African American Civil War hero
As part of Black History Month, let's take a moment remember the heroism of the first African American soldier whose actions earned him the Congressional Medal of Honor, William H. Carney.
Between two and three o’clock on the afternoon of December 11, 1908, the flags at the Massachusetts State House flew at half-staff. The flag flew in honor and remembrance of the life of Sergeant William Harvey Carney of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment. This day marked one of the first times in Massachusetts history that the honor had been given to an African American man.
William H. Carney, just twenty-three years old, joined the Morgan Guards in February of 1863. The unit soon joined with the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, the regiment memorialized in the movie Glory. Carney served in Company C, and in March of 1863, he received a promotion to the rank of Sergeant.
On July 18, 1863, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment led the charge on Fort Wagner outside of Charleston, South Carolina under the command of Col. Robert Gould Shaw. When the unit's flag bearer fell after being shot down during the battle, Sergeant Carney retrieved the American flag and continued to march it forward "pressing his wound with one hand and with the other holding up the emblem of freedom." Despite multiple serious wounds, Carney pushed forward and planted the flag upon the parapet. When Union forces had to retreat Carney continued to carry the flag until he made it to friendly lines and handed it to another member of the 54th Massachusetts. Upon arriving at federal lines Carney cried, "Boys, I did but my duty; the dear old flag never touched the ground!"
Sergeant William H. Carney received an honorable discharge from the United States Army in June of 1864 because of the injuries he sustained at the Battle of Fort Wagner. He returned to New Bedford, Massachusetts where he found work as the state’s fourth African American postman, a position which he held for thirty-two years.
In May 1900, Sergeant Carney received the Medal of Honor. Carney is one of twenty-two African Americans to receive the medal for service during the Civil War and his actions are the earliest act of African American bravery to be recognized with the medal.
As a self-liberated man, Sergeant William H. Carney knew that fighting for the freedom of others could come at the cost of his own freedom. The Medal of Honor awarded to him reflects his courageous and meritorious actions that went above and beyond the call of duty.
In November of 1908, Sergeant Carney sustained fatal injuries from an elevator accident at the Massachusetts State House. Many accounts claim that Carney tried to courteously back out of the elevator to make room for others when the doors closed, and his leg became caught. He died at Boston City Hospital on December 9, 1908.
African Americans continue to gallantly protect the people of the United States in both military and law enforcement roles as members of the culturally and ethnically diverse citizenry. This February, we ask you to take a moment to appreciate their contributions to our country.