Okla-homey
5/23/2006, 05:55 AM
May 23, 1900 Forgotten Civil War hero honored
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/4294/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa15.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Carney photographed at the time of his award, approximately 35 years after the Civil War.
106 years ago in this day, Sergeant William Harvey Carney is awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery on July 18, 1863, while fighting for the Union cause as a member of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Colored.) He was the first black man to receive the Medal of Honor.
The 54th Massachusetts, formed in early 1863, served as the prototype for regiments comprised of black troops in the United States Army. On July 16, 1863, the regiment saw its first action at James Island, South Carolina, performing admirably in a confrontation with experienced Confederate troops.
Three days later, the 54th volunteered to lead the assault on Battery Wagner, a highly fortified outpost on Morris Island that was part of the Confederate defenses which ringed Charleston Harbor.
Struggling against a lethal barrage of cannon and rifle fire, the regiment fought their way to the top of the fort's earthen parapet over several hours. Sergeant William Harvey Carney was wounded there while planting the U.S. flag.
http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/757/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa26.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The regiment's white commander, Colonel Robert Gould Shaw the young scion of a prominent Boston family, was killed in the failed assault and his soldiers were overwhelmed by the fort's defenders and had to fall back.
Despite his wound, Carney refused to retreat until he removed the flag, and though successful, he was shot again in the process. The 54th lost 281 of its 600 men in its brave attempt to take Battery Wagner, which throughout the war never fell by force of arms.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/7337/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa18.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Period photo of Carney made a few months after the assault on Battery Wagner. Still recovering from his wounds, Carney is seen with the colors he carried while supporting himself with a cane.
Carney's MOH citation:
In the attack on Fort Wagner, South Carolina, on July 18, 1863, Sergeant Carney was advancing with his regiment when the color sergeant was shot down. Rushing to the flag, Sergeant Carney hoisted it and gallantly led the regiment to the parapet of the fort where he planted it. Within twenty minutes Sergeant Carney and his flag were alone, surrounded only by dead and wounded as the Union troops fell back. As dusk fell Sergeant Carney saw a group of soldiers approaching and, mistaking them for Union forces, raised his flag only to be met with a heavy volley of hostile fire. He wrapped the flag around the staff to protect it, and though wounded repeatedly including a serious wound in his leg, crossed the wide expanse of beach while under continuing enemy fire to bring the colors safely off the field. Before collapsing from his wounds among his surviving and cheering comrades he stated, "Men, I only did my duty. The flag never touched the ground."
The 54th went on to perform honorably in expeditions in Georgia and Florida, most notably at the Battle of Olustee in northern Florida. Carney eventually recovered and was discharged with disability on June 30, 1864. After the war, Carney went to work for the US Postal Service and spent the rest of his life as a letter carrier in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/1147/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa16.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Highly romanticized engraving of the battle of Olustee
William Harvey Carney died at his home in New Bedford on December 9, 1908, and is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery there. His final resting place bears a distinctive stone, one claimed by less than 3500 Americans.
http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/4153/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa27.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The exploits of the 54th Mass were made into a feature motion picture titled "Glory" starring Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman and Matthew Broderick.
http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/2884/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa17.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/2884/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa17.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/9339/insane7zo5wa.jpg
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/4294/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa15.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Carney photographed at the time of his award, approximately 35 years after the Civil War.
106 years ago in this day, Sergeant William Harvey Carney is awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery on July 18, 1863, while fighting for the Union cause as a member of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Colored.) He was the first black man to receive the Medal of Honor.
The 54th Massachusetts, formed in early 1863, served as the prototype for regiments comprised of black troops in the United States Army. On July 16, 1863, the regiment saw its first action at James Island, South Carolina, performing admirably in a confrontation with experienced Confederate troops.
Three days later, the 54th volunteered to lead the assault on Battery Wagner, a highly fortified outpost on Morris Island that was part of the Confederate defenses which ringed Charleston Harbor.
Struggling against a lethal barrage of cannon and rifle fire, the regiment fought their way to the top of the fort's earthen parapet over several hours. Sergeant William Harvey Carney was wounded there while planting the U.S. flag.
http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/757/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa26.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The regiment's white commander, Colonel Robert Gould Shaw the young scion of a prominent Boston family, was killed in the failed assault and his soldiers were overwhelmed by the fort's defenders and had to fall back.
Despite his wound, Carney refused to retreat until he removed the flag, and though successful, he was shot again in the process. The 54th lost 281 of its 600 men in its brave attempt to take Battery Wagner, which throughout the war never fell by force of arms.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/7337/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa18.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Period photo of Carney made a few months after the assault on Battery Wagner. Still recovering from his wounds, Carney is seen with the colors he carried while supporting himself with a cane.
Carney's MOH citation:
In the attack on Fort Wagner, South Carolina, on July 18, 1863, Sergeant Carney was advancing with his regiment when the color sergeant was shot down. Rushing to the flag, Sergeant Carney hoisted it and gallantly led the regiment to the parapet of the fort where he planted it. Within twenty minutes Sergeant Carney and his flag were alone, surrounded only by dead and wounded as the Union troops fell back. As dusk fell Sergeant Carney saw a group of soldiers approaching and, mistaking them for Union forces, raised his flag only to be met with a heavy volley of hostile fire. He wrapped the flag around the staff to protect it, and though wounded repeatedly including a serious wound in his leg, crossed the wide expanse of beach while under continuing enemy fire to bring the colors safely off the field. Before collapsing from his wounds among his surviving and cheering comrades he stated, "Men, I only did my duty. The flag never touched the ground."
The 54th went on to perform honorably in expeditions in Georgia and Florida, most notably at the Battle of Olustee in northern Florida. Carney eventually recovered and was discharged with disability on June 30, 1864. After the war, Carney went to work for the US Postal Service and spent the rest of his life as a letter carrier in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/1147/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa16.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Highly romanticized engraving of the battle of Olustee
William Harvey Carney died at his home in New Bedford on December 9, 1908, and is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery there. His final resting place bears a distinctive stone, one claimed by less than 3500 Americans.
http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/4153/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa27.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The exploits of the 54th Mass were made into a feature motion picture titled "Glory" starring Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman and Matthew Broderick.
http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/2884/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa17.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/2884/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa17.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/9339/insane7zo5wa.jpg