Roush received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for actions taken on July 2, 1863, during the Battle of Gettysburg.

[1] In an area known as Devil's Den, Roush, along with Thaddeus S. Smith, John W. Hart, George Mears, Chester S. Furman and Wallace Johnson volunteered to attack a small log cabin being held by Confederate forces.

[1] Although they attempted to approach the cabin by stealth, they were spotted and began taking fire from the enemy force locked inside.

[2] The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Corporal James Levi Roush, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 2 July 1863, while serving with Company D, 6th Pennsylvania Reserves, in action at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Corporal Roush was one of six volunteers who charged upon a log house near the Devil's Den, where a squad of the enemy's sharpshooters were sheltered, and compelled their surrender.