Alfred B. Hilton, Fort Wagner flagbearer and Medal of Honor recipient

Feb 06 , 2026

Alfred B. Hilton, Fort Wagner flagbearer and Medal of Honor recipient

Alfred B. Hilton gripped that flagpole through the hellfire like it was his last breath. The enemy shells tore through the air, ripping flesh and fury alike. Wounded, staggering, bleeding—yet his hands never let go. Because in that flag was the soul of freedom. To drop it was to surrender hope itself.

The Battle That Defined Him

July 18, 1863. Fort Wagner. South Carolina. The 4th United States Colored Troops—grunts in the war to end slavery—charged into a storm of lead and iron.

Hilton carried the coveted regimental colors. The flag was a beacon in the smoke.

When the color guard fell around him, Hilton seized the standard with both hands. Twice he was struck down. Twice he rallied. A third wound finally forced him to the ground.

He whispered the flag’s legacy with his last breaths. Somehow, that cloth never touched the ground.

Background & Faith

Born a free man in Maryland, Alfred B. Hilton answered the Union’s call with quiet resolve and fierce pride. He enlisted in 1863, joining the fight not just for country, but for brotherhood—a bond forged in faith and the hope for liberation.

His comrades recalled a man humble but steadfast.

He carried not just a banner, but a conviction rooted in scripture—the kind that sustains a man facing death.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

Facing the Inferno

The assault on Fort Wagner was a slaughterhouse.

The 4th USCT faced entrenched Confederate forces entrenched behind earthworks and heavy artillery. Men perished by the dozens in minutes.

Color bearers became prime targets.

To lose the colors was to lose morale.

Hilton’s role was pivotal.

When two color bearers fell, Hilton seized the battle flag and the guidon in one hand. Bullets tore through him.

Yet he pushed forward, rallying troops to hold the line.

His valor was no show; it was a life wagered on the altar of liberty.

Recognition Amidst Ruin

Despite his mortal wounds, Hilton’s actions did not go unnoticed.

He died days later, July 28, 1863, far from home.

Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism,[1] his citation read:

“During the assault on Fort Wagner, after two color bearers had been shot down, this soldier seized the colors, bore them forward, and when wounded and unable to carry the flag any longer, still clung to it until compelled to relinquish it.”

Lieutenant Colonel Charles J. Paine, commanding officer of the regiment, called him:

“A man of rare courage… who inspired his comrades beyond measure.”

Legacy Etched in Blood and Valor

Alfred B. Hilton’s story is not just a Civil War footnote.

He embodied the sacrificial grit of the United States Colored Troops—the forgotten warriors who bore the heaviest burdens yet shaped the nation’s future.

He painted the price of freedom in scars and sacrifice.

His courage echoes the solemn charge that all who fight for justice will face.

Many gave all.

Some gave all for a symbol.

And that symbol—the flag—flies because of men like Hilton.

His sacrifice stands as a lamp unto our feet in a world too quick to forget.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13

Today, every scarred veteran looking upon a flag should feel the weight of Hilton's resolve.

Not just a banner, but a testament.

A reminder.

That courage demands sacrifice. That freedom beckons with a price.

And that redemption—the true victory—rises only from the crimson soil where heroes walked.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, “Medal of Honor Recipients: Civil War (G-L),” United States Army 2. Richard M. Reid, Freedom for Themselves: North Carolina’s Black Soldiers in the Civil War, (2008) 3. Congressional Medal of Honor Society: Alfred B. Hilton Citation