The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Lieutenant Colonel Michael C. Murphy, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 24 May 1864, while serving with 170th New York Infantry, in action at North Anna River, Virginia. Lieutenant Colonel Murphy, commanding the regiment, kept it on the field exposed to the fire of the enemy for three hours without being able to fire one shot in return because of the ammunition being exhausted.