On this day – May 23, 1900 – Sergeant William Harvey Carney was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery on July 18, 1863. He fought for the Union cause as a member of the fabled 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry. Recruited from freed slaves – it was the first Union Army regiment organized with African American soldiers in the Civil War. Carney received the Medal of Honor – the nation’s highest military honor. While other African-Americans had been granted the award by the time it was presented to Carney in 1900, Carney’s is the earliest action for which the Medal of Honor was awarded to an African-American.

From This Day in History at http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/forgotten-civil-war-hero-honored:

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 Fort Wagner, a highly fortified outpost on Morris Island that was part of the Confederate defense of Charleston Harbor.

Struggling against a lethal barrage of cannon and rifle fire, the regiment fought their way to the top of the fort’s parapet over several hours. Sergeant William Harvey Carney was wounded there while planting the U.S. flag. The regiment’s white commander, Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, was killed, 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 Fort Wagner, which throughout the war never fell by force of arms. The 54th went on to perform honorably in expeditions in Georgia and Florida, most notably at the Battle of Olustee. Carney eventually recovered and was discharged with disability on June 30, 1864.

One Response to “Boys, the old flag never touched the ground!”

1. Dean says: May 24, 2011 at 11:55 am

   Sergent William H. Carney citation : When color sergeant was shot down, this soldier grasped the flag, led the way to 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. Date of issue : 23 May 1900.