The Postmortem by Forbes: The Gold Medallions

The Gold Medallions? They were never made, never worn by the officers for which it was meant.

Except they were made by the Boy Scouts.

It's not gold. And both sides were not done to spec.

But it has the blue ribbon.

James Grant writes to Bouquet

about Forbes wish to have a gold medal made to be worn by all his officers who served in the Forbes Expedition and a vague reference to their service in other campaigns.

Phila . 20 Feb . 1759

General Forbes highly sensible

of the many fatigues and hardships

you and your Officers

the Troops in General

under his Command

have underwent

during the course

of this most extraordinary Campaign

that has happened in this or any other Country,

and willing at the same time

to give Some publick testimony

of his approbation

to the Gentlemen under his command,

has ordered me

to acquaint you

and the Commanding Officers of corps

that he has directed

a Gold medal

to be struck

to the following purpose

which he hereby Authorizes

the officers of his Army

to wear as an honorary reward

for their faithful services

and as soon as opportunity offers

he intends to inform his Majesty of it.

In the mean time your Officers & Colonel Montgomery's may be provided in Town.

The Medal has on one side

the representation of a Road cut thro an immense Forrest, over Rocks, and mountains.

The motto

Per tot Discrimina [Through so many dangers]

on the other side

are represented the confluences of the Ohio and Monongahela rivers, a Fort in Flames in the forks of the Rivers at the approach of General Forbes carried in a Litter, followed with the Army marching in Columns with Cannon.

The motto

Ohio Brittannica Consilio manuque.

[Ohio Valley was now British through superior wisdom and skill]

This is to be wore round the neck with a dark blew ribbon - by the Genls comand

Grant N . B . General Forbes is of oppinion that Such of your officers as chuse to provide themselves with the above Medal should have a Copy of this letter Signed & attested by you as a warrant for thus wearing it

J . G .

Forbes never lived long enough to make it happen.

And it never did get done.

.

Except by a slight approximation many eras later.