"Never touched the ground"
The 54th Massachusetts & the Second Battle of Fort Wagner
On July 18, 1863, more than 270 soldiers from the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, one of the first Black regiments of the U.S. Army, gave their lives or were wounded or captured in the assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina. Significantly outnumbered, these men failed to take the fort, but they won a much greater victory by putting to rest the false narrative that Black Americans either could not or would not fight. The heroic bravery and exemplary soldiering demonstrated by the 54th opened the way for Black Americans to serve in the Army and helped the Army become a stronger institution, better able to harness the talents and capabilities of all Americans.
Second Battle of Fort Wagner. Source: Library of Congress.
One of the soldiers from the 54th who exemplified the unit’s professionalism and depth of courage was Sergeant William H. Carney. Born enslaved in Virginia, Carney moved with his family to New Bedford Massachusetts when his family was freed upon the death of their slave owner. Following the publication of the Emancipation Proclamation, Carney enlisted in the 54th Massachusetts.
During the battle at Fort Wagner, when the color guard was wounded, Sergeant Carney rushed forward, picked up the flag, and carried it up to the parapets of the fort. Carney was wounded multiple times yet never dropped the flag. During the retreat, he held onto the flag until he could safely pass it on to others from his regiment. When he handed the flag over, he said it had “never touched the ground”, in keeping with the highest reverence and duty with respect to the nation’s flag.
Discharged from the Army due to his injuries, Carney returned to New Bedford where he served as a postal carrier. He later served as a messenger at the Massachusetts State House. Carney was also active in veterans groups, serving as a member of the Grand Army of the Republic Post 1.
William Carney with members of the Grand Army of the Republic Post 1. Source: GAR Post 1 Members. 1860. Web. 18 Jul 2024.<https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/rr1733969>
On May 23, 1900, Carney was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on July 18, 1863. He was the first Black American to receive the nation’s highest award for bravery and sacrifice.
The 54th Massachusetts and the assault on Fort Wager was famously captured in the 1989 movie Glory, starring Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, and Matthew Broderick. The legacy of the 54th Massachusetts continues to shape and influence America and the Army—in 2008, for example, the Honor Guard for the Massachusetts National Guard was re-designated the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment.
Additional Resources:
To learn more about Sergeant William Carney, click here for a story map from the National Park Service.
You can also learn more about Sergeant William Carney by viewing resources from the New Bedford Historical Society.
The National Museum of the United States Army has this piece on the 54th Massachusetts Regiment.
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