Carney, William Harvey (1840-1908), was the first African American to be awarded the Medal of Honor. The medal is the highest military decoration that the United States grants to members of its armed forces. Carney served with the Union Army during the American Civil War (1861-1865). He won fame for his bravery during the Union assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina, in 1863.
Carney was born in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1840. His mother had been a slave. Educating slaves was forbidden, but as a boy, Carney attended a secret school run by a minister. In 1856, he and his family moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts. In 1863, Carney joined the 54th Massachusetts Infantry regiment. The 54th Massachusetts, led by Robert Gould Shaw, was the first African American regiment recruited in the North during the war. Carney received the rank of sergeant.
On July 18, 1863, the 54th Massachusetts participated in an assault on Fort Wagner. The Confederate fort stood on Morris Island, near the entrance to Charleston Harbor. Shaw was killed in the attack. Soon after, the regiment’s flag bearer was shot, and Carney took the flag. According to tradition, the U.S. flag should never touch the ground. Carney was struck in the leg by a bullet, but he managed to climb an earthen wall in front of the fort and plant the flag in the ground. He held the flag upright despite being surrounded by a hail of musket fire. Carney was wounded twice more. When Union forces retreated from the assault, Carney brought the flag back to the Union lines. “Boys, the old flag never touched the ground,” he reportedly said.
Carney was discharged from the Army in 1864. He lived briefly in California before returning to New Bedford. He served as a mail carrier for more than 30 years. He later worked in the Massachusetts State House. In 1900, Carney received the Medal of Honor for his bravery at Fort Wagner. Carney died on Dec. 8 or 9, 1908, after he was injured in an elevator accident. Today, the flag saved by Carney is preserved at Memorial Hall in Boston.
