Congress created this medal to recognize William Washington’s valor at the Battle of the Cowpens in 1781. Together with Daniel Morgan and John Eager Howard he and his troops surprised the British to win the battle at an important turning point in the war.
Washington’s medal was engraved by Benjamin Duvivier. On the obverse, Washington is leading the 3rd Continental Light Dragoons charging against the British cavalry, depicted on horseback with his sword drawn. Winged Victory flies above with a palm branch in her left hand and a laurel crown in right. The reverse has Latin text within a wreath that translates to, “Because in energetically pursing the enemy with a small number of soldiers he gave a noble example of innate courage at the battle of Cowpens, January 17, 1781.”
