Describes the Civil War battle of Morris Island, South Carolina, during which Sargeant William H. Carney became the first African-American to earn a Congressional Medal of Honor by preserving the flag. - (Baker & Taylor)

Describes the Civil War battle of Morris Island, South Carolina, during which Sergeant William H. Carney became the first African American to earn a Congressional Medal of Honor by preserving the flag. - (Baker & Taylor)

The true story of the first Black Medal of Freedom winner'a remarkable account of one of the most memorable battles in Civil War history.

Sergeant William H. Carney was one of the few Black officers of the newly formed Massachusetts Fifty-fourth Regiment'composed entirely of Black soldiers. In an important Civil War battle, Carney led his men over the ramparts of Fort Wagner, where Union soldiers charged the Confederates. As they fought, they gained strength from the stars and stripes of the American flag, Old Glory.

It was Carney's vow to never let Old Glory touch the ground, and despite several gunshot wounds, he was able to rescue the flag from the fallen bearer.

Carney held the flag high as a symbol that his regiment would never submit to the Confederacy. The battle of Fort Wagner decimated the Fifty-fourth Regiment, but Carney's heroism that night inspired all who survived.

This nonfiction picture book is authored by Catherine Clinton, the Denman Chair of American History at the University of Texas in San Antonio, and beautifully illustrated by Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner Shane W. Evans. 

"Captures the fear and horror of battle as well as the bravery of the soldiers.''Booklist

"An excellent resource to humanize textbook studies of the Civil War.' 'School Library Journal

The true story of the first Black Medal of Freedom winner—a remarkable account of one of the most memorable battles in Civil War history.

Sergeant William H. Carney was one of the few Black officers of the newly formed Massachusetts Fifty-fourth Regiment—composed entirely of Black soldiers. In an important Civil War battle, Carney led his men over the ramparts of Fort Wagner, where Union soldiers charged the Confederates. As they fought, they gained strength from the stars and stripes of the American flag, Old Glory.

It was Carney’s vow to never let Old Glory touch the ground, and despite several gunshot wounds, he was able to rescue the flag from the fallen bearer.

Carney held the flag high as a symbol that his regiment would never submit to the Confederacy. The battle of Fort Wagner decimated the Fifty-fourth Regiment, but Carney’s heroism that night inspired all who survived.

This nonfiction picture book is authored by Catherine Clinton, the Denman Chair of American History at the University of Texas in San Antonio, and beautifully illustrated by Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner Shane W. Evans. 

“Captures the fear and horror of battle as well as the bravery of the soldiers.”—Booklist

“An excellent resource to humanize textbook studies of the Civil War.” —School Library Journal

In July 1863, a significantbattle in the Civil War was fought. Sergeant William H. Carney, an officer of the newly formed Massachusetts Fifty-fourth Regiment -- comprised entirely of African Americans -- led his soldiers over the ramparts of Fort Wagner, where Union soldiers charged the Confederates. As the soldiers fought, they gained strength from the stars and stripes of the American flag, Old Glory. It was Carney's vow to never let Old Glory touch the ground, and despite several gunshot wounds, he was able to rescue the flag from the fallen bearer. Carney held the flag high as a symbol that his regiment would never submit to the Confederacy. The battle of Fort Wagner decimated the Fifty-fourth Regiment, but Carney's heroism that night inspired all who survived.

Catherine Clinton's historically precise text paired with Shane Evans's rich illustrations creates a remarkable account of one of the most memorable battles in Civil War history.

Booklist Reviews

Gr. 4-6. This picture book celebrates the courage of William Carney----the first African American to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor--and his Union Army regiment, the Massachusetts Fifty-fourth. Readers familiar with the movie Glory will recognize the story of how the regiments stormed Fort Wagner in South Carolina. Here, the story begins the night before the attack, when Sergeant Carney encourages a young drummer boy, Ned. During the assault, Carney felt "a burning sensation as a bullet tore through his flesh," yet he manages to lift up the flag when the soldier bearing it falls. Although the focus shifts between Ned and Carney, the story captures the fear and horror of battle as well as the bravery of the soldiers. Back matter includes an epilogue, a time line, and a few recommended books and Internet sites. Most effective when seen from a little distance, Evans' paintings convey the emotions of the characters as well as their actions. The realistic depiction of battle, the vocabulary, and the story's structure all point to an audience older than the usual picture-book crowd. ((Reviewed April 15, 2005)) Copyright 2005 Booklist Reviews.

