The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to First Lieutenant (Infantry) William Thomas Simmons, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 16 December 1864, while serving with Company C, 11th Missouri Infantry, in action at Nashville, Tennessee, for capture of flag of 34th Alabama Infantry (C.S.A ). Being the first to enter the works, First Lieutenant Simmons shot and wounded the enemy Color Bearer.