languedoc, France, August 28, 1749. He entered the French army as a volunteer in the regiment of Rouergue infantry, May 15, 1768; became second-lieutenant, September 15, 1768; lieutenant second class, of rifles, June 11, 1776; first lieutenant, June 2, 1777; major of Saintonge infantry, March 19, 1780; colonel of the Pondichéry (India) regiment, January 16, 1784; maréchal-de-camp, June 30, 1791; and resigned, June 24, 1792. He was made a knight of St. Louis, December 5, 1781. The Chevalier de Fleury served in Corsica during the campaigns of 1768, 1769, and 1770. Having been commissioned a captain of engineers in 1776, he obtained a furlough and entered the American army as a volunteer, was appointed by Congress a captain of engineers, May 22, 1777, and was sent first to General Washington's army, and toward the end of the campaign to Fort Mifflin, where he was wounded. At the battle of the Brandywine, he had a horse shot under him, and was again wounded. Congress presented him with a horse, "as a testimonial of the sense they had of his merits," September 13, 1777, and promoted him to a lieutenant-colonelcy, "in consideration of the disinterested gallantry he had manifested in the service of the United States," November 26, 1777. In the assault on Stony Point, July 15, 1779, he commanded one of the attacks, was the first to enter the main works, and struck the British flag with his own hands, for which gallant deed Congress voted him a silver medal. On Friday, October 1, 1779, Congress passed the following resolution concerning Lieutenant-Colonel de Fleury: "_Resolved_, That Congress entertain a high sense of the zeal, activity, military genius, and gallantry of Lieutenant-Colonel Fleury, which he has exhibited on a variety of occasions during his service in the armies of these States, wherein, while he has rendered essential benefit to the American cause, he has deservedly acquired the esteem of the army and gained unfading reputation for himself." He continued in America after General Count de Rochambeau's arrival, serving under him in the campaigns of 1780, 1781, and 1782; and received a pension of four hundred livres by royal decree of May 8, 1783, in consideration of his distinguished services, especially at the siege and taking of (p. 024) Yorktown, October 19, 1781. He afterward served in India, commanded in chief the islands of Mauritius and of Bourbon from May to November, 1785, obtained a pension of one thousand livres, in consideration of his services, November, 1786, and returned to France in April, 1790. He held the rank of maréchal-de-camp in the army of the North, and commanded at Montmédy after General de Bouillé's flight in 1791, and at Givet and Cambray in 1791 and 1792. At the breaking out of the war he was at Valenciennes, and served under Marshals de Rochambeau and de Luckner. During the retreat from Mons his horse, which had been shot under him, fell upon him, and, while lying helpless in that position, he was ridden over by the enemy's cavalry. After a long illness he left the army, June 24, 1792, and retired to Rebais, in the Department of Seine-et-Oise.

_____

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.[34]

[Footnote 34: The resolution of Congress voting
this medal, and the official reports of the taking
of Stony Point, are given under No. 3, page 14.]

_General Washington to the President of Congress._

To Headquarters, West Point,
THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. July 25, 1779.

Sir: Lieutenant-Colonel Fleury having communicated to me his
intention to return to France at the present juncture, on some
matters interesting to himself, I have thought proper to give him
this letter to testify to Congress the favourable opinion I
entertain of his conduct. The marks of their approbation which he
received on a former occasion have been amply justified by all
his subsequent behaviour. 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. He has intimated to me a desire to obtain a
furlough for a few months. I doubt not Congress will be disposed
to grant him every indulgence which can be granted with
propriety.

I have the honour to be, &c.,
Geo. WASHINGTON.

_____

_General Washington to the President of Congress._ (p. 025)

CERTIFICATE.

To
THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. West Point, July 28, 1779.

I certify that Lieutenant-Colonel Fleury has served in the army
of the United States since the beginning of the campaign of 1777,
to the present period, and has uniformly acquitted himself as an
officer of distinguished merit for talents, zeal, activity,
prudence, and bravery; that he first obtained a captain's
commission from Congress, and entered as a volunteer in a corps
of riflemen, in which, by his activity and bravery, he soon
recommended himself to notice; that he next served as
brigade-major, with the rank of major, first in the infantry and
then in the cavalry, in which stations he acquired reputation in
the army, and the approbation of his commanding officers, of
which he has the most ample testimonies; that, toward the
conclusion of the campaign of 1777, he was sent to the important
post of Fort Mifflin in quality of engineer, in which he rendered
essential services, and equally signalized his intelligence and
his valour.

That, in consequence of his good conduct on this and on former
occasions, he was promoted by Congress to the rank of
lieutenant-colonel, and has been since employed in the following
stations, namely, as a sub-inspector, as second in command in a
corps of light infantry in an expedition against Rhode Island,
and lastly as commandant of a battalion of light infantry in the
army under my immediate command; that in each of these
capacities, as well as the former, he has justified the
confidence reposed in him, and acquired more and more the
character of a judicious, well-informed, indefatigable, and brave
officer. In the assault of Stony Point, a strong fortified post
of the enemy on the North River, he commanded one of the attacks,
was the first that entered the main works, and struck the British
flag with his own hands.

