MEDAL.
Occasion.—Surrender of Lieutenant-General Burgoyne and his army at Saratoga, New York, in 1777.
Device.—Bust of General Gates.
Legend.—Horatio Gates duci strenno comitia Americana.
Reverse.—Gates and Burgoyne in front of the American and British troops. Burgoyne in the act of presenting his sword to Gates. The Americans on the right, with arms shouldered and colors flying. The British on the left, in the act of grounding their arms, and laying down their colors. By the side of the two generals are a drum and a stand of colors.
Legend.—Salus Regionum Septentrional.
Exergue.—Hoste ad Saratogam in dedition. Accepto die 17th October, 1777.
GENERAL DANIEL MORGAN.
The father of Daniel Morgan was a Welshman, who had emigrated from Wales, and settled in the state of New Jersey, some years before the birth of his son, which took place in the year 1736. His father was poor, consequently his education was confined to the ordinary branches of a country school. At an early age, an enterprising character appeared to be developing itself, and our hero, at the age of seventeen, left the humble roof of his parents, to improve his fortune at the south. Accordingly, we next find him as wagoner on the estate of a wealthy planter, in Frederick county, Virginia. In the situation of teamster, he continued until after the unfortunate expedition of Braddock; during the whole of this campaign he drove his own team attached to the army. During this unfortunate campaign he was charged with insolence to a British officer, tried and sentenced to receive five hundred lashes, which he submitted to with that firm indifference which was peculiar to him through the remainder of his life. Lee, in his memoirs says, “That in a few days after the infliction of this disgraceful punishment, the officer became convinced of the injustice of the charge, and made an ample atonement to young Morgan before the whole regiment.” It was during this disastrous campaign, that the military qualifications of Morgan were first noticed, when the officers recommended him to the colonial government of Virginia, from which he received a commission as ensign in the English service. It was in this capacity that his powers of mind burst forth, in those qualifications which twenty years afterwards distinguished him as one of the prominent heroes of the glorious revolution.
Although engaged from 1775 to 1781, in which he saw more actual service than any other American officer, he received but one dangerous wound. He was attacked by a party of Indians, while carrying dispatches to a frontier post, accompanied by two soldiers; he received a ball, which entering the back of his neck, came out through his left cheek, shattering his jaw in a dangerous manner. He was mounted on a fleet horse, and in falling, grasped firmly the neck of the animal. The savages, presuming he was dead, left him to scalp the two that had fallen. Morgan, who believed that his wounds would prove fatal, or that he should be exhausted by loss of blood, urged his horse to full speed, and the noble animal escaped with him into the fort. One of the savages followed him for some distance, as fast as he could run, with open mouth and tomahawk in hand, expecting every moment his victim would fall. When the disappointed savage found the horse was fast leaving him behind, he threw his tomahawk with great force, but without effect, and abandoned the pursuit with a most hideous yell.
This serious wound confined Morgan to the hospital for six months; as soon as convalescence permitted, he returned to his native state, where he remained till he was quite recovered. In 1774, we find him possessor of one of the finest farms in the county of Frederick. During this year he took the command of a company in an expedition to the west, under Lord Dunmore, against the Indians, who were defeated. On his return, on the Ohio river, he first heard of the hostilities between the English and the Bostonians. On their arrival at Winchester, Virginia, the corps was disbanded, and they severally pledged themselves to each other, to aid their eastern brethren if they should require it. Matters now becoming serious, he applied to Congress for permission to raise a company, which was immediately granted, with an appointment as captain. His military popularity being so well known, that in the short space of eight days, ninety-six men had enrolled themselves under his command, which formed the nucleus of that celebrated rifle company, which so signally distinguished itself in so many battles. His corps being complete he reached Boston in fifteen days, and remaining there some time in inactivity, he requested to be detached to Quebec. This was done, and under the orders of General Arnold, in that celebrated march through the woods, he led the van. Shortly after his arrival, General Montgomery also arrived, when the attack was decided upon. Morgan led the vanguard, under the order of General Arnold, who, being badly wounded in the leg, was carried from the field at the commencement of the attack.
At this time there were three field officers superior in command to Morgan, but each, from inexperience, insisted upon waiving their rank, and placed Morgan in command. His attack was upon a two gun battery, supported by fifty men. Having twice fired and missed, he ordered the ladders to be placed, which he mounted, and leaped into the town amidst the fifty men who, after a faint resistance, fled; this daring act inspired the soldiers, who lost no time in following their leader.
The English soldiery were panic-struck, the battery was carried without resistance, the barrier left open, and the people gave themselves up, asking for protection. Before entering the barrier gate, he was ordered to wait for General Montgomery. In this he very reluctantly acquiesced, saying at the same time that it would give the enemy time to rally, and recover from their panic. In this he was correct, for the news of the death of the brave Montgomery seemed to damp the ardor of the brave soldiers; although they fought to desperation, they were overwhelmed by numbers and made prisoners of war. Soon after the exchange of Morgan, he received the appointment of colonel in the continental army; and marched at the head of the partisan rifle corps to the assistance of General Gates. At the glorious victory of Saratoga, he took a most conspicuous part; although Gates shamefully omitted to do him justice at the time, the English account of the battle gave the principal credit of the victory to Morgan.
A reconciliation, however, soon took place between Morgan and Gates; and the latter, on every subsequent occasion, endeavored to make amends for the injustice. The legislature of Virginia presented Morgan with a horse, pistols and a sword; and his neighbors named his plantation “Saratoga,” in honor of his late victory. His next act of bravery and skill was displayed in the defeat of General Tarleton, at the battle of the Cowpens, on the 17th of January, 1781, where he took nearly as many prisoners as he had men of his own; and Congress testified the high sense they entertained of this brilliant victory, by presenting him with a gold medal, (hereafter described.) At the end of the war General Morgan retired to his plantation at Saratoga, and devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. He was elected to Congress, but after serving two sessions, his debilitated health obliged him to retire from public life.
In 1800, General Morgan removed to Winchester, where he was confined by extreme debility for nearly two years, and expired on the sixth day of July, 1802. General Morgan had two daughters, the eldest married to the late General Presly Neville, of Pittsburgh, and the youngest to Major Heard, of New Jersey. Of this gallant soldier it may truly be said, that no officer rendered more efficient aid to the cause of his country, and that he well merited the character at that time given him, the hero of the three greatest victories, Quebec, Saratoga, and the Cowpens.