The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Corporal Samuel Joseph Churchill, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 15 December 1864, while serving with Company G, 2d Illinois Light Artillery, in action at Nashville, Tennessee. When the fire of the enemy’s batteries compelled the men of his detachment for a short time to seek shelter, Corporal Churchill stood manfully at his post and for some minutes worked his gun alone.