Part 64 (2/2)
_Resolved_, That Congress entertain a high sense of the valour and good conduct of Major Daniel Carmick, of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and marines under his command, in the defence of the said city, on the late memorable occasion.
Approved February 15, 1815.
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_Resolutions of Congress complimentary to the People of the State (p. 244) of Louisiana, etc._
_Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress a.s.sembled_: That Congress entertain a high sense of the patriotism, fidelity, zeal, and courage with which the people of the State of Louisiana promptly and unanimously stepped forth, under circ.u.mstances of imminent danger from a powerful invading army, in defence of all the individual, social and political rights held dear to man.
Congress declare and proclaim, that the brave Louisianians deserve well of the whole people of the United States.
_Resolved_, That Congress entertain a high sense of the generosity, benevolence, and humanity displayed by the people of New Orleans in voluntarily affording the best accommodations in their power, and giving the kindest attention to the wounded, not only of our own army, but also to the wounded prisoners of a vanquished foe.
_Resolved_, That the President of the United States be requested to cause the foregoing resolutions to be communicated to His Excellency the Governor of Louisiana, accompanied with the request that he cause the greatest possible publicity to be given to them for the information of the whole people of Louisiana.
Approved February 15, 1815.
No. 47. (p. 245) PLATE XLVIII.
_February 20, 1815._
Carolus Stewart navis Amer. Const.i.tution dux. [Rx]. Una victoriam eripuit ratibus binis.
CAPTAIN CHARLES STEWART.
[_Capture of the Cyane and of the Levant._]
CAROLUS STEWART NAVIS AMER. (_Americanae_) CONSt.i.tUTION DUX. (_Charles Stewart, captain of the American vessel Const.i.tution._) Bust of Captain Stewart, in uniform, facing the right. FuRST. F. (_fecit_).
UNA VICTORIAM ERIPUIT RATIBUS BINIS. (_He s.n.a.t.c.hed victory from two vessels with one._) Naval action between the United States frigate Const.i.tution, of fifty-two guns, Captain Stewart, and the British frigate Cyane, of thirty-four guns, Captain Falcon, and the sloop-of-war Levant, of twenty-one guns, Captain the Honorable George Douglas. The Const.i.tution, to windward, is opening with her port battery on the Levant; both British vessels are returning the fire from their starboard batteries. Exergue: INTER CONSt.i.tU. NAV. AMERI.
ET LEVANT ET CYANE NAV. ANG. DIE XX. FEBR. MDCCCXV. (_Inter Const.i.tution navem Americanam et Levant et Cyane naves Anglicanas, die 20 Februarii, 1815: Between the American vessel Const.i.tution and the English vessels Levant and Cyane, on the 20th of February, 1815._) On the platform, FuRST. F. (_fecit_).
CHARLES STEWART was born in Philadelphia, July 18, 1778. He began life in the merchant service, but entered the navy as lieutenant, March 13, 1798. He served in the West Indies, and afterward in the Tripolitan campaign, commanding the Siren. He escorted the Intrepid to (p. 246) Tripoli when Decatur blew up the Philadelphia, and was promoted to the rank of master-commandant, May 19, 1804, and of captain, April 22, 1806. While in command of the frigate Const.i.tution he fought and captured, February 20, 1815, the two British s.h.i.+ps-of-war, Cyane, Captain Gordon Falcon, and Levant, Captain the Honorable George Douglas, for which brilliant action he received the thanks of Congress and a gold medal. He commanded in the Mediterranean from 1816 to 1820; in the Pacific from 1821 to 1823; was member of the Naval Board from 1830 to 1833; commanded the navy yard at Philadelphia, 1837; and was put on the retired list in 1857; but was replaced on the active list as senior flag officer, 1859, and was appointed rear-admiral on the retired list, 1862. He died at Bordentown, New Jersey, November 7, 1869.
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ORIGINAL DOc.u.mENTS.
_Resolution of Congress Voting Medals to Captain Stewart, etc._
_Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress a.s.sembled_: That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby requested, to present to Captain Charles Stewart, of the frigate Const.i.tution, a gold medal, with suitable emblems and devices, and a silver medal,[106] with suitable emblems and devices, to each commissioned officer of the said frigate, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of the gallantry, good conduct and services of Captain Stewart, his officers and crew, in the capture of the British vessels of war, the Cyane and Levant, after a brave and skilful combat.
[Footnote 106: The silver medals are copies of the gold medal given to Captain Stewart.]
Approved February 22, 1816.
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