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Medal Name: Victory of Lake Champlain
Struck for: Captain Robert Henley
Approval: Act of Congress October 20, 1814
OBVERSE
ROB. HENLEY EAGLE PRÆFECT. PALMA VIRTU. PER ÆTERNIT. FLOREBIT. (Robertus Henley,Eagle præfectus; palma virtutis per æternitatem florebit: Robert Henley, commander of the Eagle. The palm of bravery will flourish forever.)
Bust of Captain Henley, in uniform, facing the right.
REVERSE
UNO LATERE PERCUSSO. ALTERUM IMPAVIDE VERTIT. (Beaten on one side, he fearlessly turns the other. )
Naval action on Lake Champlain, between the United States fleet, carrying eighty-six guns, under Captain Macdonough, and the British fleet, with ninety-five guns, commanded by Commodore Downie.
To the right the city of Plattsburgh in flames.
Exergue: INTER CLASS. AMERI. ET BRIT. DIE XI SEPT.MDCCCXIIII. (Inter classim Americanam et Britannicam, die 11 Septembris, 1814: Between the American and British fleets, September 11, 1814.)
BACKGROUND
Robert Henley was born in James City County, Virginia, January 5, 1783. He entered the navy as a midshipman in1799, and was on board of the Constellation, under Captain Truxtun, during her combat with La Vengeance; he was a lieutenant in 1807; a commander August 12, 1814; obtained the Eagle, and was second in command to Macdonough in his victory on Lake Champlain, September 11, 1814, receiving for his conduct on that occasion the thanks of Congress and a gold medal. He was appointed captain, March 3, 1825; served in the home squadron and in the West Indies, and died on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, October 7, 1828.
Resolution of Congress Voting Medals to Captains Macdonough and Henley, Lieutenant Cassin, etc
Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America inCongress assembled : That the thanks of Congress be, and the same are hereby, presented to Captain Thomas Macdonough, and through him to the officers, petty officers, seamen, marines, and infantry serving as marines, attached to the squadron under his command, for the decisive and splendid victory gained on Lake Champlain, on the eleventh of September, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, over a British squadron of superior force.
Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause gold medals to be struck, emblematical of the action between the two squadrons, and to present them to Captain Macdonough and Captain Robert Henley, and also to Lieutenant Stephen Cassin, in such a manner as may be most honourable to them; and that the President be further requested to present a silver medal, with suitable emblems and devices, to each of the commissioned officers of the navy and army serving on board, and a sword to each of the midshipmen and sailing-masters, who so nobly distinguished themselves in that memorable conflict.
Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to present a silver medal, with like emblems and devices, to the nearest male relative of Lieutenant Peter Gamble, and of Lieutenant John Stansbury, and to communicate to them the deep regret which Congress feel for the loss of those gallant men, whose name sought to live in the recollection and affection of a grateful country.
Resolved, That three months' pay be allowed, exclusively of the common allowance, to all petty officers, seamen, marines, and infantry serving as marines, who so gloriously supported the honour of the American flag on that memorable day.
Approved October 20, 1814.
Source: The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 by J. F. Loubat, LL.D. (1878)