The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Captain (Infantry) Samuel Hymer, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 13 October 1864, while serving with Company D, 115th Illinois Infantry, in action at Buzzard’s Roost Gap, Georgia. With only 41 men under his command, Captain Hymer defended and held a blockhouse against the attack of Hood’s Division for nearly ten hours, thus checking the advance of the enemy and insuring the safety of the balance of the regiment, as well as that of the 8th Kentucky Infantry, then stationed at Ringgold, Georgia.