The Croghan Congressional Gold Medal

 Nearly all Sandusky Countians know of the brave defense of Major George Croghan and his men at the Battle of Fort Stephenson during the War of 1812. The 21-year old was brevetted lieutenant colonel for his heroic actions by President Madison.

During and after the war, Congress approved several gold medals for victorious military actions. But it was not until February 1835 that legislators belatedly recognized Colonel Croghan for his defense of Fort Stephenson. In that same resolution, Congress also ordered the president to present swords to six of Croghan’s officers: Captain James Hunter, Lieutenants Cyrus Baylor and John Meek, Ensign Joseph Duncan, and the nearest male representatives of Lieutenant Benjamin Johnson and Ensign Edmund Shipp. 

Croghan Congressional Medal

West Point engineer Washington Hood, who also worked as a portrait copyist, designed the reverse of the Croghan medal. His sketch portrayed the battle scene at Fort Stephenson with three ships in the distance representing Perry's fleet.  According to the “Numismatic News” Hood’s drawing differed from other army medals in that he included the Latin phrase “Par Magna Fuit” (His Share Was Great). The obverse was reserved for a portrait of Croghan to be prepared by Moritz Furst, the Philadelphia Mint’s contract engraver.

Croghan asked his brother, then living in Pittsburgh, to provide Furst with a miniature portrait as a personal sitting was not possible. Furst used Hood’s work and the portrait to create the engraving. He received $1800 for his work. Congress appropriated another $250 to cover the cost of striking the medal, the gold, and a case.

By March of 1836, Furst had completed the medal. However, a year later the medal still remained at the mint! Prodded by an agitated former Secretary of War Lewis Cass, the mint finally shipped the medal to Washington, D. C.   At long last, the Congressional gold medal was presented to Colonel Croghan by President Andrew Jackson - the final War of 1812 medal awarded.

Croghan resigned from the U.S. Army after the War of 1812. He lived in New Orleans where he was appointed a postmaster. He later rejoined the army and in 1825 was promoted to colonel and served as one of two U.S. Army inspectors general. He fought with Zachary Taylor at Monterey in the War with Mexico. Croghan died during the cholera epidemic at New Orleans in 1849. He was originally buried in the family cemetery in Kentucky.

Colonel Croghan’s body was brought to Fremont for re-burial by Colonel Webb C. Hayes. Hayes contacted his descendants, hoping to locate the Congressional gold medal. None appeared to know of its whereabouts.

Using Furst’s original dies, the Philadelphia Mint began producing bronze copies of the medal. “Numismatic News” stated that collectors could still order them as late as 1901. Many museums, including the Hayes Library and Museums hold copies of the bronze medal. The Smithsonian has a dozen in its collection.