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Medal Name: Mexican Campaign
Struck for: Major-General Winfield Scott
Approval: Act of Congress March 9, 1848
OBVERSE
In a pendant: MAJOR GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT. Undraped bust of General Scott, facing the left.
Fifteen stars on each side.
Exergue: RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS MARCH 9. 1848.
REVERSE
Six crowns of laurel and oak intertwined;
in each the name of one of the Mexican victories of General Scott:
VERA CRUZ. CERRO GORDO. CONTRERAS. SAN ANTONIO & CHURUBUSCO. MOLINO DELREY. CHAPULTEPEC.
In the centre is the taking of the capital, CITY OF MEXICO, which General Scott is observing on horseback.
BACKGROUND
Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to General Scott
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 Winfield Scott, Major-General commanding-in-chief the army in Mexico, and through him to the officers and men of the regular and volunteer corps under him, for their uniform gallantry and good conduct, conspicuously displayed at the siege and capture of the city of Vera Cruz and castle of San Juan d'Ulloa, March 29, 1847; and in the successive battles of Cerro Gordo, April 18; Contreras, San Antonio, and Churubusco, August 19 and 20; and for the victories achieved in front of the city of Mexico, September 8, 11, 12, and 13; and the capture of the metropolis, September 14, 1847; in which the Mexican troops, greatly superior in numbers, and with every advantage of position, were in every conflict signally defeated by the American arms.
Resolved, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, requested to cause to be struck a gold medal, with devices emblematical of the series of brilliant victories achieved by the army, and presented to Major-General Winfield Scott, as a testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of his valor, skill, and judicious conduct in the memorable campaign of 1847.
Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause the foregoing resolutions to be communicated to Major-General Scott in such terms as he may deem best calculated to give effect to the objects thereof.
Approved March 9, 1848.
Source: The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 by J. F. Loubat, LL.D. (1878)