Robert shaw chosen to lead 54th massachusetts infantry. The story of the 54th massachusetts infantry regiment, told mostly through the eyes of their commander, colonel robert gould shaw played by matthew broderick. Black leaders pushed strongly for the recruitment of black troops since it presented the perfect opportunity for. Its members became known for their bravery and fierce fighting against confederate forces. Ap us history project by olivia hord and anna smith. Known simply as the 54th, this regiment became famous after the heroic, but illfated, assault on fort wagner, south carolina. The 54th massachusetts volunteer infantry regiment was one of the first official black units in the u. Civil war maps american memory from the library of congress regiment.
The remaining recruits became the nucleus of the fiftyfifth massachusetts infantry regiment. The 54th regiment, massachusetts infantry colored was organized at readville,it mustered in march 30 may, 1863. Members of the 54th massachusetts volunteers company a come from all walks of life, there are several descendants as well. The 54th massachusetts volunteer infantry regiment is best known for its service leading the failed union assault on battery wagner, a confederate earthwork fortification on morris island, on july 18, 1863. They mustered out at mount pleasant, south carolina, august 20, 1865. To lead the 54th massachusetts, governor andrew chose a young white officer named robert gould shaw. Letter from charles douglass to his father frederick.
H, 54th massachusetts infantry regiment, on her lap summary photograph shows portrait of abolitionist sojourner truth wearing polka dotted dress and holding cased photograph of her grandson, who was a prisonerofwar at james island, south carolina between 1863 and. The significance of this was that the regiment was the first official african american units seen in the civil war, and the fact that they had spearheaded an assault on fort wagner in south carolina, losing colonel shaw, and a total of 272 casualties, the most that the. Contact us 54th massachusetts volunteer infantry regiment. The 54th regiment massachusetts volunteer infantry was an infantry regiment in the union army during the american civil war. Original daguerreotypes, cartedevisite portraits, and a full listing of the regiment s members, along with vintage and contemporary artworks by matthew brady, lewis hine, and carrie mae weems tell the story of the legacy of the battle of fort wagner and the role.
The kindle ebook is instantly available and can be read on any device with. Robert gould shaw and the 54th regiment boston african. The colored men came from 22 states, north and south. The 54th massachusetts volunteer infantry regiment. The 54th regiment massachusetts volunteer infantry was an infantry regiment that saw extensive service in the union army during the american civil war. John emory bryant papers, rare book, manuscript, and special collections. Sitters have been identified as second lieutenant ezekiel g. The 54th massachusetts volunteer infantry regiment is best known for its. The role of the 54th massachusetts regiment in potters raid. The mens age, enlistment and mustered out dates, place of origin, profession at enlistment, rank, and company are also provided if.
Posts about 54th massachusetts regiment written by govbooktalk government book talk talking about some of the best publications from the federal government, past and present. Egertons book, its title taken from a 19 poem by paul. The 54th regiment is honored for their bravery and attempt to bring about the best for their country, struggling through many barriers dealing with prejudice and discrimination, this regiment attacked and kept its strength to overcome their obstacles and become one of the first black regiment s t. Hartwell, they unsuccessfully attacked entrenched confederate militia at the november 1864 battle of honey hill. Abaa quartermaster of new york regiment anticipates the. The 54th massachusetts volunteer infantry regiment, company a marches on. The massachusetts 54th regiment became famous and solidified their place in history following the attack on fort wagner, south carolina on july 18, 1863.
They were the 54th massachusetts, the first black regiment raised in the north, and luis emilio was their idealistic young captain. By the end of the war, a total of 167 units, including other state regiments and the united states colored troops, wereraised, totaling 186,097 men of african descent recruited into federal. A reenacting member of the 54th massachusetts volunteer regiment fixes his collar during a gathering at the robert gould shaw and massachusetts 54th regiment memorial in boston on oct. Robert gould shaw october 10, 1837 july 18, 1863 was an american officer in the union army during the american civil war. We are a revolutionary war reenacting unit based in eastern connecticut, dedicated to portraying his. The home page of the collection is here, and it provides both a search function and browsable categories. By 14 may 1863, the regiment was comprised of enlisted men, and a full complement of white officers. The 54th regiment became famous for its fighting prowess and for the great courage of its members.
