Post by Matthew S. Schweitzer on Mar 11, 2010 14:54:33 GMT -5
Interesting little historical tidbit...
In 1756, Lt. Col. John Armstrong of Carlise, Pennsylvania led 300 colonial militiamen on an expedition to destroy the Indian town of Kittanning. After burning the town and killing the Delaware chief Captain Jacobs, Armstrong and his men were celebrated as heroes.
To commemorate Armstrong's victory at Kittanning, a series of medals were struck in silver and copper by the City of Philadelphia in 1757. The medal was engraved by Edward Duffield, a Philadelphia watchmaker and engraver (1730-1805) and struck by Joseph Richardson, a noted silversmith of Philadelphia (1711-1784).
Today it is considered the first military medal made in what would become the United States. It is of the utmost rarity amongst coin collectors.
www.neocollect.com/item/987/
www.coinlibrary.com/wpns/club_wpns_pr_kittanning.htm
In 1756, Lt. Col. John Armstrong of Carlise, Pennsylvania led 300 colonial militiamen on an expedition to destroy the Indian town of Kittanning. After burning the town and killing the Delaware chief Captain Jacobs, Armstrong and his men were celebrated as heroes.
To commemorate Armstrong's victory at Kittanning, a series of medals were struck in silver and copper by the City of Philadelphia in 1757. The medal was engraved by Edward Duffield, a Philadelphia watchmaker and engraver (1730-1805) and struck by Joseph Richardson, a noted silversmith of Philadelphia (1711-1784).
Today it is considered the first military medal made in what would become the United States. It is of the utmost rarity amongst coin collectors.
1756 Kittanning Destroyed medal. Betts-400, Tancred, pp. 45-6, Julian MI.33. Unsigned (by Thomas Halliday). Silver. From the Thomas Halliday copy dies ca. 1810-40.The obverse bears the Arms of the corporation of the city of Philadelphia as they were at the time. The inscription around records the fact that the medal was that body’s gift. The reverse shows Armstrong directing his men through the stockade surrounding the Delaware village of Kittanning, which can be seen afire in the background. One of Armstrong’s men has just shot and killed a Delaware (probably meant to be the Delaware leader Captain Jacobs) in the right foreground. The legend around records Armstrong’s action and its date, September 8, 1756.
Kittanning was a Delaware village on the Allegheny River three to four day’s march north of the junction of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers. It had been founded in 1720. Delaware leaders Captain Jacobs and Shingas maintained separate establishments there on either side of the river. The Delaware allied with the French because of past injustices received at the hands of the English, and under Jacobs and Shingas raided settlements along the fringe of English Pennsylvania. The population at Kittanning has been estimated at 140 Delaware and Shawnee fighting men, about 100 white captives, and an unknown number of women and children.
In July, 1756 Captain Jacobs’ men along with two French officers attacked and burned Fort Granville, killing two defenders and capturing 22 others. One of the dead was Lieutenant Edward Armstrong, John Armstrong’s brother. The following month, Armstrong along with seven companies of Pennsylvania militia left Fort Shirley to attack Kittanning and take their revenge.
At dawn on September 8, Armstrong attacked the settlement. Captain Jacobs raised the alarm and most, if not all, the women, children and captives were ferried across the Allegheny to Shingas’ encampment. The fight centered around Jacobs’ house, from which Armstrong’s men received heavy fire and which held the settlement’s powder stores. Armstrong ordered the village’s houses set afire and when the flames spread to Jacobs’ home the Delaware leader and his wife and son tried to escape the inevitable explosion. They were shot down as they ran from the door. By afternoon on the 8th the village had burned to the ground and Armstrong left the field just ahead of the arrival of reinforcements from Shingas’ stronghold across the river. Armstrong lost 17 killed, 13 wounded, and 17 missing presumed dead or captured. Fewer than 10 per cent of the white captives held by Jacobs were rescued. A small detachment of 14 soldiers Armstrong had left to ambush another Delaware encampment was encircled and shot to pieces, losing six killed and two wounded before the Indians heard the explosion at Jacob’s house and withdrew.
The engagement was, at best, indecisive but the corporation of the city of Philadelphia put their best face on it and commissioned Edward Duffield to make dies and strike a medal in honor of the fight. The French thought differently about it. The American Journals of Louis Antoine de Bougainville, 1756-60 record under October 11, 1756 that some 300 English came to burn the village of Attigue (i.e., Kittanning) but were held off by French officers and Indians, losing 16 killed and two captured, the rest being driven away. Source of text was from the John J. Ford, Jr. Auction Catalog.
Kittanning was a Delaware village on the Allegheny River three to four day’s march north of the junction of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers. It had been founded in 1720. Delaware leaders Captain Jacobs and Shingas maintained separate establishments there on either side of the river. The Delaware allied with the French because of past injustices received at the hands of the English, and under Jacobs and Shingas raided settlements along the fringe of English Pennsylvania. The population at Kittanning has been estimated at 140 Delaware and Shawnee fighting men, about 100 white captives, and an unknown number of women and children.
In July, 1756 Captain Jacobs’ men along with two French officers attacked and burned Fort Granville, killing two defenders and capturing 22 others. One of the dead was Lieutenant Edward Armstrong, John Armstrong’s brother. The following month, Armstrong along with seven companies of Pennsylvania militia left Fort Shirley to attack Kittanning and take their revenge.
At dawn on September 8, Armstrong attacked the settlement. Captain Jacobs raised the alarm and most, if not all, the women, children and captives were ferried across the Allegheny to Shingas’ encampment. The fight centered around Jacobs’ house, from which Armstrong’s men received heavy fire and which held the settlement’s powder stores. Armstrong ordered the village’s houses set afire and when the flames spread to Jacobs’ home the Delaware leader and his wife and son tried to escape the inevitable explosion. They were shot down as they ran from the door. By afternoon on the 8th the village had burned to the ground and Armstrong left the field just ahead of the arrival of reinforcements from Shingas’ stronghold across the river. Armstrong lost 17 killed, 13 wounded, and 17 missing presumed dead or captured. Fewer than 10 per cent of the white captives held by Jacobs were rescued. A small detachment of 14 soldiers Armstrong had left to ambush another Delaware encampment was encircled and shot to pieces, losing six killed and two wounded before the Indians heard the explosion at Jacob’s house and withdrew.
The engagement was, at best, indecisive but the corporation of the city of Philadelphia put their best face on it and commissioned Edward Duffield to make dies and strike a medal in honor of the fight. The French thought differently about it. The American Journals of Louis Antoine de Bougainville, 1756-60 record under October 11, 1756 that some 300 English came to burn the village of Attigue (i.e., Kittanning) but were held off by French officers and Indians, losing 16 killed and two captured, the rest being driven away. Source of text was from the John J. Ford, Jr. Auction Catalog.
www.neocollect.com/item/987/
www.coinlibrary.com/wpns/club_wpns_pr_kittanning.htm