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

General Orders of Debarkation, of March, and of Battle.

Head Quarters, on Board
the United States schooner Ariel,
September 27, 1813.

As it is the intention of the general to land the army on the enemy's coast, the following will be order of debarkation, of march, and of battle:

The right wing of the army will be composed of the Kentucky volunteers, under the command of His Excellency, Governor Shelby, acting as major-general. The left wing, of the light corps of Lieutenant-Colonel Ball, and the brigades of Generals M'Arthur and Cass. The arrangement is made with a view to the localities of the ground upon which the troops are to act and the composition of the enemy's force, and is calculated, in marching up the lake or straight, to place our regular troops in the open ground on the lake, where they will probably be opposed by the British regulars, and the Kentucky volunteers in the woods, which it is presumed will be occupied by the enemy's militia and the Indians. When the signal is given for putting to the shore, the corps of Lieutenant-Colonel Ball will precede the left wing: the regiment of volunteer riflemen the right wing: these corps will land with the utmost celerity, consistent with the preservation of good order, and as soon as landed will seize the most favourable position of annoying the enemy and covering the disembarkation of the troops of the line. General Cass's brigade will follow Colonel Ball's corps, and General Calmes the volunteer riflemen. The regiments will land and form in succession upon those which precede them. The right wing, with its left in front, displaying to the right; and the left wing, with its right in front, displaying to the left. The brigades of Generals King, Allen, and Caldwell will form successively to the right of General Calmes. General M'Arthur and Child's brigades will form the reserve. The general will command in person the right brigades of Generals Cass and Calmes, assisted by Major-General Henry. His Excellency, Governor Shelby, will have the immediate command of three brigades on the right, assisted by Major-General Desha. As soon as the troops are disembarked, the boats are to be immediately sent back to the fleet. It will be observed that the order of landing here prescribed is somewhat that of direct eschelons deployed into line upon the advanced corps of the right and left wing. It is the intention of the general, however, that all the troops which are provided with boats should land in as quick succession as possible; and the general officers in command towards the extremities of the line, are authorized to deviate from the arrangement to counteract any movement of the enemy, by landing any part of their commands, previously to the formation of the corps, which is herein directed to precede them. The corps of Lieutenant-Colonel Ball and the volunteer rifle regiment will maintain the position they occupy on landing, until the troops of the line are formed to support them; they will then retire through the intervals of the line, or to the flanks, and form in the rear of the line.

A detachment of artillery, with a six, four and three-pounder and howitzer, will land with the advanced light corps; the rest of the artillery will be held in reserve, and landed at such point as Major Wood may direct.

The point of landing for the reserve, under Brigadier-General M'Arthur, cannot now be designated; it will be made to support any point of the line which may require aid, or be formed on the flanks, as circumstances may render necessary. The arrangement for landing the troops will be made entirely under the direction of an officer of the navy, whom Commodore Perry has been so obliging as to offer for that purpose. The debarkation of the troops will be covered by the cannon of the vessels. The troops being landed, and the enemy driven off, or not opposing the landing, the army will change its front to the left, and form in order of battle in the following manner: The two brigades of regular troops, and two of the volunteers, to be formed in two lines at right angles to the shore of the lake. General M'Arthur's brigade and Calmes' to form the front line, and Cass's and Childs's the second line; the regular troops still on the left; that flank of both lines, resting on the shore; the distance between the two lines will be 300 yards. The remaining three brigades of volunteers will be drawn up in a single line of two ranks, at right angles to the line of march, its head upon the right of the front line, forming a crotchet (en potence) with that line, and extending beyond the second line. The corps of Lieutenant-Colonel Ball will form the advance of the left wing, at the distance of 300 yards, the regiment of rifle volunteers the advance of the right wing, at the same distance.