Robert gould shaw, union army officer who commanded a prominent regiment of african american troops during the american civil war, the 54th massachusetts. A to b this roster includes names of more than 1,500 soldiers and officers who served with the 54th massachusetts regiment at some point between march 1863 and april 1865. Sojourner truth seated with photograph of her grandson, james caldwell of co. From the outset of the war, free northern blacks argued to be allowed to fight, but it was not until 1863, after the issuance of the final emancipation declaration, that units composed of free blacks. Robert gould shaws letters digitized aug 25th, 2011 by houghtonmodern in 1862, boston native and union army officer robert gould shaw took command of the 54th massachusetts volunteer infantry regiment, the nations first allblack regiment. Littleknown civil war battle carried huge significance. An accurate portrayal of blacks in the civil war is our objective and in order to achieve this, we need men with a strong interest in history and the motivation to do the job well. Appleton donated the enlistment roll of company a of the 54th massachusetts infantry regiment. The 54th regiment massachusetts volunteer infantry was an infantry regiment that saw. The 54th massachusetts, the union armys first africanamerican regiment, made history 150 years ago. Most of the maps show a small window copy of the map on the right, and a large window copy of the map on the left, with controls for selecting. Frederick douglasss sons, charles and lewis, lived with him in old anacostia in washington, dc, but traveled to massachusetts to join the 54th infantry in april 1863. They formed the 54th massachusetts infantry regiment, the first black regiment to be raised in the north. Colonel robert gould shaw was commanding officer of the 54th regiment.
It took fortytwo hours to pull the train that distance. The 54th regiment massachusetts infantry was a volunteer union regiment organized in the american civil war. He died fighting alongside the regiment while assaulting fort wagner, south. Ready to demonstrate their bravery and military bearing, they pushed on until coming within one. The unit was the second africanamerican regiment, following the 1st kansas colored volunteer infantry regiment organized in the northern states during the civil war. The history of the fiftyfourth regiment of massachusetts volunteer infantry 18631865. The 54th massachusetts volunteer regiment was reactivated on november 21, 2008 to serve as the massachusetts national guard ceremonial unit to render military honors at funerals and state functions. Denzel washington and morgan freeman portrayed soldiers of the 54th massachusetts infantry regiment. We are committed to recognizing the volunteer infantry as an exceptional part of bostons african american history and we aim to be a source of pride for the neighborhood of hyde park and the entire boston community. Many of the 54th soldiers did not even come from massachusetts. Even though the union army failed to capture fort wagner, they caused much damage to the confederate army. Their courageous assault on fort wagner played a key role in bringing about an end to slavery. The real story of the 54th regiment of massachusetts.
This roster includes names of more than 1,500 soldiers and officers who served with the 54th massachusetts regiment at some point between march 1863 and april 1865. Dec 20, 2011 ap us history project by olivia hord and anna smith. In this activity, students view a video clip from the civil war on the formation of africanamerican regiments, particularly the 54th massachusetts regiment, explaining the difficulty that african. After ceremonies at the state house, they marched to battery wharf and boarded. Massachusetts was the first state to enlist black soldiers.
After completing their military training the regiment departed boston on may 28th of 1863 and traveled to beaufort south carolina. Apr 17, 2012 this regiment, first south carolina, was the first slave regiment organized, the louisiana native guard having been recruited largely from free blacks. Supporting the promised equal treatment for his troops, he encouraged the men to refuse their pay until it. As colonel, he commanded the allblack 54th massachusetts infantry regiment. A moving account of the formation and valiant record of the first black regiment a story also told in the film glory, from the firing on fort sumter to an 1887 reunion. The story of shaw and the 54th were depicted in the 1989 film, glory which was based upon the peter burchard book, one gallant rush. Valor of black regiment is honored the boston globe. A tribute to the 54th ma regiment and educational posts leading up to the mural dedication in new bedford, ma on july 18. Robert gould shaw october 10, 1837 july 18, 1863 was an american military officer in the union army during the american civil war. People walk in 2011 past the boston memorial to union col. Photograph shows a fulllength portrait of three officers of the 54th massachusetts infantry regiment. Black soldiers in the civil war frederick douglasss sons. Henry monroe was a yearold drummer boy when the 54th massachusetts volunteer infantry regiment stormed a confederate fort in a heroic but futile assault that. Their descendants of the hazard family, zellner family and coblyn family.
