The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private Elwood N. Williams, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 6 April 1862, while serving with Company A, 28th Illinois Infantry, in action at Shiloh, Tennessee. A box of ammunition having been abandoned between the lines, Private Williams voluntarily went forward with one companion, under a heavy fire from both armies, secured the box, and delivered it within the line of his regiment, his companion being mortally wounded.