The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Colonel Henry Alanson Barnum, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 23 November 1863, while serving with 149th New York Infantry, in action at Chattanooga, Tennessee. Although suffering severely from wounds, Colonel Barnum led his regiment, inciting the men to greater action by word and example until again severely wounded.