The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private James Gardiner, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 29 September 1864, while serving with Company I, 36th U.S. Colored Infantry, in action at Chapin’s Farm, Virginia. Private Gardiner rushed in advance of his brigade, shot a rebel officer who was on the parapet rallying his men, and then ran him through with his bayonet.