MEDAL OF HONOR, UNITED STATEs. The medal of honor of the United States. given for bravery on the field of battle, was first instituted in 1502 by a law approved July 12111 of that ft is a live-pointed star of bronze tipped With trefoil. each point containing a crown of laurel and oak; in the middle, within a circle of thirty-four stars, America, personified as :Minerva, stands with her left band resting on the fasces. while with her right, in which she holds a shield emblazoned with the _\meriean arms, she repulses I)iseord. represented with two snakes in each hand: the whole suspended by a trophy of two crossed cannons, balls, and a sword surmounted by the American eagle, which is united by a ribbon of thirteen stripes, pale wise. gules and argent, and a chief azure, to a clasp composed of two cornucopias and the Amerivan arms. On March 25, 177G, before even independence had been proclaimed, Cfmgress ordered that a gold medal be truck and pre sented to General Washington. ltenjamin Frank lin, who at the time was in Paris, was instructed to employ the greatest artists in France to exceuto a suitable design. Although this was the first Iltedal voted. the first one struck was a silver medal presented to Licutenant-Colonel Fleury, a volunteer Oliver from the 'Prowl' reg ular army, who, entering the United States Army in 1777 as a private. distinguished so
greatly and rendered such valuable services, that Congress promoted him to be lientonant-colonel. For his gallantry in the assault upon Stony Point. duly 15. 1779. Congress voted him a silver medal. and afterwards a vote of thanks. It was hot until the institution of the medal of honor that the iTnited States possessed It mili tary equivalent to the Victoria cross (q.v.) of England, or the iron 'Toss (q.v.) of Prussia. Like the former decoration, it is bestowed on both commissioned and non-commissioned ranks alike, the decoration being the same ill every instance. lcdals of are only awarded to otlieers or enlisted men for distinguished bravery or conspicuous gallantry. whieh has liven maul in ;nib Ill, by conduct distinguished above the others, and that involved risk of life, or duty more than ordinarily hazardous. .\n interest ing account of the deeds by which the medal of honor has been W011 will lie found in Roden !Haigh. Unek Yam's Medal of Honor ( New