I have the honour to be, &c.,
Geo. WASHINGTON.

_____

_A Memorial for M. de Fleury, an Officer in the Regiment of
Rouergue for twelve years; a Captain of Engineers in the Service
of France for three years; and a Lieutenant-Colonel in the
Service of the United States for two years._

M. de Fleury left France with M. du Coudray in 1776.

He obtained a furlough and was commissioned as a captain of
engineers.

Congress having refused to employ M. du Coudray and the officers
who came over with him, almost all of them were discouraged; but
M. de Fleury joined the army and served as a volunteer private
during a part of the campaign of 1777.

At the fight of Piscataqua he had the good fortune to be remarked
while in performance of his duty, and he was promoted to the rank
of captain. (_Certified by Colonel Morgan_).

He was afterward employed to make a survey of the environs of (p. 026)
Philadelphia, which was to be the seat of the approaching campaign,
to take soundings in the Delaware, and to fortify Billingsport.
(_Certified by General Washington_).

The enemy having landed at Hith, he joined the army and acted as
major of brigade.

At the battle of the Brandywine, he remained on the field after
his brigade had been routed, had a horse shot under him, and
carried off a piece of ordnance.

On the report of General Washington to Congress, it was ordered
that a horse be presented to M. de Fleury "as a mark of the high
sense Congress entertained of his merits." (_Certified by General
Washington and General Sullivan_).

N.B. This honour has been paid only to General Arnold and M. de
Fleury.

At the battle of Germantown he acted as brigade-major of
dragoons, charged several times, and made several prisoners. The
horse which had been given to him by Congress was shot under him,
and he himself was wounded in the leg. (_Certified by General
Count Pulaski_).

Fort Mifflin, on Mud Island, the only defence of the Delaware,
was threatened by the British army and squadron. It was a post of
the greatest importance, and M. de Fleury was sent there as chief
engineer. He sustained a siege of six weeks behind a stockade. A
ship of sixty-four guns, the Augusta, and one of 22 guns, the
Merlin, blew up under fire from the fort. The commandant and the
garrison, numbering 600 men, were relieved three times, but M. de
Fleury refused to leave the fort. He was wounded October 15th,
and the fort was evacuated that same night. For this action he
was made a lieutenant-colonel, and a letter of thanks was
addressed to him by the President of Congress. (_Certified by
Congress, the General-in-chief, and M. de la Fayette_).

During the winter of 1778 he formed the project of crossing the
ice and setting fire to the English squadron. The Delaware not
being frozen that year hard enough for his purpose, he invented
explosive boats, and he was engaged in constructing them when he
received orders to join the Army of the North. (_Certified by
General Washington and Commodore Hasilwood_).

The Canadian expedition did not take place, and on his return M.
de Fleury was appointed inspector and charged with forming,
instructing, and disciplining the troops. (_Certified by General
Washington_).

At the opening of the campaign of 1778 he was second in command
of a select corps (in which was the general's body-guard) of 600
men, 2 pieces of ordnance, and 50 cavalry. He served in this
capacity at the battle of Monmouth and afterward.

On the arrival of the French squadron, he was sent to meet Count
d'Estaing by General Washington, and he went with him to Rhode
Island, where an attack was expected.

It was by his advice that the fruitless siege of Newport was
raised, and that the retreat to the north part of the island was
resolved upon. The corps in which he served repulsed the enemy
and covered the retreat. (_Certified by General Sullivan_).

When he returned to the Army of the South, Count d'Estaing kindly
wrote to General Washington: "Allow me to recommend particularly
to your favour M. de Fleury. General Sullivan will tell you what
he did at Rhode Island; he is an excellent officer and a useful
Frenchman. I should be happy, if the occasion offered, to serve
again with him. He is fitted to bring about good feeling among
private individuals, and to make them as friendly as our two (p. 027)
nations are." (_Letter of M. d'Estaing_).

At the opening of the campaign of 1779 M. de Fleury was in
command of a corps of light infantry; he was the first to mount
the ramparts of Stony Point, and he took the enemy's flag with
his own hand. (_Certified by the General and by Congress_).

On this occasion the President of Congress wrote that Congress
hoped he would receive some reward from his own country, and the
French minister also expressed a hope that his Court would give
America, through M. de Fleury, some token of the satisfaction
with which the services of a French officer to America were
viewed in France. (_Letter from Mr. Jay_).

When M. de la Luzerne arrived, General Washington requested him
to call the attention of the French Court to the conduct of M. de
Fleury.

At the close of the campaign, by the advice of his general, he
asked for nine months' leave. At his departure, General
Washington wrote to Congress that he desired the return of an
officer who had rendered such important services. (_Letter of
General Washington_).

Though far from rich, M. de Fleury declined any pecuniary
recompense on leaving America.

M. de Fleury, having thus by his services risen from the ranks to
a lieutenant-colonelcy, and having been honoured by the good will
of the nation and of the army, the esteem of Congress and the
confidence of his general, ventures to solicit some mark of the
approbation of his Prince and of the minister under whose
auspices he entered the service of an ally of France.

