ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.
Resolution and Act of Congress Instituting Army Medals of Honor.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to cause 2,000 "medals of honor" to be prepared with suitable emblematic devices, and to direct that the same be presented, in the name of Congress, to such non-commissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldier-like qualities during the present insurrection, and that the sum of $10,000 be, and the same is hereby, appropriated for the purpose of carrying this resolution into effect.
Approved July 12th, 1862.
Section 9. And be it further enacted, That the President cause to be struck from the dies recently prepared at the United States Mint for that purpose, "medals of honor" additional to those authorized by the act (Resolution of July twelfth, eighteen hundred and sixty-two), and present the same to such officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates as have most distinguished or who may hereafter most distinguish themselves in action, and the sum of $20,000 is hereby appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to defray the expenses of the same.
Approved March 3d, 1863.