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Medal Name: Victory of New Orleans
Struck for: Major-General Andrew Jackson
Approval: Act of Congress February 27, 1815
OBVERSE
MAJOR GENERAL ANDREW JACKSON.
Bust of General Jackson, in uniform, facing the right.
REVERSE
RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS FEBRUARY 27. 1815.
A winged Victory, holding in her left hand a crown of laurel, and a tablet upon which she has written, at the dictation of Peace, the word ORLEANS.
Exergue: BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS JANUARY 8. 1815.
BACKGROUND
Andrew Jackson was born in the Waxhaw Settlement, North Carolina, March 15, 1767. His parents had recently emigrated from Ireland, and he lost them both early in life. In 1781 he joined the Continental Army and served in North Carolina. Having studied law, he removed, in 1788, to Nashville. He was the first member of Congress from Tennessee, in 1796; was United States senator, 1797-1798; judge of the Supreme Court of Tennessee, 1799; resigned in 1804, and retired to his farm, called "The Hermitage," near Nashville. As major-general of the Tennessee Volunteers, he gained victories over the Creek Indians at Talladega, November 9, 1813, at Emuckfaw and Enotochopco, January 22 and 24, and at Tohopeka, March 27, 1814. He was appointed brigadier-general in the United States Army on April 19, major-general on May 1, 1814, and commander-in-chief for the defence of Louisiana against the British troops under General Packenham, whom he completely defeated at the battle of New Orleans, January 8, 1815. For this great victory Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. He retired from the army, 1819, was governor of Florida territory, 1821, United States senator from Tennessee, 1823-1824, unsuccessful presidential candidate in 1824, and President of the United States (first term), 1829-1833; (second term), 1833-1837. He retired to the Hermitage in 1837, and died there June 8, 1845. He was known by the sobriquet of "Old Hickory."
Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to General Jackson
Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America inCongress assembled: That the thanks of Congress be, and they are hereby, given to Major-General Jackson, and, through him, to the officers and soldiers of the regular army, of the militia and of the volunteers, under his immediate command, and to the officers and soldiers charged with the defence of Fort St. Philip, for their uniform gallantry and good conduct, conspicuously displayed against the enemy, from the time of his landing before New Orleans until his final expulsion from the State of Louisiana, and particularly for the valour, skill, and good conduct on the eighth of January last, in repulsing, with great slaughter, a numerous British army of chosen veteran troops, when attempting by a bold and daring attack to carry by storm the works hastily thrown up for the protection of New Orleans, and thereby obtaining a most signal victory over the enemy with a disparity of loss, on his part, unexampled in military annals.
Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be struck a gold medal, with devices emblematical of this splendid achievement, and presented to Major-General Jackson, as a testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of his judicious and distinguished conduct on that memorable occasion.
Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause the foregoing resolution to be communicated to Major-General Jackson in such terms as he may deem best calculated to give effect to the objects thereof.
Approved February 27, 1815.
Source: The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 by J. F. Loubat, LL.D. (1878)