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Medal Name: Taking of Monterey
Struck for: Major-General Zachary Taylor
Approval: Act of Congress March 2d, 1847
OBVERSE
MAJOR GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR.
Bust of General Taylor, in uniform, facing the right.
REVERSE
Within a wreath of oak:
RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS MARCH 2nd 1847
MONTEREY SEPTEMBER 1846
BACKGROUND
Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to General Taylor
Resolved unanimously by the Senate and 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, his officers and men, for the fortitude, skill, enterprise, and courage which distinguished the late brilliant military operations at Monterey.
Resolved, That the President be requested to cause to be struck a gold medal, with devices emblematical of this splendid achievement, and presented to General Taylor as a testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress for his judicious and distinguished conduct on that memorable occasion.
Resolved, That the President of the United States be further requested to cause swords, with suitable devices,to be presented to Major-General Butler, Major-General Henderson, and to Brigadier-General Quitman, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of their gallantry and good conduct in storming Monterey.
Resolved, That the President of the United States be further requested to present a sword, with suitable devices, to the nearest male relative of Brigadier-General Hamer, and to communicate to him the deep regret which Congress feels for the loss of a gallant man, whose name ought to live in the recollection and affection of a grateful country.
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.
Approved March 2d, 1847.
Source: The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 by J. F. Loubat, LL.D. (1878)