The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private Wallace A. Beckwith, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 13 December 1862, while serving with Company F, 21st Connecticut Infantry, in action at Fredericksburg, Virginia. Private Beckwith gallantly responded to a call for volunteers to man a battery, serving with great heroism until the termination of the engagement.