De Fleury was a French nobleman with a successful history in the Royal Army. Despite his record, the American Congress initially refused to give him a commission. He quickly, however, proved his valor and was appointed captain in the Continental Army Engineers. Anthony Wayne chose Colonel Fleury to lead one of two columns in the assault on Stony Point. De Fleury was the first of the American forces over the fort’s walls and led the troops with only bayonets, cutting the British colors from the fort. The unfailing courage of de Fleury and his brilliant execution of Wayne and Washington’s tactics at Stony Point earned him Congressional recognition.
In addition to de Fleury, congressional medals for actions at Stony Point were awarded to Anthony Wayne and John Stewart. On this medal, Mars stands on the ruins of the fort at Stony Point, trampling the British flag. The reverse depicts the fort with six British ships in the Hudson River. Benjamin Franklin selected Benjamin Duvivier to engrave this medal.
