The Comitia Americana Series, Part 4, Major Henry Lee, the Battle of Paulus Hook

Major Henry Lee

Battle of Paulus Hook

August 19, 1779

Paulus Hook was sandy beach across from New York City that is now the site of Jersey City, New Jersey. On the night of August 18, 1779 Major Henry Lee led his forces through the salt marshes that surrounded Paulus Hook and captured the British encampment there at daybreak using only bayonets. Anthony Wayne’s strategy at Stoney Point inspired Major Lee to conduct a similar operation.

Lee could not hold this position because of the large contingent of British troops that were stationed across the river in New York. He quickly evacuated Paulus Hook taking his British prisoners with him. The entire operation involved little loss of life. On September 24, 1779 Congress voted to award a gold medal to Major Lee, who was only 28 years old, for his bravery and humane treatment of his prisoners at Paulus Hook. It should be noted that Henry is the father of the famous Confederate general, Robert E. Lee.

Unfortunately, neither French ambassador, Benjamin Franklin, nor his aide, David Humphreys remembered to order Major Lee’s medal from the French. To correct the oversight, Thomas Jefferson commissioned U.S. Mint Engraver, Joseph Wright, to make a pair of dies for the Lee medal. During the preparation of the dies, both of them cracked; and it is not known if a gold medal was awarded to Lee.

The obverse for the Lee medal was stored at the mint for many years. The reverse die was in such poor shape that only die trials of it are known. The obverse die was used to make uniface strikes of the piece. In 1874 Charles Barber made a new reverse, and it was paired with the original medal to produce 35 pieces. These 19th century medals can be obtained, but it takes some luck and patience.

Here is a close-up of the die break on the original Lee medal.




Here is a modern mint copy (from the 1970s) of the Henry Lee medal. The Philadelphia Mint offered these pieces for sale up until the 1980s. From what I see at the shows the usual asking price on these larger, modern mint medals is $40. That is a lot less than the original 19th century strikes are worth. The 19th century strikes proabably sell for a few thousand dollars today, although I have been in the market for a while. I am presenting this to help perspective buyers from getting taken in by a modern example.

This finish on this copy is bright, which indicates that the piece may not have gotten the full treatment or perhaps any treatment from the sand blaster. The modern mint medals have a matte like finish with a "yellow" color. Collectors call this "yellow bronze" and it's not exactly a compliment.

 

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I think these pieces are interesting because these were considered some of the most important players and most important battles in the War, but today very few people know of them or have heard of these battles.

I'm not a fan of medals with just a plain text reverse, but the die crack and story is cool.

 

I have NOT been in the market for a while ...

In my old age, I have a lot of trouble with typing NOT in a sentence these days. I bought this piece in the 1980s. It's is not an easy medal to find.