The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Boatswain’s Mate William Farley, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving on board the U.S.S. Marblehead off Legareville, Stono River, South Carolina, 25 December 1863, during an engagement with the enemy on John’s Island. Behaving in a gallant manner, Boatswain’s Mate Farley animated his men and kept up a rapid and effective fire on the enemy throughout the engagement which resulted in the enemy’s abandonment of his positions, leaving a caisson and one gun behind.