In fiction writing there are things called “Plot Points,” these send the narrative in a new and unexpected direction. These story points make up the important parts of the story and bring it ultimately to a conclusion. In history, there are “Turning Points” that send the trajectory of time and space into new and unexpected directions. When looking at the American Civil War we can find many important events and…

The story of Sgt. William H. Carney’s heroic efforts on July 16, 1863, at Fort Wagner, which later earned him a Medal of Honor, is the stuff of Civil War legend; and yet not always told. Though it was not unusual for MOH recipients to not be awarded for some time after the event, for African-American soldiers the struggle to be recognized was almost always arduous if not impossible. The…