Sgt. William H. Carney was the primary African American to be awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest army ornament, on today in historical past, Might 23, 1900, for his efforts at defending the American flag throughout the Civil Battle, says Historical past.com.

The Medal of Honor is america authorities’s most prestigious ornament, because the Nationwide Archives has famous. 

Established by a joint decision of Congress in July 1862, the award is bestowed upon “an individual, who, whereas a member of the armed companies, distinguishes themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity on the danger of their life above and past the decision of obligation, whereas engaged in an motion towards an enemy of america.”

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Sgt. Carney was born into slavery. He joined the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment throughout the Civil Battle, mentioned the Nationwide Museum of the U.S. Military. 

“As his regiment gained the crest of the parapet on the Accomplice-held Fort Wagner in South Carolina, Sgt. Carney took up the American flag after earlier coloration bearers fell and he carried the flag to the fort, rallying and provoking the lads round him,” the museum web site notes. 

William Harvey Carney (1840-1908), an African American soldier throughout American Civil Battle, was the recipient of the Medal of Honor for his bravery throughout the 1863 Battle of Fort Wagner, W.E.B. Du Bois Assortment.  (Circa Photos/GHI/Common Historical past Archive/Common Photos Group through Getty Photos)

Regardless of being severely injured, Sgt. Carney mentioned, “Boys, I solely did my obligation; the previous flag by no means touched the bottom,” in line with the identical supply.

Sgt. Carney’s regiment engaged in its first battle at James Island, South Carolina, on July 16, 1863 — and the Battle of Fort Wagner adopted two days later.

Col. Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th led the 5,000 Union troops who marched on the fort within the night of July 18, 1863. 

“Boys, I solely did my obligation; the previous flag by no means touched the bottom.”

On the fort, says the U.S. Military web site, 1,800 Accomplice troopers ready for the assault and the Union Military’s naval fleet battered the fort with cannon fireplace and weakened their defenses. 

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“When the 54th arrived on the fort, the Accomplice Military showered them with bullets. Shaw adjusted the regiment’s advances and took them by way of the moat and up the slope resulting in the fort,” the U.S. Military web site signifies.

Sergeant William H. Carney, 1897. Creator: Unknown.  (Heritage Artwork/Heritage Photos through Getty Photos)

Because the battle continued, Col. Shaw perished. His regiment raged on, however the 54th suffered heavy casualties with about half their troopers killed, wounded, captured or lacking in motion, the positioning says.

The Union Military was pressured to withdraw from the battle — and this battle serves as a pivotal instance of African American valor throughout the Civil Battle. 

“The actions of the 54th impressed much more Black males to enlist,” says the positioning.

The film “Glory” is a recreation of the assault on Fort Wagner.

As the lads superior, they had been instantly hit by a barrage of canister, musketry and shelling from the fort, says The Navy Occasions.

“He knelt down to assemble himself for motion, nonetheless firmly holding the flag whereas bullets and shell fragments peppered the sand round him.”

A bullet struck the 54th’s courageous sergeant, and because the wounded man faltered, Carney threw down his gun, seized the flag and moved to the entrance of the 54th’s assaulting ranks. 

“He quickly discovered himself alone, on the fort’s wall, with our bodies of useless and wounded comrades throughout him. He knelt down to assemble himself for motion, nonetheless firmly holding the flag whereas bullets and shell fragments peppered the sand round him,” the positioning chronicles.

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Though this notable act of heroism occurred in 1863, Sgt. Carney was not awarded the nation’s highest army honor till Might 23, 1900.

Born in Norfolk, Virginia

Sgt. Carney was born on Feb. 29, 1840, in Norfolk, Virginia, in line with the Nationwide Museum of the U.S. Military. 

His father, William Carney Sr., fled enslavement on the Underground Railroad and finally, says the positioning, the elder Carney settled in Massachusetts, the place he labored and acquired his household’s freedom. 

By the late 1850s, the now-free Carney household moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts, the place younger Carney attended college and discovered to learn and write, in line with the identical supply.

Memorabilia from Sgt. William Harvey Carney consists of the Congressional Medal of Honor, pictured on Jan. 10, 1990, in New Bedford, Massachusetts.  (Mark Wilson/The Boston Globe through Getty Photos)

“Whereas he confirmed an curiosity in becoming a member of the ministry, he noticed the onset of the Civil Battle as a name to serve within the U.S. Military,” says the positioning. 

He reportedly mentioned, “When the nation known as for all individuals, I might finest serve my God serving my nation and my oppressed brothers.”

Following the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment was fashioned. Then Massachusetts Gov. John A. Andrew led the group of an all-African American volunteer regiment, notes the Military web site.

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Carney recovered from the injuries he acquired at Fort Wagner — and when his commanders heard about his conduct, he was promoted to sergeant, famous The Navy Occasions. 

Later within the battle, the publication reported, the 54th fought a rear-guard motion overlaying a retreat on the Battle of Olustee. But Sgt. Carney couldn’t take part in that engagement on account of his wounds. 

Due to his accidents, he was discharged from the Military just a little greater than a 12 months after the battle, on June 30, 1864, the identical supply says.

After the Civil Battle, Sgt. Carney labored as one of many earliest U.S. letter carriers and ceaselessly spoke in public about how he saved the U.S. flag.

After returning house, Carney married Susannah Williams. The couple had a daughter, says the Museum of america Military. 

After the Civil Battle, Sgt. Carney labored as one of many earliest U.S. letter carriers and ceaselessly spoke in public about how he saved the U.S. flag, the library of the State of Virginia says. 

“In 1897 he acquired a standing ovation whereas attending the disclosing ceremony for the Boston monument to Col. Robert Gould Shaw of the 54th Massachusetts,” says the positioning.

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Sgt. Carney died on Dec. 9, 1908. 

He’s buried in New Bedford, Massachusetts. 

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“His reminiscence lives on as a illustration of the valor and bravado of the Black Troopers who served within the Union Military and when Carney died in 1908, the U.S. flag flew at half-mast on the Massachusetts State Home,” in line with the Library of the State of Virginia.