The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Colonel Charles Edwards Phelps, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 8 May 1864, while serving with 7th Maryland Infantry, in action at Laurel Hill, Virginia. Colonel Phelps rode to the head of the assaulting column, then much broken by severe losses and faltering under the close fire of artillery, placed himself conspicuously in front of the troops, and gallantly rallied and led them to within a few feet of the enemy’s works, where he was severely wounded and captured.