Horn Book Guide Reviews

Clinton tells the rousing story of the all–African American Massachusetts Fifty-fourth Regiment, focusing on the heroic action of Sergeant William H. Carney. Carney braces his troops by bravely carrying the flag through battle despite being wounded. Evans portrays the proud regiment dressed in the rich blues of their Union uniforms. Reading list, timeline, websites. Copyright 2005 Horn Book Guide Reviews.

Horn Book Magazine Reviews

Clinton tells the rousing story of the all-African American Massachusetts Fifty-fourth Regiment, focusing on the heroic action of Sergeant William H. Carney. Like Shakespeare's Henry V at Agincourt, Carney circulates among his men the night before battle, encouraging them. Carney tells his frightened drummer boy Ned to "keep your eyes on the flag...and you can't go wrong." Although the battle at Fort Wagner in 1863 ends in Union retreat, Carney braces his troops, including young Ned, by bravely carrying the flag through battle despite being wounded. Evans portrays the proud regiment dressed in the rich blues of their Union uniforms, whose bright brass buttons act like beacons of light, echoed in the lone fires of the night and an owl's surveying eyes. Still, no image matches the grandeur of the black-and-white archival studio photograph of William Carney holding the flag, which makes an effective transition to the book's back matter -- an epilogue, a timeline, and a brief list of recommended readings on this stirring chapter in American history. Copyright 2005 Horn Book Magazine Reviews.

Kirkus Reviews

Evans's thickly brushed scenes of African-American soldiers with downcast eyes, clustered beneath rippling Stars and Stripes, lend an air of ritual solemnity in keeping with Clinton's inspiring commemoration of Sgt. William H. Carney's (now) renowned act of heroism in the Civil War: planting the flag on the ramparts of Fort Wagner during the 54th Massachusetts's bloody charge, then, though bearing multiple wounds, carrying it to safety in the ensuing retreat. For this, Carney was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor almost 40 years later-the first African American to receive one. Though Clinton occasionally departs from the historical record-billing the attack as the soldiers' "first battle" (it wasn't), and adding thoughts and dialogue-her account ably captures the violence and confusion of battle, as well as the courage displayed by Carney and his fellow troopers. A strong lead-in to Clinton Cox's Undying Glory: The Story of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment (1991) or Clinton's own The Black Soldier: 1492 to the Present (2000). (time line, resource list) (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-10) Copyright Kirkus 2005 Kirkus/BPI Communications.All rights reserved.

Publishers Weekly Reviews

A trio of highly visual books help readers imagine the past. Hold the Flag High by Catherine Clinton, illus. by Shane W. Evans, tells the story of the Massachusetts Fifty-fourth regiment, an African-American unit formed in the spring of 1863 during the Civil War. Evans's thickly laid paint portrays the soldiers setting up camp just south of Charleston Bay, S.C., all the way through to a poignant close-up of their brave Sergeant Carney, "one of the few black officers" of the war, carrying Old Glory to point his troop to safety. Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal Reviews

Gr 3-6-The Massachusetts Fifty-fourth regiment, famously depicted in the movie Glory, was unique in the Civil War because it was made up entirely of African-American soldiers (with the exception of its commanding officer, Colonel Robert Gould Shaw). This picture book focuses on Sergeant William Carney, the first African-American soldier to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. When Shaw arrives to tell the troops that they have been selected to lead the charge, they are proud and ready. The actual fighting is depicted realistically but appropriately for a young audience. The illustrations convey pain and confusion but not graphic violence or injuries. Evans's expressive oil paintings capture the mood and action of the battle in a powerful and effective manner. Carney watches as the soldier who is carrying the flag is shot and killed. Although he, too, has been hit by a bullet, he valiantly catches the flag before it can touch the ground and gets it to safety before collapsing. A period photograph of Carney holding the American flag and a historical time line add realism to the portrayal of events. Although the book contains factual information and sources are listed, dialogue and feelings attributed to the characters put it more in the realm of historical fiction. It is an excellent resource to humanize textbook studies of the Civil War and would work well with Patricia Polacco's Pink and Say (Penguin, 1994), George Ella Lyon's Cecil's Story (Scholastic, 1995), Ann Turner's Drummer Boy (HarperCollins, 1998), and Romare Bearden's Li'l Dan, the Drummer Boy (S & S, 2003).-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.