The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant William H. Wilcox, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 12 May 1864, while serving with Company G, 9th New Hampshire Infantry, in action at Spotsylvania, Virginia. Sergeant Wilcox took command of his company, deployed as skirmishers, after the officers in command of the skirmish line had both been wounded, conducting himself gallantly; afterwards, becoming separated from command, he asked and obtained permission to fight in another company.