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Ulysses S. Grant Congressional Gold Medal

1863

A gold medal Congress awarded Grant in 1863 after his victories at Vicksburg and Chattanooga.

This medal was awarded directly to Grant by Congress, marking his emergence as a national military hero.

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Front of a round gold medal on a plain light background. A raised profile bust of a bearded man in a military uniform faces left in the center. Inscribed text reads 'Major General Ulysses S. Grant' above and 'Joint Resolution of Congress December 17, 1863' below, with laurel wreaths around the rim.
Congressional Gold Medal awarded to Ulysses S. Grant, 1863. National Museum of American History.

About this source

What it is

This gold medal was presented to Major General Ulysses S. Grant by the United States Congress in 1863, following his victory at Vicksburg. It bears a raised profile portrait of Grant in uniform, inscribed with his name and the date of the congressional resolution awarding it. It is held by the National Museum of American History.

Why it matters

The medal marks the moment Grant rose from a regional commander to a national hero, after major victories at Vicksburg and Chattanooga. It shows how Congress and the public recognized military success during the Civil War, and how Grant's reputation was built before he became president.

Look closer

  • Why would Congress choose to honor a general with a medal rather than another kind of reward?
  • What does the choice of a profile portrait and laurel wreaths suggest about how Grant was meant to be seen?
  • What does this medal tell us about Grant's fame before he became president?

This artifact is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Ulysses S Grant on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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