 |
Medal Name: Victory of the Cowpens
Struck for: Brigadier-General Daniel Morgan
Approval: Act of Congress March 9, 1781
OBVERSE
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, f.(fecit).
REVERSE
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 ADCOWPENS 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 f.
(Dupré invenit et fecit).
BACKGROUND
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 Southunder 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.
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 theUnited 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.
Source: The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 by J. F. Loubat, LL.D. (1878)