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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Army

William Harvey Carney

Sergeant William Harvey Carney, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 18, 1863 at Fort Wagner, South Carolina during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War July 18, 1863

Sergeant William Harvey Carney was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 18, 1863 at Fort Wagner, South Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry. Carney was 23 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 23, 1900, 36 years after the action.

Carney was born on February 29, 1840 in Norfolk, Norfolk County, Virginia. His Medal of Honor is credited to New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts. Carney died on December 9, 1908 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, at the age of 68. He is buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Carney is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

When the color sergeant was shot down, this soldier grasped the flag, led the way to the parapet, and planted the colors thereon. When the troops fell back he brought off the flag, under a fierce fire in which he was twice severely wounded.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

When the troops fell back he brought off the flag, under a fierce fire in which he was twice severely wounded.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War, Second Battle of Fort Wagner.

Places

  • Born: Norfolk — map
  • Died: Boston — map
  • Buried: Oak Grove Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. February 29, 1840
    Born in Norfolk, Norfolk County, Virginia
  2. July 18, 1863
    Act of valor — Fort Wagner, South Carolina
    Age 23. Company C, 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry
  3. May 23, 1900
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. December 9, 1908
    Died in New Bedford, Massachusetts
    Age 68.
  5. Resting place
    Oak Grove Cemetery
    New Bedford, Massachusetts

Biography

William Harvey Carney (February 29, 1840 – December 9, 1908) was an American soldier during the American Civil War. Born enslaved, he was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1900 for his gallantry in saving the regimental colors during the Battle of Fort Wagner in 1863. The action for which he received the Medal of Honor preceded that of any other African American Medal of Honor recipient; however, his medal was actually one of the last to be awarded for Civil War service. Some African Americans received the Medal of Honor as early as April 1865.

From the Wikipedia article “William Harvey Carney”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Videos

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Further reading

Also honored for actions on July 18, 1863

Joseph C. Hibson Private · Army Civil War · 1863

More Civil War recipients from Massachusetts

JP John Preston Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 William D. Newland Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 RW Richard Welch Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 BK Barnett Kenna Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1864 HY Horatio Nelson Young Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1863 LG Luke M. Griswold Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1862
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.