Military service & courage
William H. Carney
1840–1908
Massachusetts connection
New Bedford; 54th Massachusetts
Carney escaped slavery and made a home in New Bedford. During the 1863 assault on Fort Wagner, he protected his regiment’s flag despite being wounded. He later received the Medal of Honor. His story connects courage in battle with the struggle for equal citizenship.
You can use your device’s reading tools or read with a partner.
Your turn, historian
Find a detail. Build an idea.
- What did this person or group do? Point to a detail in the reading.
- What challenge did this person or group face? What does the evidence show?
- What would you like to find out next? Which kind of source could help?
“William H. Carney mattered because ___. A detail that supports my idea is ___.”
Follow the evidence.
This short reading is an original classroom summary. Open the source with your teacher to check details and learn more.
Read the source: National Park Service ↗Ask: Who made this source? What can it tell us? What might it leave out?