William Carney's Courage at Fort Wagner and the Medal of Honor

Oct 06 , 2025

William Carney's Courage at Fort Wagner and the Medal of Honor

Flag in Bloodied Hands. The smoke thick. Bullets tearing air like thunder ripping trees. Men fall. The colors—the American flag—are the last line of hope. William Carney stands. Wounded deep, bleeding fierce, but holding. That rag, that symbol—never touches the ground. In that moment, he becomes more than a soldier. He becomes a guardian of honor.

The Boy from Norfolk — Faith Forged a Soldier

Born enslaved in 1840, William Harvey Carney’s world was dark. Yet faith illumined his path. A devout Christian, he believed God’s righteousness was stronger than chains.

His escape from bondage to freedom, and then to Boston, carried the weight of a promise: to fight not just for himself, but for the dignity of Black men everywhere. He joined the 54th Massachusetts Infantry in 1863—one of the first African American regiments to fight for the Union. For Carney, the flag was more than cloth: it was redemption writ large, a testament to a people's struggle for liberation.

“The old flag never touched the ground!” he declared later, a statement heavier than war.

The Battle That Defined Him — Fort Wagner, July 18, 1863

The assault on Fort Wagner was hell. Sand and sweat mixed with gunpowder smoke. The 54th charged a fortified position under withering fire. Men dropped like wheat before the scythe.

The regimental color bearer fell almost immediately. The colors—carrying the hopes of Black soldiers claiming their place in the fight—wavered. Carney grabbed the flag.

Bullets tore at his flesh. A bullet shattered his jaw, crushed his throat. Blood flooded his mouth. Still, the flag stayed aloft.

Witnesses later recounted Carney’s vow: "I’d rather die than let the flag touch the ground." He clutched it against every savage blow, dragging himself back to Union lines. Severely wounded, he delivered that symbol.

He saved more than a piece of cloth. He saved the honor of a race in battle, refusing to surrender dignity amid the chaos of death.

Medal of Honor — A Quiet Recognition of Unyielding Courage

Carney received the Medal of Honor, awarded in 1900—decades after the battle, a testament to the slow recognition of Black valor.

His citation reads:

“When the color sergeant was shot down, this soldier grasped the flag, led the way to the parapet, and planted the flag upon the fort. When the troops fell back, he brought off the flag, under a fierce fire.”

A commanding officer said simply, “Carney showed the highest principles of soldierly conduct.”

The medal came late, but Carney’s service stitched a permanent thread into the fabric of American military history. He was the first African American awarded the Medal of Honor, breaking racial barriers the way he broke enemy lines.

Legacy — Courage Carved in Stone and Spirit

William Carney's story echoes in every battle-scarred veteran’s soul—the voices of those who fight unseen, unheralded, yet unbowed.

He taught the world what honor means: sacrifice under fire, faith in a cause bigger than self, and the courage to hold the line when hope falters.

His flag never touched the ground. Neither should our commitment to justice, to remembering those who carried it through hell.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

— Philippians 4:13

Carney’s hands were broken by bullets. His spirit unbreakable.

His legacy screams to those who bear the weight of war: Hold fast. Fight with every breath. Carry the flag of your truth through the darkness.

Those who stand tall in the aftermath owe a debt to William Carney—the man who bled so freedom’s banner would fly.

Sources

1. McCarthy, Brandon. The 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment - Civil War Trust 2. U.S. Army Center of Military History. Medal of Honor Recipients: Civil War (A-L) 3. Foner, Eric. The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery - W.W. Norton & Company 4. Congressional Medal of Honor Society. William Harvey Carney Citation