William Harvey Carney, a Sargent in the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Regimen, was the first African American to receive the Medal of Honor for his valor in the Civil War. He earned the honor for protecting one of the United States' greatest symbols - the American flag.

Born in Norfolk, VA in 1840, William H. Carney spent the majority of his boyhood enslaved. Carney’s exact route to freedom is uncertain. Some accounts claim that he escaped on his own through the Underground Railroad and joined his father in Massachusetts, while others believe that Carney’s father purchased his son’s freedom after gaining his own through the Underground Railroad. The Carney family made their way to Massachusetts and settled in New Bedford where, after the death of her enslaver, Carney’s mother joined them.

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 1863, after the United States Army allowed African Americans to serve in combat roles, Carney’s militia joined with the 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry Regiment, the first official African American unit recruited for the Union in the North. Carney was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in March, 1863.

On July 18, 1863, the 54th Massachusetts Regiment led the charge on Fort Wagner outside of Charleston, South Carolina. When the unit’s flag bearer fell after being shot down during the battle, Carney retrieved the American flag and continued to march it 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!” Carney lost a lot of blood and nearly lost his life, but his heroics inspired other soldiers that day and were crucial to the North securing victory at Fort Wagner.

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. Almost four decades after the battle, on March 23, 1900, Congress awarded Sergeant Carney the Medal of Honor for his gallant actions. 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.

Sources:

https://www.nps.gov/articles/william-h-carney.htmhttps://www.army.mil/article/181896/meet_sgt_william_carney_the_first_african_american_medal_of_honor_recipient