The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant James Bennett Bell, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 25 November 1863, while serving with Company H, 11th Ohio Infantry, in action at Missionary Ridge, Tennessee. Though severely wounded, Sergeant Bell was first of his regiment on the summit of the ridge, planted his colors inside the enemy’s works, and did not leave the field until after he had been wounded five times.