The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Landsman Michael Cassidy, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving on board the U.S.S. Lackawanna during successful attacks against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats and the ram Tennessee, in Mobile Bay, Alabama, 5 August 1864. Displaying great coolness and exemplary behavior as first sponger of a gun, Landsman Cassidy, by his coolness under fire, received the applause of his officers and the guncrew throughout the action which resulted in the capture of the prize ram Tennessee and in the destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan.