The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Orderly Sergeant Christopher Nugent, United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in action on board the U.S.S. Fort Henry, Crystal River, Florida, 15 June 1863. Reconnoitering on the Crystal River on this date and in charge of a boat from the Fort Henry, Orderly Sergeant Nugent ordered an assault upon a rebel breastwork fortification. In this assault, the orderly sergeant and his comrades drove a guard of 11 rebels into the swamp, capturing their arms and destroying their camp equipage while gallantly withholding fire to prevent harm to a woman among the fugitives. On 30 July 1863, he further proved his courage by capturing a boat off Depot Key, Florida, containing two men and a woman with their baggage.