William Harvey Carney (February 29, 1840 – December 9, 1908) was an African American soldier during the American Civil War. In 1900, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his gallantry in saving the regimental colors during the Battle of Fort Wagner in 1863. Because his actions preceded those of other medal honorees, he is considered to be the first African American to be granted the Medal of Honor. An excellent depiction of that battle is in the movie GLORY. The Massachusetts 54th was commanded by seven white officers. One of those white officers — who was killed during the Battle of Fort Wagner — was my mother’s mother’s uncle. In reward for his service, his family was given land in Montana. They founded a city on that land: Lewistown, where my mother was born.

[See my books at https://authormasterminds.com/master-of-the-impossible-crime.]