The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 Part 38

In faith of which, We, the Deputies and Plenipotentiaries of the Lords the States-General of the United Netherlands, and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, have, in virtue of our respective authorities and full powers, signed these presents, and confirmed the same with the seals of our arms.

Done at the Hague the eighth of October, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two.

John ADAMS. [L.S.]

George VAN RANDWYCK. [L.S.]

B. V. D. SANTHEUVEL. [L.S.]

P. V. BLEISWIJK. [L.S.]

W. C. H. VAN LIJNDEN. [L.S.]

D. J. VAN HEECKEREN. [L.S.]

Joan VAN KUFFELER. [L.S.]

F: G: VAN DEDEM, TOT DEN GELDER. [L.S.]

H: TJa.s.sENS. [L.S.]

No. 14. (p. 086) PLATE XIV.

_1782._

Libertas Americana. [Rx]. Non sine diis animosus infans.

LIBERTAS AMERICANA.

[_Surrender of the British Armies at Saratoga and at Yorktown._]

LIBERTAS AMERICANA. (_American liberty._) The head of a beautiful maiden, facing the left, with dishevelled hair floating in the wind, and with the rod of liberty surmounted by the Phrygian cap on her right shoulder. Exergue: 4 JUIL. (_sic_) 1776. (_4 Julii, 1776: July 4, 1776._) On edge of bust, DUPRe.

NON SINE DIIS ANIMOSUS INFANS.[52] (_The courageous child was aided by the G.o.ds._) The infant Hercules (_America_), in his cradle, is strangling two serpents, while Minerva (_France_) stands by, helmeted, and with spear in her right hand, ready to strike a leopard (_England_) whose attacks she wards off with her s.h.i.+eld decked with the lilies of France. Exergue: 17/19 OCT. 1777/1781. (17/19 _Octobris_ 1777/1781: 17/19 _October_, 1777/1781.)[53] DUPRe. F. (_fecit_).[54]

[Footnote 52: Horace, Book III, Ode iv, 20.]

[Footnote 53: Dates of the surrender of the British armies at Saratoga and at Yorktown.]

[Footnote 54: See INTRODUCTION, pages x, xi, and xxii.]

This medal was not voted by Congress, but was ordered by Franklin, in commemoration of the surrenders of Lieutenant-General Burgoyne and of General Lord Cornwallis. As the official reports of the first of these events have already been given under No. 2, page 9, I give here only the doc.u.ments relating to the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, at Yorktown.

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ORIGINAL DOc.u.mENTS. (p. 087)

_General Was.h.i.+ngton to the President of Congress._

To His Excellency Headquarters, near York, THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. October 19, 1781.

Sir: I have the honour to inform Congress that a reduction of the British army, under the command of Lord Cornwallis, is most happily effected. The unremitted ardour which actuated every officer and soldier in the combined army on this occasion, has princ.i.p.ally led to this important event, at an earlier period than my most sanguine hopes had induced me to expect.

The singular spirit of emulation, which animated the whole army from the first commencement of our operations, has filled my mind with the highest pleasure and satisfaction, and had given me the highest presages of success.

On the 17th instant, a letter was received from Lord Cornwallis, proposing a meeting of commissioners to consult on terms for the surrender of the posts of York and Gloucester. This letter (the first that had pa.s.sed between us) opened a correspondence, a copy of which I do myself the honour to inclose; that correspondence was followed by the definitive capitulation, which was agreed to and signed on the 19th, copy of which is herewith transmitted; and which I hope will meet with the approbation of Congress.

I should be wanting in the feelings of grat.i.tude did I not mention on this occasion, with the warmest sense of acknowledgment, the very cheerful and able a.s.sistance which I have received in the course of our operations from His Excellency the Count de Rochambeau. Nothing could equal this zeal of our allies but the imitating spirit of the American officers, whose ardour would not suffer their exertions to be exceeded.

