The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Colonel Louis Palma DiCesnola, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 17 June 1863, while serving with 4th New York Cavalry, in action at Aldie, Virginia. Colonel DiCesnola was present, in arrest, when, seeing his regiment fall back, he rallied his men, accompanied them, without arms, in a second charge, and in recognition of his gallantry was released from arrest. He continued in the action at the head of his regiment until he was desperately wounded and taken prisoner.