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Medal Name: Victories on the Rio Grande
Struck for: Major-General Zachary Taylor
Approval: Act of Congress July 16, 1846
OBVERSE
MAJOR GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR.
Bust of General Taylor, in uniform, facing the right.
REVERSE
Within a wreath of laurel and palm inclosing a serpent biting its tail - emblem of immortality through gloryand victory:
RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS JULY 16th 1846. PALO ALTO MAY 8th 1846 RESACA DELA PALMA MAY 9th 1846.
BACKGROUND
Zachary Taylor was born in Orange County, Virginia, September 24, 1784. His father soon after removed to a plantation near Louisville, Kentucky, where young Taylor passed the early years of his life. He entered the army as first lieutenant of infantry, 1808; was captain, 1810; distinguished himself by his defence of Fort Harrison, on the Wabash river, against the Indians led by Tecumseh, September 5, 1812, for which he was breveted major; full major, 1814; lieutenant-colonel, 1819; colonel, 1832. He served during all this period against the Indians on the northwest frontier; he was ordered to Florida in 1836, and won the battle of Okechobee against the Seminoles, December 25, 1837, for which he was made brigadier-general by brevet and commander-in-chief in Florida, 1838; commander of the first division in the southwest in 1840, in which year he removed from Kentucky to Louisiana, where he bought a plantation near Baton Rouge. Appointed commander of the army of occupation in Texas, July,1845, he defeated the Mexican armies in battle at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, May 8 and 9, 1846; at Monterey, September 24, same year; and at Buena Vista, February 22 and 23, 1847. For these victories Congressgave him a vote of thanks and three gold medals. He was made major-general, June 29, 1846; became President of the United States, March 5, 1849, and died at the White House in Washington, July 9, 1850. His soldiers gave him the sobriquet of "Old Rough and Ready."
Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to General Taylor.
Resolved unanimously by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: That the thanks of Congress are due, and are hereby tendered to Major-General Zachary Taylor, commanding the army of occupation, his officers and men, for the fortitude, skill, enterprise,and courage, which have distinguished the recent brilliant operations on the Rio Grande.
Section 2. And be it further resolved, That Congress sincerely sympathize with the relatives and friends of the officers and soldiers of the army of the United States who so bravely fell in the service of their country on the Rio Grande.
Section 3. And be it further resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause the foregoing resolutions to be communicated to General Taylor, and through him to the army under his command.
Section 4. And be it further resolved, That the President of the United States be authorized and requested to have a medal of gold procured, with appropriate devices and inscriptions thereon, and presented to General Taylor, in the name of the Republic, as a tribute to his good conduct, valor, and generosity to the vanquished.
Approved July 16, 1846.
Source: The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 by J. F. Loubat, LL.D. (1878)