We are dedicated to preserving the history of the brave people of color who participated in the united states military during the civil war. Its the story of the 54th regiment, the first colored regiment. At least 74 enlisted men and 3 officers were killed in that battle, and scores more were wounded. Although the massachusetts 54th regiment was the first to enlist black men as soldiers in the north, it was only the beginning for blacks as union soldiers. The black soldiers of 54th massachusetts saw their first action on james island in south carolina on july 16th of 1863 where they halted an assault by. The real story of the 54th regiment of massachusetts posted by by joseph august 15, 2017 when the civil war began, president lincoln argued that the union forces present in the country were not fighting to ensure that slavery was put to an end, rather they were only fighting to prevent the disintegration of the united states.
Following emancipation, there was a push for black people to be able to enlist. A number of the maps below are links to zoomable maps in the library of congress american memory civil war maps collection. The regiment was commanded by a young 25year old colonel, robert gould shaw. Walbridge wrote this letter on the eve of the second battle of fort wagner, made famous by the participation of the 54th massachusetts regiment. They discharged at boston, massachusetts, september 1, 1865. On july 18, 1863 the 54th massachusetts attacked fort wagner. Formed during the american civil war, the 54th massachusetts was the first africanamerican unit in the us army. Louisa bolly, wife of a deserter from the fiftyfourth regiment new york volunteers, was taken into custody by officer newkirk, of the second district police court yesterday, on charge of obtaining money, by means of false pretences, from the fifth senatorial relief. The 54th massachusetts volunteer infantry regiment became the second black. The designation of the first south carolina was changed by the war department, in february, 1864, to thirtythird united states colored infantry. The 54th massachusetts regiment and augustus saintgaudens shaw memorial.
Shaw had been pushing for his soldiers to lead the charge and informed general strong that he wanted his men to lead in a real battle. Aug 15, 2017 the real story of the 54th regiment of massachusetts posted by by joseph august 15, 2017 when the civil war began, president lincoln argued that the union forces present in the country were not fighting to ensure that slavery was put to an end, rather they were only fighting to prevent the disintegration of the united states. Letters from the soldiers and officers of the 54th massachusetts. This is a list of the men missing from the 54 th massachusetts volunteer infantry regiment the first unit of black soldiers to be formed in. Born into a prominent boston abolitionist family, he accepted command of the first allblack regiment the 54th massachusetts in the northeast. On this day in 1863, the 54th massachusetts volunteer infantry, the first black regiment from the north, paraded in full dress uniform on boston common. The 54th massachusetts infantry regiment was one of the most celebrated regiments of black soldiers that fought in the civil war.
The history and legacy of the 54th massachusetts volunteer infantry regiment. The 54th massachusetts volunteer infantry regiment, company b, washington, dc, is a 501c3, nonprofit organization of volunteers dedicated to preserving the history of the 54th massachusetts and the black soldier in the civil war. The civil war was at first a white mens war, but that didnt last long. A texas scholar who recently published a book about black soldiers in. The 54th massachusetts infantry has been immortalized in sculpture, poetry. They were nicknamed the swamp angels the regiment was one of the first official africanamerican units in the united states during the civil war. May 30, 20 just one month after president abraham lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation, the 54th regiment massachusetts volunteer infantry unit was formed on february 9th, 1863. Bantams eyewitness to the civil war series continues with this basis for the film glory. Emilio chronicles the groups participation in the civil war. We see the formation of the regiment, its first volunteers, their. The 54th fought a rearguard action covering the union retreat at the battle of olustee.
Living history reenactments of the 54th massachusetts regiment company i. Legacy of the 54th massachusetts volunteer infantry regiment charles river. In 1897, the massachusetts 54th regiment memorial, a basrelief designed by augustus saintgaudens, was placed on boston common. The 54th massachusetts volunteers storms fort wagner july 18.
Tell it with pride explores the enduring significance of this beloved monument. Jul 18, 2017 the 54th massachusetts volunteers storms fort wagner july 18, 1863. More importantly, the 54th massachusetts regiment was widely praised for its bravery which led to greater enlistment by african americans. This was one of the first major actions in which african american soldiers fought for the union in the american civil war. The 54th was created under the order of massachusetts governor john andrew in 1863. Many africanamericans also had fought in the american revolution and the war of 1812 on both sides. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1.