Chapter XXIII: Section 7: And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the

Navy be, and is hereby, authorized to cause 200 "medals of honor"
to be prepared with suitable emblematic devices, which shall be
bestowed upon such petty officers, seamen, landsmen and marines
as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action
and other seamanlike qualities during the present war, and that
the sum of $1,000 be, and the same is hereby, appropriated out of
any money in the Treasury for the purpose of carrying this
section into effect.

Approved December 21, 1861.