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 McConnell, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 9 April 1865, while serving with Company H, 119th Illinois Infantry, in action at Fort Blakely, Alabama. While leading his company in an assault, Captain McConnell braved an intense fire that mowed down his unit. Upon reaching the breastworks he found that he had only one member of his company with him, Private Wagner. He was so close to an enemy gun that the blast knocked him down a ditch. Getting up, he entered the gun pit, the guncrew fleeing before him. About 30 paces away he saw a Confederate flag bearer and guard which he captured with the last shot in his pistol.