Showing posts with label Medallions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Medallions. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Charles Stewart "Old Ironsides"


Source


" Old Ironsides" was saved, repaired, and converted into a school-ship. When the Naval Academy was temporarily removed from Annapolis to Newport, Rhode Island, on account of the Rebellion, the Constitution took her place at the latter station. Her latest commander in the war of 1812- 15, Rear Admiral Charles Stewart, yet [1867] survives, at the age of ninety-one years. He is sometimes called Old Ironsides. [Source - The pictorial field-book of the war of 1812...] 

Stewart's memorial at FindAGrave.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

The War Was Over; The Hornet And The Penguin Hadn't Heard The News


One of the holdings of the University of Michigan's Clements Library:


Title: HM Sloop Penguin collection
"Abstract: The HM Sloop Penguin collection contains watercolor illustrations, photographs, a crew member's letter, and a journal...".

"The USS Hornet captured the 20-gun cruiser on March 23, 1815, near the island Tristan da Cunha, over a month after Britain and the United States signed the Treaty of Ghent, ending the war. The Penguin and the Hornet were, however, stationed in one of the most remote areas of the Atlantic Ocean and had not yet heard the news."


From Description of American Medals:

Source


Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Avoiding A Duel


"Although Perry spoke very highly of Elliot in his official report and Congress decorated him, rumors of Elliot's animosity against his commander and observations from both British and United States experts that Elliot had not backed Perry's boldness as he should created a simmering controversy.  Various accusations and cross accusations in the press, including a defense by James Fenimore Cooper, resulted in Elliot challenging Perry to a duel and then facing a court-martial, a situation that the Cabinet desperately wished to avoid." [Source]

Indiana University has included a copy of Elliott's vindication as well as a brief summary of the feud between Perry and Elliot(t) :
THE PERRY-ELLIOTT CONTROVERSY
Alexander Murray. Opinion of the Court of Inquiry on the conduct of Jesse Duncan Elliott in the Battle of Lake Erie. 1815. (copy)  A handwritten copy of the court opinion clearing Jesse Elliott of any wrong-doing in the Battle of Lake Erie.

This site has a cast copy of Captain Jesse Elliott's Tribute Medal to James Fenimore
Cooper (the Fenimore Art Museum also has a copy of the medal online).