Mines: Remembering William H. Carney, the first African American recipient of the Medal of Honor

Do you remember the moment in the Academy Award-winning movie, "Glory" when actor Denzel Washington grabbed the U.S. flag from the hands of the wounded flag bearer and led the 54th Massachusetts Volunteers forward? You probably held your breath as he scaled the ramparts after being wounded multiple times. Washington was portraying William H. Carney, the first African American Medal of Honor recipient. Sgt. Carney's true story is equally breathtaking in his display of valor.

Carney was born a slave in Virginia; his family moved to Massachusetts after gaining their freedom. Carney secretly learned to read and write, knowing that laws restricted blacks from educational improvement. He would later recall that, while God had called him to service in the church, he chose to serve God by joining the military and fighting to free those who were oppressed, using Moses as his inspiration.

He joined the Union Army and was assigned to Company C, 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry Regiment, the first official black unit recruited for the Union in the north, led by Col. Robert Shaw Gould. Forty other men of color served with Carney, including two of Frederick Douglass' sons. Citizens on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line questioned the value of "colored" troops, often speculating that during the heat of combat most would flee the field. Only months later, the 54th Regiment and Carney would prove those doubts unfounded while engaging in their first combat mission in South Carolina.

Sgt. William H. Carney in his older years. / Contributed photo

On July 18, 1863, Carney and his regiment led the charge on Fort Wagner. During intense fighting, the unit's color guard was shot. Carney, who witnessed the mortally wounded soldier stumble, scrambled to catch the falling flag.

In his own words, Carney recalled that day.

"When within about a thousand yards of the fort, we halted and lay flat on the ground waiting for the order to charge. The order came, and we had advanced but a short distance when we were opened upon with musketry, shell and canister, which mowed down our men right and left. When the color-bearer was disabled, I threw away my gun and seized the colors, making my way to the head of the column ... in less than twenty minutes I found myself alone struggling upon the ramparts, while all around me lay the dead and wounded ... The musket balls and grape shot were flying all around me ... I knew my position was a critical one All the men who had mounted the ramparts with me were either killed or wounded, I being the only one left erect and moving. Upon rising to determine my course to the rear, I was struck by a bullet, but, as I was not prostrated by the shot, I continued my course. I had not gone far, however, before I was struck by a second ball."

He would be wounded a third time before members of the 100th New York helped him to the rear. " ... my rescuer offered to carry the colors for me, but I refused to give them up, saying that no one but a member of my regiment should carry them."

While Carney's recollections, written decades later, create a sense of calm amidst a raging battle with tremendous casualties, the attack against Fort Wagner witnessed some of the highest casualties per troop numbers of any battle during the U.S. Civil War. In what became the high point of the battle, Carney recalled his return to his regiment, escorted by hospital corps. "When the men saw me bringing in the colors, they cheered me and I was able to tell them that the old flag had never touched the ground."

The courage demonstrated by the 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry Regiment was carried by the Northern newspapers in detailed stories of the battle and by word-of-mouth across the entire nation. Among those who would later learn of Carney's commitment to save the Union colors was a young former slave in Williamson County, Tennessee, who would himself choose the military as a career.

On May 23, 1900, Sgt. William H. Carney would be awarded the Medal of Honor, the first African American to wear the medal. Carney's legacy reminds us that patriotism, sacrifice, courage and integrity are characteristics of all Medal of Honor recipients.

Next week, you meet Tennessean George Jordan, former slave, who will follow in Carney's footsteps.

Linda Moss Mines is vice president of education at the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center and regent of the Chief John Ross Chapter, NSDAR.