The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private Richard Beddows, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 18 May 1864, while serving with 34th New York Battery, in action at Spotsylvania, Virginia. Private Beddows brought his guidon off in safety under a heavy fire of musketry after he had lost it by his horse becoming furious from the bursting of a shell.