Some light pieces of artillery will be placed in the road leading up the lake, and at such other points as Major Wood may direct. When the order is given for marching, the first and second lines will advance by files from the heads of companies; in other words, these two lines will form two columns, marching by their flanks by companies at entire distances. The three brigades on the right flank will be faced to the left and marched forward; the head of this column still forming en potence with the front line. It is probable that the two brigades of the front line will extend from the lake some distance into the woods, on the right flank, and it is desirable it should be so; but should it be otherwise, and the crotchet or angle be at any time on the open ground, his excellency Governor Shelby will immediately prolong the front line to the right, by adding to it as many companies of the leading brigade of the flank column as will bring the angle, and consequently the flank column itself, completely within the woods. It is to be presumed that the enemy will make their attack upon the army in its march, that their regular troops will form their right upon the lake, their militia occupy the ground between the regulars and the woods, and the Indians the woods. The formation herein prescribed is intended to resist an arrangement of this kind. Should the general's conjecture on that subject prove correct, as it must be evident that the right of the enemy cannot be turned, and on that wing his best troops must be placed, it will be proper to refuse him our left, and direct our principal effort to uncover the flank of his regulars by driving off his militia. In the event supposed, therefore, it will be proper to bring up a part or the whole of General Cass's brigade, to assist the charge made by General Calmes, or that the former should change positions with the brigade of volunteers in the second line. Should the general think it safe to order the whole of Cass's brigade to the right, without replacing it with another, General Cass will march to the right, formed in oblique eschelons of companies. It will be the business of General M'Arthur, in the event of his wing being refused to watch the motions of the enemy, with the assistance of the artillery, to prevent his front line at least from interrupting the progress of our right. Should the enemy's militia be defeated, the brigade of ours in advance will immediately wheel upon the flank of the British regulars, and General M'Arthur will advance to attack them in front. In the mean time, his excellency Governor Shelby can use the brigade in reserve of the second line to prolong the flank line from its front or left, or to reinforce any weak part of the line. In all cases where troops in advance are obliged to retire through those who are advancing to support them, it will be done by companies in files, which will retire through the intervals of the advancing line, and will immediately form in rear. The light troops will be particularly governed by this direction.

The disposition of the troops on the right flank is such as the commanding general thinks best calculated to resist an attack from Indians, which is only to be expected from that quarter. His excellency Governor Shelby will, however, use his discretion in making any alteration which his experience and judgment may dictate. Lieutenant-Colonel Ball, Lieutenant-Colonel Simral, and the general officers commanding on the flank line, are to send out small detachments in advance of the two former corps, and to the flank of the latter. Should they discover the enemy in force, immediately notice will be sent to the head of the lines. The general commanding on the spot will immediately order the signals for forming in order of battle, which will be the beat "to arms."

All signals will be immediately repeated by all the drums of the line; the signal for the whole to halt, is the retreat. Drums will be distributed along the heads of companies, and the taps occasionally given to regulate their march.

Lieutenant-Colonels Ball and Simral are to keep the general constantly advised of the discoveries made by the advanced parties. Where it shall become necessary for the corps of Ball and Simral to retire, they will form on the flank or in the rear of Generals M'Arthur and Calmes's brigades, and receive the orders of the brigadiers respectively.

Brigadier-General Cass will designate such officers as he may deem proper, to assist Captain Elliott, of the navy, in the arrangement of the troops. The general will be the signal for the whole to move. By command,

Edmund P. Gaines, Col. Adj. Gen.

Treaty with France, 1822.

Convention of Navigation and Commerce between the United States of America and His Majesty the King of France and Navarre, concluded June 24, 1822; ratifications exchanged February 12, 1823; proclaimed February 12, 1823.

The United States of America and His Majesty the King of France and Navarre, being desirous of settling the relations of navigation and commerce between their respective nations, by a temporary convention reciprocally beneficial and satisfactory, and thereby of leading to a more permanent and comprehensive arrangement, have respectively furnished their full powers in manner following, that is to say,

The President of the United States to John Quincy Adams, their Secretary of State, and His Most Christian Majesty to the Baron Hyde de Neuville, Knight of the Royal and Military Order of St. Louis, Commander of the Legion of Honour, Grand Cross of the Royal American Order of Isabella the Catholic, his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary near the United States; Who, after exchanging their full powers, have agreed on the following articles:

Article I.

Articles of the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States, imported into France in vessels of the United States, shall pay an additional duty, not exceeding twenty francs per ton of merchandize, over and above the duties paid on the like articles, also of the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States, when imported in French vessels.

