William Harvey Carney

William Harvey Carney
Adam Cuerden · Public domain · source
Name	William Harvey Carney
Caption	Sergeant William Harvey Carney, Medal of Honor recipient
Birth date	February 29, 1840
Birth place	Norfolk, Virginia
Death date	December 9, 1908
Death place	Boston, Massachusetts
Placeofburial	Oak Grove Cemetery, New Bedford, Massachusetts
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Army
Serviceyears	1863–1864
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment
Battles	American Civil War, • Second Battle of Fort Wagner
Awards	Medal of Honor

William Harvey Carney. He was an African American soldier during the American Civil War and a recipient of the Medal of Honor. Born into slavery, Carney served with the famed 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, a unit composed primarily of free men of color. His heroic actions at the Second Battle of Fort Wagner in 1863, where he risked his life to protect the American Flag, earned him the nation's highest military decoration, though it was not awarded until 1900.

Early life and education

William Harvey Carney was born into slavery on February 29, 1840, in Norfolk, Virginia. His father, also named William, escaped via the Underground Railroad and later purchased freedom for his wife and son, allowing the family to reunite in New Bedford, Massachusetts. In the North, Carney attended a private school and expressed an early interest in joining the Christian ministry. The community of New Bedford, a known hub for abolitionist activity, provided a formative environment. Before the outbreak of the American Civil War, he worked as a mariner on whaling ships, a common occupation in the coastal city.

Military service

Following the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation and the authorization of United States Colored Troops, Carney enlisted in the Union Army in February 1863. He was assigned to Company C of the newly formed 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, one of the first official African-American units in the United States Army. The regiment was commanded by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, a white officer from a prominent Boston abolitionist family. After training at Camp Meigs near Readville, Massachusetts, the 54th Massachusetts was deployed to the Department of the South, participating in operations along the Atlantic Coast, including a raid on Darien, Georgia.

Medal of Honor action

Carney's defining moment came on July 18, 1863, during the Second Battle of Fort Wagner, a key Confederate earthwork defending the approach to Charleston, South Carolina. During the regiment's famed and bloody assault, the color sergeant was shot and fell. Carney, though wounded in the thigh, chest, and arm, retrieved the U.S. flag and planted it on the fort's parapet. Under intense fire from Confederate defenders, he held the colors aloft throughout the brutal close-quarters combat. When Union forces, including the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, were forced to retreat, Carney crawled back to friendly lines, still clutching the flag, reportedly saying, "Boys, I only did my duty; the old flag never touched the ground!"

Later life and legacy

After being discharged due to his wounds in June 1864, Carney returned to New Bedford, Massachusetts. He worked for over three decades as a letter carrier for the Post Office Department. He was also a popular speaker at Memorial Day events and Grand Army of the Republic gatherings, where he recounted his wartime experiences. On May 23, 1900, nearly 37 years after the battle, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his gallantry at Fort Wagner, becoming the first African American to receive the award. His citation specifically notes that he "bore the colors to the front in the assault." Carney died in Boston on December 9, 1908, due to complications from an elevator accident and was buried with full military honors.

Honors and memorials

William Harvey Carney's legacy is commemorated through numerous honors. His Medal of Honor citation is a permanent part of the historical record. In 2015, the United States Postal Service issued a stamp bearing his likeness as part of its "Black Heritage" series. A monument to the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment by sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens stands on the Boston Common, immortalizing Carney and his comrades. The United States Army named a Reserve center in his honor in New Bedford, Massachusetts. His story has been featured in historical works and was dramatized in the acclaimed 1989 film Glory, which chronicled the experiences of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment.

Category:American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor Category:United States Army soldiers Category:African-American history in Massachusetts