Though convinced that he owes his success to his good fortune
rather than to his talents, and that by his zeal he has alone
been enabled to make up for his deficiency, he ventures to hope
that his country will not overlook his services, and that his
return to a beloved land--which is a source of happiness to every
Frenchman--will not prove in his case a misfortune and a loss.

P.S. M. de Fleury has made some surveys and written reports which
have met with the approbation of M. Girard; he begs to be allowed
to present them to the Minister. (_Letter of M. Girard_).

No. 5. (p. 028) PLATE V.

_July 15, 1779._

Joanni Stewart cohortis præfecto Comitia Americana. [Rx].
Stoney-Point oppugnatum.

MAJOR JOHN STEWART.

[_Taking of Stony Point._]

JOANNI STEWART COHORTIS PRÆFECTO COMITIA AMERICANA. (_The American Congress to Major John Stewart._) America, personified as an Indian queen, leaning on the American shield, and having at her feet an alligator, presents a palm branch to Major Stewart. GATTEAUX.

STONEY-POINT (_sic_) OPPUGNATUM. (_Stony Point assaulted._) Major Stewart, at the head of his men, is crossing an abatis of trees, in pursuit of the defeated enemy; in the background the American troops are mounting to the assault of Stony Point Six ships are on the Hudson River. Exergue: XV JUL. MDCCLXXIX. (_15 Julii, 1779: July 15, 1779._) On the platform, GATTEAUX.[35][36]

[Footnote 35: See INTRODUCTION, pages x, xix,
xxviii, xxx, xxxv; D, xli; and H, xlvii.]

[Footnote 36: The resolution of Congress voting
this medal, and the official reports of the taking
of Stony Point, are given under No. 3, page 14.]

JOHN STEWART was a major of infantry, served under General Wayne, and for his gallantry at the storming of Stony Point, on the Hudson River, July 15, 1779, Congress voted him a silver medal. No trustworthy information can be found concerning him. He is reported to have died near Charleston, South Carolina, from injuries caused by a fall from his horse.

No. 6. (p. 029) PLATE VI.

_August 19, 1779._

Henrico Lee legionis equit. præfecto. Comitia Americana. [Rx].
Non obstantib fluminibus vallis, etc.

MAJOR HENRY LEE.

[_Surprise of Paulus Hook._]

HENRICO LEE LEGIONIS EQUIT. PRÆFECTO. COMITIA AMERICANA. (_Henrico Lee legionis equitum præfecto Comitia Americana: The American Congress to Henry Lee, major of cavalry._) Bust of Major Lee, facing the right. On edge of bust, J. WRIGHT.

Within a crown of laurel: NON OBSTANTIB FLUMINIBUS VALLIS ASTUTIA & VIRTUTE BELLICA PARVA MANU HOSTES VICIT VICTOSQ. ARMIS HUMANITATE DEVINXIT. IN MEM PUGN AD PAULUS HOOK DIE XIX. AUG. 1779. (_Non obstantibus fluminibus vallis astutia et virtute bellica parva manu hastes vicit victosque armis humanitate devinxit. In memoria pugni ad Paulus Hook, die 19 Augusti, 1779: Notwithstanding rivers and ramparts, he conquered, with a handful of men, the enemy by skill and valor, and attached by his humanity those vanquished by his arms. In commemoration of the battle of Paulus Hook, August 19, 1719._)[37]

[Footnote 37: See INTRODUCTION, pages xxiii,
xxviii, xxxv; and H, xlvii.]

The original die of the obverse of this medal is in the Mint at Philadelphia, but the original die of the reverse is not to be found there. A new one was engraved for the Mint, some time ago, by Mr. Wm. Barber.

JOSEPH WRIGHT was born in Bordentown, New Jersey, in 1756. He (p. 030) studied painting in England and France, and, after his return to America, painted a portrait of General Washington. He was appointed first draughtsman and die sinker to the United States Mint, and made the dies of a medal, the bust on the obverse of which was considered to be the best medallic profile likeness of Washington. He also made the medal voted by Congress to Major Lee. He died in Philadelphia in 1793.

HENRY LEE was born in Stratford, Westmoreland County, Virginia, January 29, 1756. He was graduated at Princeton College, New Jersey, in 1773; was appointed captain in 1777, and major in 1778. He surprised Paulus Hook, August 19, 1779, and received for the "prudence, address, and bravery" displayed by him on that occasion the thanks of Congress and a gold medal; he became lieutenant-colonel, November 6, 1780, and joined the southern army under General Greene, greatly distinguished himself in various engagements, and resigned in 1782. In 1786 he was chosen one of the delegates to Congress from Virginia; was governor of that State, 1791-1794; member of Congress, 1799; and on the death of Washington was selected to pronounce his eulogium, in which he embodied the memorable words: "First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen." He wrote, in 1809, "Memoirs of the War in the Southern Department of the United States." He died on Cumberland Island, Georgia, March 25, 1818. He was known during the Revolutionary War by the sobriquet of "Light Horse Harry."

_____

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.

_Resolutions of Congress Voting a Medal to Major Henry Lee, etc._

BY THE UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED.