William Harvey Carney

William Harvey CarneySergeant, U.S. Army

Sergeant William Harvey Carney was born in Norfolk City on February 29, 1840 to William and Nancy Ann Carney.(1)  His parents were enslaved, though freedom was promised by their owners. Carney grew up a slave. He was secretly taught to read and write by a local minister at the age of 14. Two years later, Carney was working with his father.(2)   

William Carney, Sgt. Carney’s father, escaped enslavement after the death of his owner, Mrs. Sarah Ann Twine, in 1857. While traveling north, Carney met William Still in Philadelphia where his life experience was recorded.(3)  He continued his travels to New York before settling permanently in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Once there, William Carney worked tirelessly to free his family. His efforts paid off when Sgt. Carney and five other siblings joined their father in New Bedford soon afterward. In 1859, William Carney raised enough money to purchase freedom for his wife Nancy, Sgt. Carney’s mother, from Joseph Carter of Norfolk County, Virginia.(4)  

Sgt. Carney worked odd jobs around New Bedford and considered entering the ministry when he heard the call “for all people” to serve their country. Believing he could best serve God by helping to free his oppressed brothers, Carney joined the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Colored Infantry in February 1863.(5) 

Assault on Fort Wagner, SC

Carney entered the regiment as a private but was quickly promoted to sergeant on March 30, 1863.(6)  The regiment took part in the July 18, 1863 assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina. He saved his regiment’s American flag during the battle.  Seeing the regimental flag bearer had fallen, Carney took up the flag and planted it on the Confederate parapet during the attack.  He, already wounded, continued to hold the American flag while the Confederate troops charged. Recognizing the Federal troops had to retreat under fire, Carney struggled back across the battlefield, and returned the flag to the Union lines while being wounded twice more. Sgt. Carney said modestly, "Boys, I only did my duty. The old flag never touched the ground."(7) 

Sgt. Carney received the Quincy A. Gillmore Medal of Gallant and Meritorious Award during the war. Years later, Christian Fleetwood approached Carney about using his Medal of Honor for the 1900 Paris Exhibition featuring Civil War African American action. After learning that Carney had not received the Medal of Honor, Christian Fleetwood and Luis Fenollosa Emilio petitioned the War Department to award Carney the Medal of Honor.(8)   On May 9, 1900, the War Department bestowed the Medal of Honor on Carney for his gallant service at Fort Wagner during the Civil War.(9)  His actions during the battle was the first known action by an African American serviceman that led to a Medal of Honor.

Carney returned to New Bedford after the war. He married Susannah Williams on October 11, 1865 in New Bedford and had one daughter, Clara Heronia. Carney became the first black postal mail carrier for New Bedford in 1869, and the first known black mail carrier for the United States Postal Service. He retired after more than 30 years of service.(10)  Carney died in Boston on December 9, 1908 from injuries sustained from an elevator accident at the Massachusetts State House where he was working as a messenger, in the office of the Secretary of State.(11)  He is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in New Bedford, Massachusetts.(12) 

Plaque

View SGT Carney's plaque.

Sources:

  1. “Personal War Sketch of William H. Carney, Volume lll, p. 103.”  GAR William Logan Rodman Post No.1 Records, 1866-1937, Special Collections - Paul A. Cyr History Room, New Bedford Free Public Library, New Bedford, MA.  
  2. Everett, Edward, and Frank Moore. The Rebellion Record: A Diary of American Events with Documents, Narratives, Illustrative Incidents, Poetry, Etc. Volume 8. New York: Van Nostrand, 1865.  16.  
  3. Still, William. Underground Rail Road Records: With a Life of the Author; Narrating the Hardships, Hairbreadth Escapes and Death Struggles of the Slaves in Their Efforts for Freedom, Together with Sketches of Some of the Eminent Friends of Freedom, and Most Liberal Aiders and Advisers of the Road. Philadelphia, Pa: W. Still, 1883. 435-437.
  4. Norfolk County, Virginia.  “Nancy Carney’s Manumission,” 30 September 1859, Deed Book 86, 536.
  5. Everett, Edward, and Frank Moore. The Rebellion Record: A Diary of American Events with Documents, Narratives, Illustrative Incidents, Poetry, Etc. Volume 8. New York: Van Nostrand, 1865.  16.  
  6. National Archives.  “William H Carney, Company C.” Compiled Military Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served with the U.S. Colored Troops, 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment (Colored); Microfilm Serial: M1898; Microfilm Roll: 3 ; The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.;  
  7. Wachs, Eleanor F. "It Wasn't in Her Lifetime, but It Was Handed Down": Four Black Oral Histories of Massachusetts. [Boston, Mass.]: Office of the Massachusetts Secretary of State, 1989.  8-9.
  8. Ibid., 14-15.
  9. National Archives.  “William H Carney, Company C.” Compiled Military Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served with the U.S. Colored Troops, 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment (Colored); Microfilm Serial: M1898; Microfilm Roll: 3 ; The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.
  10. Wachs, Eleanor F. "It Wasn't in Her Lifetime, but It Was Handed Down": Four Black Oral Histories of Massachusetts. [Boston, Mass.]: Office of the Massachusetts Secretary of State, 1989. 10, 14.; Lynch, Jenny.  African American Postal Workers in the 19th Century. https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/african-american-workers-19thc.pdf
  11. “William H. Carney,” New York Tribune (New York, NY), 10 December 1908, page 7 – column 5.; Wachs, Eleanor F. "It Wasn't in Her Lifetime, but It Was Handed Down": Four Black Oral Histories of Massachusetts. [Boston, Mass.]: Office of the Massachusetts Secretary of State, 1989. 10.
  12. Massachusetts.  “Return of A Death – 1908, William H Carney.”  Boston.  9 December 1908.  Certificate # 10982.