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Edward Beale
Fitzgerald
,2.
with Democracy installed in power as never before
since the foundation of the Government, the pre
of the old naval families were, how
scriptive rights
ever, being brushed aside and the claims and hopes
of young "Ned" Beale might also have been over
looked but for a fortunate and characteristic inci
dent which I shall relate as it is recorded in the

family archives.
The boys at the Capital, where the Beales
their winters at this time, were much
spent given
to politics, and their ranks were divided by alleg
iance to antagonistic statesmen.
Fortunately for himself, our hero at this moment
was a stalwart Jacksonian. There were many
adherents of Adams at the Capital and after hot
disputes it was agreed to have all political differ
ences settled by the ancient test of battle.
"Ned" Beale was chosen by the Jacksonians,
while the Adamites were represented by a boy
named Evans, who has since become a distin
citizen of Indiana. A
guished day or two later,
the fistic encounter took place under a long white
NAVY DEPARTMENT,
Feb. 10, 1820.
SIR:
In compliance with a resolution of Congress, I am directed by the
President to present to you a silver medal as a testimony of the high
sense entertained by Congress of your gallantry, good conduct, and
services in the decisive and splendid victory gained on Lake Cham plain
on the nth of September, 1814, over a British squadron of superior
force.
Yours most respectfully,
SMITH THOMPSON, Secretary of the Navy.
To GEORGE BEALE, Esq., Paymaster U. S. Navy.