It may be in great
condition, but the
medal has been
through a battle of its
own. Pleasants recalls
a time when his mother
would hang it on the wall,
but when she would leave
home she would hide it in the
garbage disposal.
“She came home once and turned it on, and it went clink clink
clink, so it got beat up a little bit,” Pleasants says, chuckling.
He laughs about how everything else stayed in such great condition.
“I put it in the closet and closed the door,” he says.
The donation will provide the public with more information
about the first North Carolina and early American naval history,
broadening the knowledge for younger generations. Pleasants hopes
it also motivates people his age.
“It was important to my generation, and my generation has a lot
of this stuff in closets,” he says. “And maybe they’ll see that and say
‘Oh gosh, we can give something also,’ and so it will be a learning
experience for when young people go there.”
37
Gallagher’s everyday naval sword that he would have used during
his service aboard the North Carolina is displayed in another case.
The top locket is engraved with “Brunn/Sword Cutler to the Prince
Regent/56 Charing Cross/London.” It has an eagle’s head pommel
and a white polished ivory grip bound with gilt wires.
Alongside the sword is a painting of the ship by Gallagher’s
friend, Lieutenant Henry Walke. The inscription on the painting
reads, “Capt John Gallagher 1840.” It depicts the North Carolina in
the New York harbor alongside other ships.
“Again, these things don’t necessarily exist all the time,” Booker says.
Pleasants also donated a silver medal, one of a series of 27 com-memorating
American successes during the War of 1812. They
were awarded to the officers for their action between the United States
and the HMS Macedonian, a naval battle that occurred in October
1812. The medals were struck by a special resolution of Congress.
One side of the medal depicts a bust of Commodore Stephen
Decatur, an early naval hero. The other side depicts the two ships
in battle. Engraved on the edge of the medal is, “Presented by the
President of the US to LT John Gallagher Agreeable to the Act of
Congress.” Over Decatur’s bust, there is a Latin inscription meaning,
“Naval captain Stephen Decatur, victor in many battles.”
“It’s beautiful, I mean it’s in wonderful condition,” Booker says.
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