The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-06-25
BRAvEsT OF HIS RACE.
How a Negro Soldier Won Medal
 That General Alger Envied.

How Negro Soldier Won a Medal That General Alger Envied.
 "The bravest colored soldier of the Civil War" delivered the Memorial day oration at Shaw monument. At great Grand Army meeting in New Bedford a few years ago. Gen. Russell A. Alger of Michigan. then commander of the veterans. said to this worthy veteran who bore on his breast the medal of honor awarded him by Congress. q envy you this great honor I would rather have the privilege of wearing that badge than to receive the highest office in the gift of the Government
 The subject of these high praises is Sergeant William H. Carney of New Bedford, who served under Col. Shaw. He is now messenger in the office of his comrade-in-arms. Sol. William M. Olin, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It was during the as- sault of July IS, 1863 that Sergeant Carney made his great record. The Fifty-fourth was well up to the front of the cloumn. As the sun went down a terrific storm of rain and thunder be- gan. While it was in progress the or der to advance was given. The ad- vance was held by Gen. Strong's brigade, which included the Fifty fourth Massachusetts. The order for general charge was quickly obeyed adn Col. Shaw called to his men, Men of Massachusetts. are you ready to take lthat fort tonight
 The response was instant. It was a rush to death for scores of brave men. As the brigade pressed to the edge of the ditch, and when they were within 200 yards of the fort, blaze of mus
 ketry flashed from the parapet, and the pittiless rain of shot and shell began to fall upon them. The slaughter of the Federal column was a fearful one. The entire bigade was torn to pieces, and of lthe brave colored men of the Fourth it was reported that not more than 50 es- caDed. Gen. Strong was nortally wounded, and Col. Shaw was killed on the parpaDet, his body being riddled 1 with bullets.
 Carney was a file closer, and the regi- mental colors were carried by Sergeant Wall while the State flag was borne by Corp Jones. As the boys made the rush for the fort" said Sergeant Car ney, the other day, T saw the old flag fall. It was the work of a moment to throw my gun away and grasp the staff of the falling colors and get to the head of the column. It was rush to the lparapet The scene was terrible one. Around me were the dead and the dy- ing. My comrades had been shot by my side. It seemed miracle that should have been spared in that awful slaughter. When I recovered from my. semi-stuDor, on account of the scenes of blood about me, found myself standing on the top of the ernbankment, all alone. It were folly for me to try to advance. so I dropped on my knees among my dead comrades, and I laid as low and quiet as possible.
 "The hilt of the staff was in the sand-and the flag never trailed in the dust. Horrors upon horrors accumu- lated. I was almost blinded by the dirt flying around me and nearly distracted Esby the by the shrieks and groans of the wounded and dying men about me. As soon I could distinguish anything in the darkness. could see dirnly on one side line of men mounting the ram parts and going down into the fort. l thought they must be our men, but in the light of cannon flash saw they were the enemy. Then knew we had lost and I loked about for a chance to retreat under cover. I wrapped the precious colors about the staff and cautiously picked my way among the dead and dying, going down the em- bankment to the ditch where the water was now waistdeep.
 I After wading through 1t I got to the outer embankment, and as I mounted 1 the incline my leg was shattered by a shot. I still had power to crawl and did so. A man of the One Hundredth New York came to my assistance and offered to carry the colors. No, sir, II replied to him. No man gets these colors unless he is a Fifth Massachu- setts man. A moment later received a second wound, when fragment of shell struck ane in the head.
 Well, I managed, after great exertion l to get into our own lines, and finally de- l livered that flag into the hands of Capt Amelio and a squad of our men. Per- haps the boys didn't cheer me. Then again, perhaps they did, as they saw the old flag. Their cheers inspired my enthusiasm and I shouted back as best II could: Boys. the old flag never touched the ground. That's all re- member except that they say I was in Ithe hospital at Beaufort for many days after that" ."-Boston Globe.