The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Second Lieutenant James David Vernay, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 22 April 1863, while serving with Company B, 11th Illinois Infantry, in action at Vicksburg, Mississippi. Second Lieutenant Vernay served gallantly as a volunteer with the crew of the steamer Horizon that, under a heavy fire, passed the Confederate batteries.