The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Captain (Infantry) William Henry Walling, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 25 December 1864, while serving with Company C, 142d New York Infantry, in action at Fort Fisher, North Carolina. During the bombardment of the fort by the fleet, Captain Walling captured and brought the flag of the fort, the flagstaff having been shot down.