The very uncommon degree of duty and fatigue, which the nature of the service required from the officers of engineers and artillery of both armies, obliges me particularly to mention the obligations I am under to the commanding and other officers of those corps.

I wish it was in my power to express to Congress how much I feel myself indebted to the Count de Gra.s.se, and the officers of the fleet under his command, for the distinguished aid and support which has been afforded by them, between whom and the army the most happy concurrence of sentiments and views have subsisted, and from whom every possible co-operation has been experienced which the most harmonious intercourse could afford.

Returns of the prisoners, military stores, ordnance, s.h.i.+pping and other matters, I shall do myself the honour to transmit to Congress as soon as they can be collected by the heads of departments to which they belong.

Colonel Laurens and the Viscount de Noailles, on the part of the combined army, were the gentlemen who acted as commissioners for forming and settling the terms of capitulation and surrender, herewith transmitted, to whom I am particularly obliged for their readiness and attention exhibited on the occasion.

Colonel Tilghman, one of my aids-de-camp, will have the (p. 088) honour to deliver these despatches to Your Excellency; he will be able to inform you of every minute circ.u.mstance which is particularly mentioned in my letter. His merits, which are too well known to need any observations at this time, have gained my particular attention, and I could wish that they may be honoured by the notice of Your Excellency and Congress.

Your Excellency and Congress will be pleased to accept my congratulations on this happy event, and believe me to be, with the highest respect and esteem,

Sir, your Excellency's most obedient humble servant, Geo. WAs.h.i.+NGTON.

P.S. Though I am not possessed of the particular returns, yet I have reason to suppose that the number of prisoners will be between five and six thousand, exclusive of seamen and others.

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_General Was.h.i.+ngton to the President of Congress._

To His Excellency Headquarters, near York, THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. October 27, 1781.

Sir: I do myself the honour to enclose to Your Excellency copies of returns of prisoners, artillery, arms, ordnance, and other stores, surrendered by the enemy in their posts of York and Gloucester, on the 19th instant, which were not completed at the time of my despatches, and but this moment handed to me. A draft of these posts, with the plan of attack and defence, is herewith transmitted; and twenty-four standards, taken at the same time, are ready to be laid before Congress.

My present despatches being important, I have committed to the care of Colonel Humphreys, one of my aids-de-camp, whom, for his attention, fidelity and good services, I beg leave to recommend to Congress and Your Excellency.

I have the honour to be, Sir, Your Excellency's most obedient humble servant, Geo. WAs.h.i.+NGTON.

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_Resolutions of Congress Voting Thanks, etc., for the Taking of Yorktown._

BY THE UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS a.s.sEMBLED:

_Resolved_, That the thanks of the United States, in Congress a.s.sembled, be presented to His Excellency General Was.h.i.+ngton, for the eminent services which he has rendered to the United States, and particularly for the well concerted plan against the (p. 089) British garrisons in York and Gloucester; for the vigour, attention, and military skill with which that plan was executed, and for the wisdom and prudence manifested in the capitulation.

That the thanks of the United States, in Congress a.s.sembled, be presented to His Excellency the Count de Rochambeau, for the cordiality, zeal, judgment, and fort.i.tude, with which he seconded and advanced the progress of the allied army against the British garrison in York.

That the thanks of the United States, in Congress a.s.sembled, be presented to His Excellency Count de Gra.s.se, for his display of skill and bravery in attacking and defeating the British fleet off the Bay of Chesapeake, and for his zeal and alacrity in rendering, with the fleet under his command, the most effectual and distinguished aid and support to the operations of the allied army in Virginia.

That the thanks of the United States, in Congress a.s.sembled, be presented to the commanding and other officers of the corps of artillery and engineers of the allied army, who sustained extraordinary fatigue and danger in their animated and gallant approaches to the lines of the enemy.

That General Was.h.i.+ngton be directed to communicate to the other officers and soldiers under his command the thanks of the United States, in Congress a.s.sembled, for their conduct and valour on this occasion: