Overview
This lecture covers the history, formation, key battles, and legacy of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, the first all-Black regiment in the Civil War, and their role in changing attitudes toward Black soldiers in the Union Army.
Formation of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment
- The Emancipation Proclamation (Jan 1, 1863) allowed African-American men to join the U.S. armed forces.
- Massachusetts Governor John A. Andrew called for the first Black soldiers in February 1863.
- Over 1,000 men volunteered, many from other states and some from Canada, slave states, and the Caribbean.
- Notable enlistees included Charles and Louis Douglass, sons of abolitionist Frederick Douglass.
- Robert Gould Shaw, a 25-year-old white officer, was chosen to command the regiment.
Early Challenges and Training
- Training took place from March to late May 1863 under Shaw and his officers.
- Black soldiers were paid $10 a week, $3 less than white soldiers.
- The regiment protested pay inequality, refusing wages until equal pay was granted late in the war.
Key Engagements and the Assault on Fort Wagner
- The 54th first saw action at Grimball’s Landing, repelling Confederate attacks and allowing the 10th Connecticut to withdraw.
- On July 18, 1863, the 54th led the Union assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina.
- The regiment sustained heavy casualties: out of 600 men, 281 were killed, wounded, or missing.
- Colonel Shaw was killed in the assault; his body was buried in a mass grave with his men.
- Despite losing the battle, their bravery changed perceptions of African-American soldiers.
Later Service and Legacy
- The 54th participated in further successful siege operations in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
- Returned to Boston in September 1865 and honored with a memorial sculpture in 1897.
- Sergeant William H. Carney received the Medal of Honor for saving the national colors at Fort Wagner, becoming the first African American to earn this honor.
- The 54th’s story inspired the 1989 film "Glory."
- President Lincoln acknowledged the regiment's contribution to the Union victory and the cause of civil rights.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Emancipation Proclamation — 1863 order by President Lincoln freeing slaves in Confederate states and allowing Black men to join the military.
- Robert Gould Shaw — Young white officer who commanded the 54th Massachusetts Regiment.
- Fort Wagner — Confederate fort in South Carolina; site of the 54th's famous assault.
- Sergeant William H. Carney — Soldier in the 54th awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery at Fort Wagner.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Watch the movie "Glory" (1989) for a dramatized account of the 54th’s story.
- Review key Civil War battles and the impact of the Emancipation Proclamation.