The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Brigadier General Oliver Otis Howard, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 1 June 1862, while serving with U.S. Volunteers, in action at Fair Oaks, Virginia. Brigadier General Howard led the 61st New York Infantry in a charge in which he was twice severely wounded in the right arm, necessitating amputation.