The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private Andrew John Kelley, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 20 November 1863, while serving with Company E, 17th Michigan Infantry, in action at Fort Sanders, Knoxville, Tennessee. Having voluntarily accompanied a small party to destroy buildings within the enemy’s lines whence sharpshooters had been firing, Private Kelley disregarded an order to retire, remained and completed the firing of the buildings, thus insuring their total destruction; this at the imminent risk of his life from the fire of the advancing enemy.