Article II.

Articles of the growth, produce or manufacture of France, imported into the United States in French vessels, shall pay an additional duty, not exceeding three dollars and seventy-five cents per ton of merchandize, over and above the duties collected upon the like articles, also of the growth, produce or manufacture of France, when imported in vessels of the United States.

Article III.

No discriminating duty shall be levied upon the productions of the soil or industry of France, imported in French bottoms into the ports of the United States for transit or re-exportation; nor shall any such duties be levied upon the productions of the soil or industry of the United States, imported in vessels of the United States into the ports of France for transit or re-exportation.

Article IV.

The following quantities shall be considered as forming the ton of merchandize for each of the articles hereinafter specified:

Wines: Four 61-gallon hogsheads, or 244 gallons of 231 cubic inches, American measure.

Brandies, and all other liquids, 244 gallons.

Silks and all other dry goods, and all other articles usually subject to measurement, forty-two cubic feet French, in France, and fifty cubic feet American measure in the United States.

Cotton: 804lbs. avoirdupois, or 365 kilogrammes.

Tobacco: 1600lbs. avoirdupois, or 725 kilogrammes.

Ashes, pot and pearl: 2240lbs. avoirdupois, or 1016 kilogrammes.

Rice: 1600lbs. avoirdupois, or 725 kilogrammes, and for all weighable articles, not specified, 2240lbs. avoirdupois, or 1016 kilogrammes.

Article V.

The duties of tonnage, light money, pilotage, port charges, brokerage, and all other duties upon foreign shipping, over and above those paid by the national shipping in the two countries respectively, other than those specified in articles 1 and 2 of the present convention, shall not exceed in France, for vessels of the United States, five francs per ton of the vessel's American register; nor for vessels of France in the United States, ninety four cents per ton of the vessel's French passport.

Article VI.

The contracting parties, wishing to favour their mutual commerce, by affording in their ports every necessary assistance to their respective vessels, have agreed that the consuls and vice-consuls may cause to be arrested the sailors, being part of the crews of the vessels of their respective nations, who shall have deserted from the said vessels, in order to send them back and transport them out of the country. For which purpose the said consuls and vice-consuls shall address themselves to the courts, judges, and officers competent, and shall demand the said deserters in writing, proving by an exhibition of the registers of the vessel, or ship's roll, or other official documents, that those men were part of the said crews; and on this demand, so proved, (saving however where the contrary is proved,) the delivery shall not be refused; and there shall be given all aid and assistance to the said consuls and vice-consuls for the search, seizure, and arrest of the said deserters, who shall even be detained and kept in the prisons of the country, at their request and expense, until they shall have found an opportunity of sending them back. But if they be not sent back within three months, to be counted from the day of their arrest, they shall be set at liberty, and shall be no more arrested for the same cause.

Article VII.

The present temporary convention shall be in force for two years from the first day of October next, and even after the expiration of that term, until the conclusion of a definitive treaty, or until one of the parties shall have declared its intention to renounce it, which declaration shall be made at least six months beforehand.

And in case the present arrangement should remain without such declaration of its discontinuance by either party, the extra duties specified in the 1st and 2d articles shall, from the expiration of the said two years, be, on both sides, diminished by one-fourth of their whole amount, and, afterwards by one-fourth of the said amount from year to year, so long as neither party shall have declared the intention of renouncing it as above stated.

Article VIII.

The present convention shall be ratified on both sides, and the ratifications shall be exchanged within one year from the date hereof, or sooner, if possible. But the execution of the said convention shall commence in both countries on the first of October next, and shall be effective, even in case of non-ratification, for all such vessels as may have sailed bonâ fide for the ports of either nation, in the confidence of its being in force.

In faith whereof, the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the present convention, and have hereto affixed their seals, at the city of Washington, this 24th day of June, A. D. 1822.

John Quincy Adams [l.s.]

G. Hyde de Neuville [l.s.]

Separate Article.

The extra duties levied on either side before the present day, by virtue of the act of Congress of 15th May, 1820, and of the ordinance of 26th July of the same year, and others confirmative thereof, and which have not already been paid back, shall be refunded.

