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Medal Name: Boston Retaken
Struck for: General George Washington
Approval: Act of Congress March 25, 1776
OBVERSE
GEORGIO WASHINGTON SVPREMO DVCI EXERCITVVM ADSERTORI LIBERTATIS COMITIAAMERICANA. (The American Congress to George Washington, commander-in-chief of the armies, the assertor of liberty.)
Undraped bust of General Washington, facing the right.
REVERSE
HOSTIBUS PRIMO FUGATIS. (The enemy put to flight for the first time.)
To the left, General Washingtonon horseback, surrounded by his staff, points toward the British fleet, which is leaving Boston. The American army, in battle array in front of its intrenchments, makes ready to occupy the city.
Exergue:
BOSTONIUM RECUPERATUM XVII MARTII MDCCLXXVI. (Boston retaken, March 17, 1776)
BACKGROUND
Although this medal was the first one voted by Congress, it was not struck until after that of the Chevalier deFleury, which was voted three years later. Its designs, and those of the medals awarded to General Horatio Gates for Saratoga, General Nathaniel Greene for Eutaw Springs, General Daniel Morgan, Lieutenant-Colonels William Augustine Washington and John Eager Howard for the Cowpens, General Anthony Wayne and Major John Stewart for Stony Point, and Captain John Paul Jones for the capture of the Serapis, were composed by commissioners appointed by the French Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres, at the request of Colonel David Humphreys and of Mr. Jefferson. The legend of the reverse of the General Washington medal, as originally proposed, was HOSTIBUS or ANGLIS PRIMUM FUGATIS
Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to General Washington.
In Congress
Resolved, That the thanks of this Congress, in their own name, and in the name of the thirteen United Colonies, whom they represent, be presented to His Excellency General Washington, and the officers and soldiers under his command, for their wise and spirited conduct in the siege and acquisition of Boston; and that a medal of gold be struck in commemoration of this great event, and presented to His Excellency; and that a committee of three be appointed to prepare a letter of thanks and a proper device for the medal.
Monday, March 25, 1776.
Source: The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 by J. F. Loubat, LL.D. (1878)