West Point Monument (Norfolk, Virginia)

West Point Monument (Norfolk, Virginia)

Subject (Topic)
African Americans--History
Cemeteries--Virginia
United States Colored Troops
Virginia--Norfolk

Subject (Name)
Carney, William Harvey, 1840-1908

Subject (Object Type)
Commemorative sculpture

Atop a large square column of limestone, the figure of the Norfolk native Sergeant William H. Carney of the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry Regiment is depicted, dressed in his military uniform. Carney is the first African American to receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions at the Battle of Fort Wagner in South Carolina. The base of the monument, built as a tribute to African American veterans of the Civil War and Spanish American War, contains a number of bronze and marble plaques. The concrete and granite base were installed in 1906; the statue of Sgt. William H. Carney Jr. was installed and dedicated in 1920.

Unknown

Photograph: Smarthistory

1920

Norfolk Memorial Assocation; James E. Fuller

Virginia Department of Historic Resources, 2801 Kensington Avenue, Richmond, Virginia, 23221, United States

JPEG

English

Visual Arts-Sculpture

Elmwod Cemetery, 238 E. Princess Anne Road, Norfolk, Virginia, 23510, United States

The top bronze plaque on north face of the monument:
A shield with a relief of a Maltese Cross placed over crossed rifles and an eagle with outstretched wings with the dates 1861 - 1865 and 1920.

The bottom square bronze plaque on north face of the monument:
Erected by the Norfolk Memorial Association to the Memory of our Heroes 1861-1865

Left marble plaques on the east face:
Langston Camp No. 1 -- United Spanish War Vets

Middle marble plaque on east face:
The Whole of Section No. 20
Donated to the Union Veterans Hall Association by a resolution proposed by Comrade James E. Fuller; adopted by the Common Council March 3rd 1886, and by the Select Council April 13th 1886.

This monument Alter[sic}
Laid for dedication May 30th 1906 by the Norfolk Memorial Association to receive the shalt already pledged by the citizens in honor of all the colored soldiers and sailors buried in West Point Cemetery and Berkley from 1860 to the last veteran to be buried in these Cemeteries, as amended and approved by contributors March 2nd 1906.

Founders of Norfolk Memorial Asso.
Jas E. Fuller, 1st President
Mrs. R. Langley, 1st Vice President
Mrs. L. J. Lynch, 1st Secretary
James P. Carter, President
Abel C. Carter, Secretary
Magnes Riggins Treasurer
James E. Fuller, Custodian

Right marble plaque on east face:
National Camp No. 2 - United Spanish War Vets

Marble plaque on north face:
Shaw Post No. 5 - G.A.R.- Shaw Woman Relief Corps No. 3

Left marble plaque on west face:
John C. Fow - Post No. 67 - G.A.R.

Middle marble plaque on west face:
Caillioux Post No. 2 - G. A. R. - Cailloux Woman Relief Corps No. 1

Right marble plaque on west face:
Ladies Aux. No. 4 - U.S.W.V.

Marble plaque on south face:
Dahlgren Post No 4. - G.A.R. - Dahlgren Woman Relief Corps No. 12

Limestone; Granite; Concrete

Leib, Jonathan. "A Tale of Two Civil War Statues: Teaching the Geographies of Memory and Heritage in Norfolk, Virginia." Southeastern Geographer 52, no. 4 (Winter 2012): 398-412.

Alan Skerrett, Jr, ed. "Monuments to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) [African American Civil War Soldiers: The List." Jubilo! The Emancipation Century Blog, May 30, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/monuments-to-the-united-states-colored-troops-usct-the-list/.

Renée Ater

Sculpture