Signed and sealed as above, this 24th day of June, 1822.

John Quincy Adams [l.s.]

G. Hyde de Neuville [l.s.]

Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to Colonel Croghan, etc.

Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: That the President of the United States be requested to cause a gold medal to be struck, with suitable emblems and devices, and presented to Colonel Croghan, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of his gallantry and good conduct in the defence of Fort Stephenson; and that he present a sword to each of the following officers engaged in that affair: to Captain James Hunter, to the eldest male representative of Lieutenant Benjamin Johnston, and to Lieutenant Cyrus A. Baylor, John Meek, Ensign Joseph Duncan, and the nearest male representative of Ensign Edmund Shipp, deceased.

Approved February 13, 1835.

Major Croghan to General Harrison.

Lower Sandusky, August 5th, 1813.
To
Major-General Harrison,
Commanding Northwestern Army.

Dear Sir: I have the honour to inform you that the combined force of the enemy, amounting to at least 500 regulars, and seven or eight hundred Indians, under the immediate command of General Proctor, made its appearance before this place early on Sunday evening last, and so soon as the general had made such disposition of his troops as would cut off my retreat, should I be disposed to make one, he sent Colonel Elliott, accompanied by Major Chambers, with a flag to demand the surrender of the fort, as he was anxious to spare the effusion of blood, which he should probably not have it in his power to do should he be reduced to the necessity of taking the place by storm. My answer to the summons was, that I was determined to defend the place to the last extremity, and that no force, however large, should induce me to surrender it. So soon as the flag had returned, a brisk fire was opened upon us from the gunboats in the river, and from a five and a half inch howitzer on shore, which was kept up with little intermission through the night. At an early hour the next morning, three sixes (which had been placed during the night within 250 yards of the pickets) began to play upon us, but with little effect. About 4 o'clock p.m., discovering that the fire from all his guns was concentrated against the northwestern angle of the fort, I became confident that his object was to make a breach, and attempt to storm the works at that point. I therefore ordered out as many men as could be employed for the purpose of strengthening that front, which was so effectually secured by means of bags of flour, sand, &c., that the picketing suffered little or no injury. Notwithstanding which, the enemy, about 5 o'clock, having formed in close column, advancing to assail our works at the expected point, at the same time making two feints at the front of Captain Hunter's line, the column which advanced against the north-western angle, consisting of about 350 men, was so completely enveloped in smoke as not to be discovered until it had approached within fifteen or twenty paces of the lines; but the men being all at their posts and ready to receive it, commenced so heavy and galling a fire as to throw the column a little into confusion. Being quickly rallied, it advanced to the outer works and began to leap into the ditch. Just at that moment a fire of grape was opened from our six pounder (which had been previously arranged so as to rake in that direction), which, together with the musketry, threw them into such confusion, that they were compelled to retire precipitately to the woods. During the assault, which lasted about half an hour, an incessant fire was kept up by the enemy's artillery (which consisted of five sixes and a howitzer), but without effect. My whole loss during the siege, was one killed and seven wounded slightly. The loss of the enemy in killed, wounded, and prisoners, must exceed one hundred and fifty; one lieutenant-colonel, a lieutenant and fifty rank and file, were found in and about the ditch, those of the remainder, who were not able to escape, were taken off during the night by the Indians. Seventy stand of arms and several brace of pistols have been collected near the work. About three in the morning the enemy sailed down the river, leaving behind them a boat, containing clothing and considerable military stores. Too much praise cannot be bestowed on the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates under my command for their gallantry and good conduct during the siege.

Yours, with respect,
G. Croghan,
Major 17th U. S. Infantry comdg. L. S.

R. M. Patterson to J. C. Spencer.

Mint of the United States,
November 2, 1841.
To the Honorable
J. C. Spencer,
Secretary of War.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th ult., and am gratified to see the interest which you take in the subject of our American Medals.

The Military Medals of which we have the dies, are now in the course of execution, in compliance with your request. Among them is included the Medal voted, in 1777, to General Gates, of which the dies were given, by the family, through Colonel Burr, to our former chief coiner, Mr. Eckfeldt.

