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Medal Name: Surprise of Paulus Hook
Struck for: Major Henry Lee
Approval: Act of Congress August 19, 1779
OBVERSE
HENRICO LEE LEGIONIS EQUIT. PRÆFECTO. COMITIA AMERICANA. (Henrico Lee legionisequitum præfecto Comitia Americana: The American Congress to Henry Lee, major of cavalry.)
Bust of Major Lee, facing the right.
REVERSE
Within a crown of laurel: NON OBSTANTIB FLUMINIBUS VALLIS ASTUTIA & VIRTUTE BELLICAPARVA MANU HOSTES VICIT VICTOSQ. ARMIS HUMANITATE DEVINXIT. IN MEM PUGN ADPAULUS HOOK DIE XIX. AUG. 1779. (Non obstantibus fluminibus vallis astutia et virtute bellica parvamanu 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.)
BACKGROUND
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 ofCongress, 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."
Source: The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 by J. F. Loubat, LL.D. (1878)