COLONEL GEORGE CROGHAN
(Defense of Fort Stephenson)

FURST, Moritz: USA, 1835, Bronze, 65 mm
Obv: Bust of Colonel Croghan (r)    PRESENTED BY CONGRESS TO COLONEL GEORGE CROGHAN 1835
Rev:  English troops attacking American Fort Stephenson.  Three gunboats on Lake Erie in background.   PARS MAGNA FUIT (His Share Was Great)
Exergue:  SANDUSKY 2:AUGUST. 1813
Signed:  FURST. F.
Mintage=100
Ref: Julian 124/MI-12; Failor 197/420; Loubat 272/55;  see Jaeger and Bowers 54/43;  Neuzil 14;  Weiss BW132

George Croghan (1791-1849) was born near Louisville, Kentucky and graduated from William and Mary College, Virginia. On August 3, 1813, with a garrison of 160 men at Fort Stephenson, Major Croghan, after refusing a demand to surrender the fort, withstood fire from gunboats on the river and repulsed the attack of General Proctor, who led an army of over 500 British troops and 700-800 Indians. For this gallant deed, in 1835, Congress awarded him a gold medal. He later served under General Zachary Taylor in Mexico. Through a series of promotions he attained the rank of colonel.

LINK to article: Medalic History of the War of 1812: Consequences to the American Indian Nations (by Benjamin Weiss)

LINK to Medal of Croghan in the War of 1812 by R.W. Julian (from Numismaticenews.net)

LINK to biography of Colonel George Croghan (from Virtualology)

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