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ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.[34]

[Footnote 34: The resolution of Congress voting
this medal, and the official reports of the taking
of Stony Point, are given under No. 3, page 14.]

_General Washington to the President of Congress._

To Headquarters, West Point,
THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. July 25, 1779.

Sir: Lieutenant-Colonel Fleury having communicated to me his
intention to return to France at the present juncture, on some
matters interesting to himself, I have thought proper to give him
this letter to testify to Congress the favourable opinion I
entertain of his conduct. The marks of their approbation which he
received on a former occasion have been amply justified by all
his subsequent behaviour. He has signalized himself in more than
one instance since; and in the late assault on Stony Point he
commanded one of the attacks, was the first that entered the
enemy's works, and struck the British flag with his own hands, as
reported by General Wayne. It is but justice to him to declare
that, in the different stations in which he has been employed, he
has rendered services of real utility, and has acquitted himself
in every respect as an officer of distinguished merit, one whose
talents, zeal, activity, and bravery alike entitle him to
particular notice. He has intimated to me a desire to obtain a
furlough for a few months. I doubt not Congress will be disposed
to grant him every indulgence which can be granted with
propriety.

I have the honour to be, &c.,
Geo. WASHINGTON.

_____

_General Washington to the President of Congress._ (p. 025)

CERTIFICATE.

To
THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. West Point, July 28, 1779.

I certify that Lieutenant-Colonel Fleury has served in the army
of the United States since the beginning of the campaign of 1777,
to the present period, and has uniformly acquitted himself as an
officer of distinguished merit for talents, zeal, activity,
prudence, and bravery; that he first obtained a captain's
commission from Congress, and entered as a volunteer in a corps
of riflemen, in which, by his activity and bravery, he soon
recom