William H. Carney, Medal of Honor Recipient from Fort Wagner

Feb 05 , 2026

William H. Carney, Medal of Honor Recipient from Fort Wagner

William H. Carney gripped the tattered colors with hands slick from blood and mud, his body riddled with wounds. Around him, smoke clawed the sky, men fell silent or cried out, and the Union flag threatened to fall into rebel hands. But Carney, a Black man standing tall amid a war that scarcely recognized his rights, refused to let it die.

“The flag never touched the ground.”

A Son of Freedom’s Fire

Born into slavery in Norfolk, Virginia, around 1840, William Harvey Carney knew the weight of chains and the hunger for liberty. When the Union called, he answered—not just as a soldier, but a testament to faith and unyielding honor. His belief in God and justice fueled every step.

“Let the Lord guide your hands and steel your heart.”

Carney joined the 54th Massachusetts Infantry in 1863, one of the first Black regiments in the Civil War. They carried more than rifles and ammo; they carried the burden of proving Black men belonged in the fight for America’s soul.

The Battle at Fort Wagner—Honor in the Firestorm

July 18, 1863. South Carolina’s Fort Wagner loomed, a fortress that broke men’s spirits. Carney’s regiment charged into a barrage of Confederate bullets and cannon fire. The air roared with death, men fell like wheat before a scythe.

Amid the chaos, the regimental colors went down—flag bearer hit, his grip lost. Without hesitation, Carney dove through the storm. He grabbed the flag, blood streaming from a shattered face and limbs pierced by bullets. Every step was agony. Every breath, a defiance.

“I only did my duty; the old flag never touched the ground.” — William H. Carney, Medal of Honor testimony.

Carney shuffled and staggered but kept the colors aloft, a beacon of hope and defiance. He returned to his lines long after others collapsed, wounded and exhausted.

Medal of Honor—A Hard-Earned Symbol

His valor was not formally recognized until 1900—nearly 37 years later. When the Medal of Honor finally hung at his neck, it was more than a medal; it was a vindication.

The citation honored him as the first African American to receive the Medal of Honor, a badge that carried the scars and sacrifices of a man who had bled for a Union he deeply believed in.

Leaders recalled his actions as an example of unbreakable resolve. Fellow soldiers remembered a man who bore not only wounds but the weight of a nation's prejudice—and refused to yield.

A Legacy Carved in Blood and Faith

William Carney’s story shatters silence and lies about race, courage, and the American fight for freedom. He wore the scars of battle and bondage alike. His life reminds veterans today that heroism often arrives under fire and thrives through faith.

“He who perseveres in faith shall inherit the promise.” — Hebrews 10:36

Every fallen comrade, every flag held high through hell, carries a lesson Carney embodied: Courage is not the absence of fear, but the endurance of purpose beyond pain.

His flag didn’t touch the ground. Neither does his legacy—etched in blood, honor, and the relentless pursuit of justice.

Sources

1. Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — William H. Carney and the 54th Massachusetts Regiment 2. U.S. Army Center of Military History — Medal of Honor Recipients: Civil War (A-L) 3. Hampton University History Archives — Carney’s Medal of Honor Testimony and Service Record