The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Second Lieutenant William Gardner Tracy, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 2 May 1863, while serving with Company I, 122d New York Infantry, in action at Chancellorsville, Virginia. Having been sent outside the lines to obtain certain information of great importance and having succeeded in his mission, Second Lieutenant Tracy was surprised upon his return by a large force of the enemy, regaining the Union lines only after greatly imperiling his life.