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Army Sergeant William H. Carney was the first of the nation’s 88 African-American Medal of Honor recipients, earning the medal during the Union Army’s charge on Fort Wagner during the Civil War. [1] [1]
William Harvey Carney was an African American Soldier during the American Civil War. Born as a slave, he was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1900 for his gallantry in saving the regimental colors (American Flag) during the Battle of Fort Wagner in 1863. Because his actions preceded those of other medal honorees, he is considered to be the first African American to be granted the Medal of Honor.
Of the 3,498 service members who have received the Medal of Honor throughout U.S. history, only 88 have been African American.
William Carney's legacy serves as a shining example of the patriotism that Americans felt at that time, despite the color of their skin.
William H. Carney was born as a slave in Norfolk, Virginia, on February 29, 1840. [2] How he made his way to freedom is not certain. According to most accounts, he escaped through the Underground Railroad, and joined his father in Massachusetts. Another version is that his father also named William escaped via the underground railroad and purchased the freedom of young William and his mother. Other members of their family were freed by purchase or by the death of their master. [3] [4] William Carney enlisted in the Morgan Guards, which became part of the 54th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry [5] in March 1863 .[6] as a Sergeant. He took part in the July 18, 1863, assault on Fort Wagner in Charleston, South Carolina. [7] His actions there ultimately earned him the Medal of Honor. When the color guard was killed, William Carney retrieved the American flag and marched forward with it, despite multiple serious wounds.[8] [9] When the Union troops were forced to retreat under fire, he struggled back across the battlefield, eventually returning to his own lines and turning over the colors to another survivor of the 54th, saying, "Boys, I only did my duty; the old flag never touched the ground!" [10] He received an honorable discharge due to disability from his wounds in June 1864[11][12]
After his discharge, William Carney returned to New Bedford, Massachusetts, and took a job maintaining the city's streetlights. He then delivered mail for thirty-two years. [13] [14] He was a founding vice-president of the New Bedford Branch 18 of the National Association of Letter Carriers in 1890. [15] . He married Susannah Williams, and they had a daughter, Clara Heronia. [16] He spent a few years in California, then returned again in 1869.
Willaim Carney received his Medal of Honor on May 23, 1900, nearly 37 years after the events at Fort Wagner. (More than half such awards from the Civil War were presented 20 or more years after the fact.) [17] Twenty African Americans had received the medal before him, but because his battle actions happened earlier than the others, he is generally considered the first. [18] [19] [20] His citation reads:
When the color sergeant was shot down, this soldier grasped the flag, led the way to the parapet, and planted the colors thereon. When the troops fell back he brought off the flag, under a fierce fire in which he was twice severely wounded. [21]
William Carney died at the Boston City Hospital on December 9, 1908 of complications from an elevator accident at the Massachusetts State House where he worked for the Department of State. His body lay in state for one day at the undertaking rooms of Walden Banks at 142 Lenox Street at the wish of his wife and daughter. He was buried in the family plot at Oak Grove Cemetery in New Bedford, Massachusetts. [22] Engraved on his tombstone is an image of the Medal of Honor. [23]
Find A Grave: Memorial #6826582
William Carney's face is shown on the monument to Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th on the Boston Common designed by Augustus Saint Gaudens. [24] A New Bedford, Massachusetts, elementary school was named in his honor, [25] and his New Bedford home at 128 Mill Street is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [26]
In 2015, William Carney was honored as one of the Library of Virginia's "Strong Men & Women in Virginia History" because of his actions during the Civil War. [27]
One newspaper described him in these eight words: “The bravest colored soldier of the Civil War.” Another newspaper placed him in historical context when it listed his name him alongside Crispus Attucks, who was martyred in 1770 at the Boston Massacre. Carney’s story inspired song, sculpture, prints and paintings.
But the nation’s highest military commendation, the Medal of Honor, eluded him for many years. The oversight was corrected by organizers preparing a display of photographs of African-American Medal of Honor recipients for the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris, a world’s fair. A researcher assigned to locate the photographs discovered to his surprise that William Carney had not been awarded the tribute and filed the necessary documents. The government awarded William Carney the medal in May 1900.
William Carney retired from the post office the following year, and accepted a position as messenger at the State House in Boston, delivering documents to government officials. He died in 1908 after an elevator accident mangled the leg injured at Fort Wagner. He was 68. His wife and a daughter, Clara, survived him.
Millions mourned his passing. [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37]
By Katie Lange, DoD News, Defense Media Activity February 7, 2017
Of the 3,498 service members who have received the Medal of Honor throughout U.S. history, only 88 have been black.
In recognition of African American History Month, we're sharing the stories of the brave men who so gallantly risked and gave their lives for others, even in times when others weren't willing to do the same in return.
We will start with the first black recipient of the award: Army Sgt. William H. Carney, who earned the honor for protecting one of the United States' greatest symbols during the Civil War -- the American flag.
William Carney was born into slavery in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1840. His family was eventually granted freedom and moved to Massachusetts, where William Carney was eager to learn and secretly got involved in academics, despite laws and restrictions that banned blacks from learning to read and write.
William Carney had wanted to pursue a career in the church, but when the Civil War broke out, he decided the best way he could serve God was by serving in the military to help free the oppressed.
