Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.life From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: William Carney's courage never flagged Date: Sat, 31 Oct 92 14:00:15 EST Message-ID: \SE B;LIFE;THE CIVIL WAR \HD William Carney's courage never flagged \BY Ocania Chalk \CR SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES William Harvey Carney was born into slavery in Norfolk in 1840. When he died 68 years later, Massachusetts lowered its State House flag to half-mast for this Medal of Honor winner. The son of Ann and William Carney, he was 10 when he secretly began attending a school run by a local minister. It was illegal to teach a Negro to read or write in the slave states. Young Carney's parents were freed in 1854 at the death of their owner, and shortly after attaining freedom the family moved to New Bedford, Mass. In New Bedford, the child could attend school openly. He was deeply religious and had thoughts of becoming a minister. The outbreak of the Civil War changed his plans, as it did for millions of young men North and South. William Carney was one of the first to volunteer when blacks were allowed to enter the Union army. John A. Andrew was governor of Massachusetts from 1860 to 1866. Foreseeing the danger of civil war, he perfected the organization of the militia of his state. He also as early as 1862 urged the national abolition of slavery and the enrollment of black troops. Then in January 1863, Gov. Andrew obtained permission from the secretary of war, Edwin Stanton, to organize black troops. It would be the first organization of black soldiers in the North. On Feb. 17, 1863, Carney enlisted in the 54th Infantry Regiment of Massachusetts. Pvt. Carney's monthly pay was $10 - $3 less than whites'. The 23-year-old soldier was assigned to Company C, whose members came mostly from New Bedford. In time, they had a few black noncommissioned officers. (Also, in time, the pay was equalized.) However, all commissioned officers were white. The regimental commander was Robert Gould Shaw. Shaw organized the regiment and left Boston with his men on May 28, 1863, for South Carolina. Gen. Quincy Adams Gillmore was in command of the Union 10th Army Corps, of which the 54th was a part. The 54th traveled by ship to the Charleston coast and landed on Morris Island, nearest Confederate-held Fort Wagner. Fort Wagner was a low, narrow, sandy strip of land about 3 1/2 miles in length on the south side of Charleston Harbor. At daylight on July 11, an attempt was made to overrun the fort by infantry assault. It failed when the Confederates came out of their bombproof entrenchments, mounted the parapet and raked the Union forces with withering musketry. On July 18, the 54th Massachusetts was designated to spearhead another assault on the fort. Again, the attacking Union forces were thrown back by the entrenched Confederates and suffered heavy losses. Carney was among the wounded - and Col. Shaw was killed. During the charge, Carney saw the Union color bearer fall; he seized the flag and carried it to the front of the column. In October 1863, Col. M.S. Littlefield forwarded to Gov. Andrew an eyewitness report of Carney's heroics: "He received a severe wound in the thigh; but fell only upon his knees. He planted the flag upon the parapet, lay down on the outer slope, that he might get as much shelter as possible; there he remained for over half an hour, til the 2nd brigade came up. He kept the colors flying until the second conflict was ended. When our forces retired he followed, creeping on one knee, still holding up the flag." When the newly promoted Sgt. Carney was treated in the field hospital, he said proudly: "Boys, the old flag never touched the ground." On June 30, 1864, Carney was discharged due to disabilities caused by his wounds (he had been shot in the thigh and head). After the war, the flag that Carney had guarded so zealously was enshrined in the Massachusetts State House. After some 16 months in uniform, Carney returned to New Bedford. In 1869, he became a mail carrier, a job he would hold for 32 years. In 1901, he moved to Boston to take a job as a messenger in the State House. On Nov. 23, 1908, Carney was injured in an elevator accident. He died slightly over two weeks later, on Dec. 9. Although he had been recommended for the Medal of Honor on July 18, 1863, he did not receive the award until May 23, 1900 - nearly 37 years after his heroics. When William Carney was buried, then-Gov. Curtis Guild ordered the State House flag flown at half-mast in honor of a state employee and a nation's hero. Twenty-three other blacks would earn the Medal of Honor (eight in the Navy and 15 in the Army) for heroism from 1863 through the war's end in 1865. Ocania Chalk is a free-lance writer from McConnells, S.C. ****BOX UPCOMING EVENTS District, Nov. 11: The National Geographic Society sponsors "Free People of the Civil War Era" with James O. Horton, who will describe the role of black leaders in the abolitionist movement, participation of free blacks in the Underground Railroad and black soldiers in the Union army. At 8 p.m. in the auditorium, 1600 M Street NW. Tickets, $8 members, $10 nonmembers. Further information, 202/857-7133. Through June 1993: The museum at the Washington Navy Yard presents "Reporting the War: Newspaper Illustrations of the Civil War." The Navy Yard is at Ninth and M streets SE. Use the Southeast-Southwest Freeway's Sixth Street SE exit or take Metro's Green Line to the Navy Yard stop. Further information, 202/433-4882. Virginia, Today: Fort Ward Museum in Alexandria presents "Civil War Art from Great Marsh: Selections from the Donald R. Tharpe Collection." Fort Ward is at 4301 W. Braddock Road, off Interstate 395 at the Seminary Road exit. Further information, 703/833-4848. Nov. 1: Manassas National Battlefield holds a five-mile hike through the scene of the first engagement. Further information, 703/361-1339. Nov. 21-22: The 12th annual Capital of the Confederacy Civil War Show is held at the Virginia State Fairgrounds. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Further information, 804/273-2358. Through Dec. 14: Sgt. Kirkland's Museum and Historical Society presents an exhibit of Union and Confederate newspapers covering the Battle of Fredericksburg. 912 Lafayette Blvd. in Fredericksburg. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Through February: Manassas Museum at 9101 Prince William St. presents "Return of Stonewall" with displays of his pocket watch, funeral flag and a lock of his hair. Further information, 703/368-1873. Maryland, Nov. 15: Fort Washington presents the Capital Guardian in a demonstration of musket firing and drills. Noon to 4 p.m. Fort Washington is reached by Exit 3A of the Capital Beltway or the Indian Head Highway exit of Interstate 295. Go south on Indian Head Highway four miles and turn right at Fort Washington Road. Further information, Don Steiner, 301/763-4600. Nov. 14-15: Antietam National Battlefield in Sharpsburg presents walking tours of the cemetery at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. both days. Further information, 301/432-5124. Through March 30: "Occupied Baltimore: Civil War Prints from the Robert G. Merrick Collection" is sponsored by the Maryland Historical Society, 201 W. Monument St., Baltimore. Further information, hours, 410/685-3750 Information excerpted in part from the Civil War News, Arlington, Mass. 02174, by permission. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. 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