The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private Frederick A. Ballen, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 3 May 1863, while serving with Company B, 47th Ohio Infantry, in action at Vicksburg, Mississippi. Private Ballen was one of a party that volunteered and attempted to run the enemy’s batteries with a steam tug and two barges loaded with subsistence stores.