In March 1863, William Carney joined the Union Army and was attached to Company C, 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry Regiment, the first official black unit recruited for the Union in the north. Forty other black men served with him, including two of famed abolitionist Frederick Douglas's sons.
Within a few months, William Carney's training would be put to the ultimate test during the unit's first major combat mission in Charleston, South Carolina.
On July 18, 1863, the soldiers of William Carney's regiment led the charge on Fort Wagner. During the battle, the unit's color guard was shot. William Carney, who was just a few feet away, saw the dying man stumble, and he scrambled to catch the falling flag.
Despite suffering several serious gunshot wounds himself, William Carney kept the symbol of the Union held high as he crawled up the hill to the walls of Fort Wagner, urging his fellow troops to follow him. He planted the flag in the sand at the base of the fort and held it upright until his near-lifeless body was rescued.
Even then, though, he didn't give it up. Many witnesses said William Carney refused to give the flag to his rescuers, holding onto it tighter until, with assistance, he made it to the Union's temporary barracks.
William Carney lost a lot of blood and nearly lost his life, but not once did he allow the flag to touch the ground. His heroics inspired other soldiers that day and were crucial to the North securing victory at Fort Wagner. William Carney was promoted to the rank of sergeant for his actions.
For his bravery, William Carney was awarded the Medal of Honor on May 23, 1900.
William Carney's legacy serves as a shining example of the patriotism that Americans felt at that time, despite the color of their skin.
The 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry Regiment in which William Carney served was disestablished long ago but was reactivated in 2008. It now serves as a National Guard ceremonial unit that renders honorary funerals and state functions. It was even invited to march in President Barack Obama's inaugural parade. [38]
Military.com By Bethanne Kelly Patrick
Survivor of Famous Union Regiment Became First Black Recipient of Medal of Honor
In December 1908, all the flags in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts were lowered to half-mast in tribute to Sgt. William H. Carney, who had died on December 8th. Never before had this honor been paid to an ordinary citizen and African American; but William Carney was far from ordinary.
William Carney was born into slavery in 1840. When he was a teen-ager, his father escaped to the north via the Underground Railroad and purchased his family out of bondage, bringing them to New Bedford, Massachusetts William Carney never took freedom for granted. On February 17, 1863, soon after the Union Army called for African-American volunteers, William Carney enlisted in the Morgan Guards, which became part of the 54th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He told the Liberator newspaper why: "Previous to the formation of colored troops, I had a strong inclination to prepare myself for the ministry; but when the country called for all persons, I could best serve my God serving my country and my oppressed brothers."
William Carney and 46 other African-American volunteers from New Bedford were assigned to Company C of the 54th, and their performance in battle would soon silence those who predicted "the Negro would not fight." At the famed Battle of Fort Wagner, S.C., on July 18, 1863, under command of Col. Robert Gould Shaw, the 54th fought hard, long, and brave. The siege at Fort Wagner was one of the war's bloodiest, and 1,500 African-American troops died in their country's service. Col. Shaw, who had led his troops into battle, was shot down just as he reached the summit.
William Carney himself was wounded in head, leg, and hip and lying in agony near the fallen Shaw when he saw the soldier bearing the American flag falter. Gathering his strength, William Carney seized the colors: "In less than 20 minutes I found myself alone struggling upon the ramparts, while the dead and wounded were all around me ... I knew my position was a critical one, and I began to watch to see if I would be left alone." Confronted by a battalion of enemies, William Carney wound the flag around its staff and held it aloft while running through a volley of Confederate grapeshot.
When he reached friendly lines, William Carney refused to surrender the flag to anyone save a member of his own regiment. Handing it over as his comrades cheered, William Carney cried, "Boys, the old flag never touched the ground" and fell to the ground in a dead faint. His selfless heroics earned William Carney the first Medal of Honor given to an African American. The "old flag" he bore hangs in Boston's Memorial Hall, not far from August Saint-Gaudens's bronze mural honoring the 54th. Behind the mounted figure of Shaw is the face of William H. Carney -- African American, soldier, and U.S. citizen. © Copyright 2018 Military.com [39]
By Virginia Foundation for the Humanities
Historical Significance The West Point Monument honors William Carney, born enslaved in Norfolk in 1840. Sgt. Carney fought in the Civil War with the 54th Massachusetts Regiment. During the 1863 attack on Fort Wagner, South Carolina, he saved the U.S. flag from capture, refusing to give up even though he had been shot three times. William Carney was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions. The statue is one of the few monuments in the South honoring African Americans who fought for the Union and is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails program. The 1989 movie, Glory is based on this Norfolk native.
Physical Description The West Point Monument is a six-foot high granite statue of William Carney. It is surrounded by the graves of nearly one hundred black military veterans of both the Civil and Spanish American Wars. The monument is located in the West Point section of the city's Elmwood Cemetery. James Fuller, a former slave and Norfolk's first African-American councilman, was responsible for having the statue erected in 1909. [40]
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Categories: Wounded in Action, United States of America, United States Civil War | Virginia, Slaves | Underground Railroad | New Bedford, Massachusetts | 54th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry (Colored), United States Civil War | Second Battle of Fort Wagner | Medal of Honor | Oak Grove Cemetery, New Bedford, Massachusetts | US Black Heritage Project Managed Profiles | African-American Notables | Notables