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Medal Name: Victory of the Cowpens
Struck for: Lieutenant-Colonel William Augustine Washington
Approval: Act of Congress March 9, 1781
OBVERSE
GULIELMO WASHINGTON LEGIONIS EQUIT. (equitum) PRÆFECTO COMITIA AMERICAN.(Americana.) (The American Congress to William Washington, commander of a regiment of cavalry.) Lieutenant-Colonel Washington, at the head of his men, is pursuing the enemy's cavalry.
A winged Victory hovers above him, holding in her right hand a crown of laurel, and in her left a palm branch.
REVERSE
Within a crown of laurel:
QUOD PARVA MILITUM MANU STRENUE PROSECUTUS HOSTESVIRTUTIS INGENITÆ PRÆCLARUM SPECIMEN DEDIT IN PUGNA AD COWPENS XVII. JAN.(Januarii) MDCCLXXXI.(Because in vigorously pursuing the enemy with a handful of soldiers he gave anoble example of innate courage at the battle of the Cowpens, January 17, 1781)
BACKGROUND
William Augustine Washington, a distant relation of General Washington's, was born in Stafford County, Virginia, February 28, 1752. He was educated for the church, but entered the army as captain of infantry, and fought in the battles of Long Island, Trenton, and Princeton. In 1778 he was lieutenant-colonel of dragoons, and served in the South under Generals Lincoln, Greene, and Morgan. He distinguished himself at the victory of the Cowpens, for which he received from Congress a silver medal; was made a prisoner at Eutaw Springs, and remained in captivity in Charleston, South Carolina, till the close of the war, when he settled in that city. He served for some time in the South Carolina Legislature; was appointed on General Washington's staff with the rank of brigadier-general, in1797, and died in Charleston, March 6, 1810.
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 the United 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)