The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Corporal Benjamin Ham Child, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 17 September 1862, while serving with Battery A, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery, in action at Antietam, Maryland. Corporal Child was wounded and taken to the rear insensible, but when partially recovered insisted on returning to the battery and resumed command of his piece, so remaining until the close of the battle.