The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Captain William Ludgate, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 7 April 1865, while serving with Company G, 59th New York Veteran Infantry, in action at Farmville, Virginia, for gallantry and promptness in rallying his men and advancing with a small detachment to save a bridge about to be fired by the enemy.