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Medal Name: Victory of the Thames
Struck for: Governor Isaac Shelby
Approval: Act of Congress April 4, 1818
OBVERSE
GOVERNOR ISAAC SHELBY
Bust of Governor Shelby in a general's uniform, facing the right.
REVERSE
BATTLE OF THE THAMES. OCTO. (October) 5. 1813.
The battle of the Thames; in the background, a forest;
In the foreground, the mounted riflemen are charging the enemy.
Exergue: RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS APRIL 4. 1818.
BACKGROUND
Isaac Shelby was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, December 11, 1750. He served in the South throughout the Revolutionary War, rose to the rank of colonel, and displayed great gallantry in the battle of King's Mountain, October 7, 1780, for which he received a sword of honor and thanks from the Legislature of North Carolina. He was governor of Kentucky, 1792-1796, and 1812-1816; he joined General Harrison with four thousand Kentucky volunteers, and distinguished himself in the battle of the Thames, October 5, 1813, for which victory Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. He declined to be secretary of War in 1817, and died in Lincoln County, Kentucky, July 18, 1826.
Resolution of Congress Voting Medals to General Harrison and Governor Shelby, etc.
Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: That the thanks of Congress be, and they are hereby, presented to Major-General William Henry Harrison, and Isaac Shelby, late Governor of Kentucky, and, through them, to the officers and men under their command, for their gallantry and good conduct in defeating the combined British and Indian forces under Major-General Proctor, on the Thames, in Upper Canada, on the fifth day of October, one thousand eight hundred and thirteen, capturing the British army, with their baggage, camp equipage and artillery; and that the President of the United States be requested to cause two gold medals to be struck,emblematical of this triumph, and presented to General Harrison and Isaac Shelby, late Governor of Kentucky.
Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to present to Colonel Richard M. Johnson a sword, as a testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of the daring and distinguished valour displayed by himself and the regiment of volunteers under his command, in charging and essentially contributing to vanquish the combined British and Indian forces under Major-General Proctor, on the Thames, in Upper Canada, on the fifth day of October, one thousand eight hundred and thirteen.
Approved April 4, 1818.
Source: The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 by J. F. Loubat, LL.D. (1878)