The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Aaron B. Tompkins, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 5 April 1865, while serving with Company G, 1st New Jersey Cavalry, in action at Deatonsville (Sailor’s Creek), Virginia. Sergeant Tompkins charged into the enemy’s ranks and captured a battle flag, having a horse shot under him and his cheeks and shoulders cut with a saber.