US Carney, William H.

William Harvey Carney​

Born: February 29, 1840

Birthplace: Norfolk, Norfolk County, Virginia

Father: William Carney Sr. 1800–1885

(Burial Place: Oak Grove Cemetery, New Bedford, Massachusetts)​

Mother: Francis Ann Dean Carney 1818–1888

(Burial Place: Oak Grove Cemetery, New Bedford, Massachusetts)​

Wife: Susanna Williams 1846-1916

(Burial Place: Oak Grove Cemetery, New Bedford, Massachusetts)​

Married: Late 1865, in New Bedford, Massachusetts

Children:

Clara Heronia Carney 1876–1939​

(Buried: Oak Grove Cemetery, New Bedford, Massachusetts)​

Nicknames: "The bravest colored soldier of the Civil War."

Antebellum History:

Carney spent the majority of his boyhood enslaved.​

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Approx. 1854: At the age of fourteen, he secretly began attending a private school led by a minister.​

Carney escaped slavery, either on his own through the Underground Railroad, or Carney's father purchased his son's freedom after gaining his own through the Underground Railroad​

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The Carney family made their way to Massachusetts and settled in New Bedford where, after the death of her enslaver, Carney's mother joined them.​

Civil War History:

1863: On February 17, at age 23, Carney joined a local militia unit, the Morgan Guards, with 45 other volunteers from his hometown of New Bedford, Massachusetts. This unit soon after renamed itself the "Toussaint Guards"​

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1863: The men of the "Toussaint Guards" joined the newly formed 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment​

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1863: In March, Carney received a promotion to the rank of Sergeant

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1863: On July 18th, participated in the Attack of Fort Wagner, South Carolina​

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1863: Transported to a military hospital at nearby Beaufort, South Carolina for treatment for his wounds​

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1863: Around about December, Carney was able to rejoin the 54th Massachusetts​

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1864: Left the Army with a disability discharge in June​

Postbellum History:

1865: Employed by a local merchant in New Bedford, Massachusetts​

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Served as the superintendent of streetlights for in New Bedford, Massachusetts

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1867: Moved to California, where Carney took a job with a real estate company​

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1869: Returned to New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1869, and Carney started a new career as a letter carrier​

1900: Awarded the Medal of Honor on May 23rd, by President William McKinley, for his actions at Fort Wagner, South Carolina​

1908: In November, Carney sustains fatal injuries from an elevator accident at the Massachusetts State House​

Died: December 9, 1908

Age at Death: 68 Years Old

Place of Death: Boston City Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

Cause of Death: Complications from an elevator accident that mangled the leg injured at Fort Wagner

Burial Place: Oak Grove Cemetery, New Bedford, Massachusetts,

Section LL, Lot 78​

NPS Photo, 2021.​

Medal of Honor Citation​

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sgt. William H. Carney, United States Army, for military valor on July 18, 1863, while serving with Company C, 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, USCT, in action at Fort Wagner, South Carolina. When the color sergeant was shot down, this soldier grasped the flag, led the way to the 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.​

 

[wingatecivilwar5]

Any idea where Carney's Medal of Honor is? Hopefully a museum. Nice article thanks for sharing.

 

[Luke Freet]

Any idea where Carney's Medal of Honor is? Hopefully a museum. Nice article thanks for sharing.

Likely with his descendants.

 

[ErnieMac]

From the Boston Globe - 9 December 1908.