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Medal Name: Capture of the Boxer
Struck for: Lieutenant Edward Rutledge Mccall
Approval: Act of Congress January 6, 1814
OBVERSE
EDWARD R. McCALL NAVIS ENTERPRISE
PRÆFECTUS. SIC ITUR AD ASTRA (Edward Rutledge McCall, Commander of the vessel Enterprize. Thus one attains glory.)
Bust of Lieutenant McCall, in uniform, facing the right.
REVERSE
VIVERE SAT VINCERE (To conquer is to live enough.)
Naval engagement between the United States brig-of-war Enterprize, of fourteen guns, Lieutenant-Commander Burrows, and the British brig-of-war Boxer, of fourteen guns, Captain Blythe.
The Enterprize is raking the Boxer, fore and aft.
The latter has lost her main-topmast.
Exergue: INTER ENTERPRIZE NAV. AMERI. ET BOXER NAV. BRIT. DIE IV SEPT.MDCCCXIII.
(Inter Enterprize navem Americanam et Boxer navem Britannicam, die 4 Septembris, 1813: Between the American vessel Enterprize and the British vessel Boxer, September 4, 1813.)
BACKGROUND
Edward Rutledge McCall was born in Charleston, South Carolina, August 5, 1790. He entered the navy in January, 1808. In 1813 he was first lieutenant of the Enterprize, under Lieutenant Burrows, in the action with the Boxer, took the command after that officer fell, and captured the British vessel, for which gallant deed Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. He afterward served in the Mediterranean under Commodore Perry, was promoted to the rank of master-commandant in 1825, and to that of captain in 1835. He died in Bordentown, New Jersey, July 31, 1853.
Resolution of Congress Voting Medals to Lieutenants McCall, Burrows, etc.
Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: That the President of the United States be requested to present to the nearest male relative of Lieutenant William Burrows, and to Lieutenant Edward R. McCall, of the brig Enterprize, a gold medal, with suitable emblems and devices; and a silver medal, with like emblems and devices, to each of the commissioned officers of the aforesaid vessel, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress ofthe gallantry and good conduct of the officers and crew in the conflict with the British sloop Boxer, on the fourth of September, in the year 1813. And the President is also requested to communicate to the nearest male relative of Lieutenant Burrows the deep regret which Congress feel for the loss of that valuable officer, who died in the arms of victory, nobly contending for his country's rights and fame.
Approved January 6, 1814.
Source: The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 by J. F. Loubat, LL.D. (1878)