Electrotype copies of the other Medals, properly mounted, could be furnished at two dollars each. We have already the means of making the following: Washington—Boston, 1776; Colonel Howard—Cowpens, 1781; General Greene, 1781: Alliance with France, 1777-1781[113]; Colonel Washington—Cowpens, 1781.

The dies for the Indian Medals, bearing the heads of the successive Presidents, have heretofore been cut by artists in this country; the earlier ones by Reich, the later by Fürst. One of these is dead, and the other in Europe.

I now propose, with your approbation, to pursue a different course, and to dispense entirely with the services of the die sinker. For this purpose, a medallion likeness of the President must be modeled in wax or clay, on a table of four inches in diameter, and I understand that an artist at Washington, named Chapman, is competent to this work. A plaster cast from this model is used as a pattern for a casting in fine iron, which can be executed by Babbit at Boston, as well as at the celebrated foundries at Berlin. This casting is then placed in an instrument called a portrait lathe (of which we have a very perfect one at the Mint, which I caused to be made at Paris), and reduced fac-similes of it are turned by the lathe, thus preparing for us the dies which we need.

The advantages offered by this mode of operating are manifest. A model made on a large scale in relief, and in plastic material, can hardly fail to be more perfect than a head sunk originally on a die of steel. I accordingly anticipate from this process a more perfect set of dies, than any we have yet made. But it is not an untried experiment which I propose to make. I send you herewith, a medal of Franklin executed by us here, entirely by this process. The original was a medallion likeness of Franklin in burnt clay. All the rest was a purely mechanical operation, (the work being, in fact, done by a steam engine), except a little retouching, and the impression of the letters.

The proposed method presents the advantage of greater economy. The last Indian Medal dies, which were the cheapest we have had made, cost $1,160; Mr. Peale, our chief coiner, is willing to undertake the execution of those for President Tyler, for $800.

The Medals for President Van Buren were begun, and in fact completed, in anticipation of the necessary appropriation by Congress, and I would suggest to you, whether the same course would not be desirable now.

I present the following estimate, for the appropriation to be asked:

For furnishing three head dies	$800.00
For preparing, striking, ringing, etc., 60 of the largest Medals at $2.37 each	142.20
For 200 of the two smaller sizes at $1.37 each	274.00
Fine silver used for the Medals	1,000.00
Contingencies	283.80
	————
	$2,500.00

It may perhaps be judged proper to introduce Indian Medals of President Harrison into the series.

In this case, the estimate need not be doubled, for it is not to be supposed that many more Medals would be wanted. I should suppose that an additional appropriation of $1000 would be sufficient. I may remark, however, that Washington is not in the series of Indian Medals, and that Harrison, like Washington, is in the series of those voted by Congress to our successful military commanders.

I wait your instructions, which I shall execute with great pleasure.

Very respectfully, your faithful servant,
R. M. Patterson, Director.

J. C. Spencer to R. M. Patterson.

Department of War.
Washington, Nov. 13, 1841.
To
Doctor R. M. Patterson,
Director of the Mint, Philadelphia, Penn.

Sir: I have had the pleasure to receive your letter of the 2d instant, respecting the means of procuring the dies for Medals bearing the likeness of President Tyler. The advantages of the mode you propose are sufficiently attested by the execution of the Medal accompanying your letter, and, in accordance with your suggestions, measures have been adopted to have a medallion likeness of the President taken, the execution of which has been entrusted to Mr. Pettrich, whose merit as an artist cannot be unknown to you.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. C. Spencer.

R. M. Patterson to John C. Spencer.

Mint, U.S.
September 17, 1842.
To the Honorable
John C. Spencer,
Secretary of War.

Sir: Permit me to ask whether an appropriation was made at the late session of Congress for defraying the expense of making a set of medals bearing the head of the President, to be given to Indian chiefs, as has been the custom heretofore. In consequence of our former correspondence on this subject, you are aware that some steps have already been taken for accomplishing this object. Let me inquire of you whether the work is to go forward.

R. M. Patterson, Director.