The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Corporal James Edwin Cross, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 18 July 1861, while serving with Company K, 12th New York Infantry (Independence Guard), in action at Blackburn’s Ford, Virginia. With a companion, Corporal Cross refused to retreat when the part of the regiment to which he was attached was driven back in disorder, but remained upon the skirmish line for some time thereafter, firing upon the enemy.