George W. Leland

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Gunner’s Mate George W. Leland, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving on board the U.S.S. Lehigh, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, 16 November 1863, during the hazardous task, of freeing the Lehigh, which had grounded, and was under heavy enemy fire from Fort Moultrie. Rowing the small boat which was used in the hazardous task of transferring hawsers from the Lehigh to the Nahant, Gunner’s Mate Leland twice succeeded in making the trip, only to find that each had been in vain when the hawsers were cut by enemy fire and chaffing.