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The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

By James Emery Vigh of profbruno.com

On January 1, 1863 the American Civil War officially became more than just a war over state's rights versus federalism. This date featured President Abraham Lincoln's second part of his Emancipation Proclamation that began the previous September after the Battle of Antietam.

This proclamation document freed the slaves in the then 10 Confederate states unoccupied by Federal forces. There were still slave-holding states, but these were either loyal to, or occupied by the Union. Lincoln did not wish at this time to antagonize loyal states. More action would follow after the war, but the process had started.

Northern abolitionists had been pushing for this measure since the start of the war, but Lincoln felt he needed a significant military victory to add force to any such measure. Though Antietam was not really considered a victory, the battle did force Robert E. Lee's army out of Maryland. Lincoln was given his excuse.

So now the great American Civil War had become a war to set other men free.

One of the Northern abolitionists calling for the ending of slavery was Frederick Douglass. Himself an ex-slave (He had escaped in 1838), he educated himself and became an eloquent force in the movement. Following the Emancipation Proclamation, Douglass and others felt it was time that free blacks should be allowed to join in the fight, and lobbied forcefully for the recruitment of "coloured" regiments.

One of these regiments was the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

The regiment was authorized in March 1863 by Massachusetts Governor John A. Andrew. But seeing as Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton declared that all "coloured" regiments be commanded by white officers, a commander had to be found.

The command went to a young 26 year old by the name of Robert Gould Shaw.

Shaw, belonging to a strong abolitionist family in Boston, was approached late in the previous year when the possibility of recruiting black regiments began nearing reality. He at first turned it down, but after some careful thought, decided to accept the commission. At the time he was only a Captain. He was promoted at first to Major, then to Colonel in short order.

The 54th trained at Camp Meigs in Readville near Boston. They received considerable moral and material support by Boston abolitionists including Ralph Waldo Emerson. Warm clothing, battle flags, and even $500 for the equipping and training of the regimental band was provided. Recruitment efforts for this regiment were so successful, that rigorous medical exams were implemented -- ensuring that the 54th would have only the fittest and the strongest men. Included in the regiment were two sons of Frederick Douglass -- Lewis and Charles.

During training, Shaw was impressed by the dedication of his men and grew to regard then as fine soldiers. He also stuck up for them. When he learned that his men would receive less pay per month than white soldiers, he inspired his men to boycott pay until the situation was rectified (It was -- with back pay.)

After rigorous training, the 54th left Boston on May 28th, 1863 with high morale. This despite learning that Confederate President Jefferson Davis had issued a proclamation that all captured black soldiers, as well as any white officers leading them would be shot out of hand. They were, in effect, operating under a death sentence.

The 54th was first sent south to Georgia. At first they were assigned only manual labor duties. The regiment gained notoriety of sorts when they were ordered to participate under Jayhawker Colonel Montgomery in a raid of Darien, Georgia. The town was looted and burned to the ground.

They were then sent to the Charleston SC area to assist in operations there.

Shaw, tired of seeing his regiment used in demeaning activities such as manual labor and immoral activities such as looting lobbied his superiors for his regiment to see action. This was finally granted.

The 54th saw its first action on July 16th, when they participated in a skirmish with Confederate forces on James Island, SC. The regiment stopped a Confederate assault losing 42 men in the process.

Next, was Fort Wagner.

Fort Wagner was on the northern tip of Morris Island with a good view of Fort Sumter now held by the Confederates. It commanded one of the approaches to Charleston Harbor. At the start of July it had a garrison of 1,352 men commanded by Brigadier General William Taliaferro. It could only be approached from the south.

The brand new Union commanders in this area, determined to make a mark for themselves decided to start with the capture of Fort Wagner. A sizable force was landed on the southern tip of Morris Island for that purpose.

The first attack on Fort Wagner was on July 11. A Union brigade under Brigadier General George C. Strong assaulted the fort but was repulsed with heavy losses.

But a second attack was ordered, and the 54th was selected to lead it.

By this time, the Confederates at Fort Wagner were reinforced. They now had almost 1,800 men.

On July 18, the Union forces unleashed an artillery bombardment on the fort with 26 guns and 10 siege mortars. Then the assault began.

The attack was no more successful than the earlier attack. They did manage to reach the parapet of the fort, and even hold it for an hour, but they were beaten back with fearful losses. Shaw was killed leading his men up to the parapet.

Sergeant William H. Carney was later awarded the Medal of Honor (he received it years later) for his actions during the battle. Carney was wounded three times saving the American flag from the clutches of the Confederates.

Meaning it as an insult to Shaw, the Confederates buried him in a mass grave "with his niggirs". Upon learning this, Shaw's family considered it to be an honor that he was buried with his men.

The 54th suffered 272 casualties, representing more than 20% of the regiment. Total Union losses that day exceeded 1,500.

The regiment was disbanded after the Civil War, but they had more than proved their worth.

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Thanks Janet! I appreciate it as always.
Regards,
Jim

I lived in Mass, since I was 15 years old and I never heard of this piece of history, James.
Where is the Memorial located?
Thank you for sharing this well written story.
Best wishes.
Frederick

Thanks Frederick.

The memorial is located across from the State House in Boston on Beacon Street.

If you get a chance, rent the movie "Glory". Shaw was a prolific letter writer. The movie is based on a book that was based on his letters.
Regards,
Jim

I was quite moved by the story of the mass grave, and the way an insult became a complement. Well done.

Ain't it funny how that can happen sometimes.

Thanks for your comment and for your support as always.
Regards,
Jim

Thanks a bunch! I sure do appreciate it.
Regards,
Jim

I was looking at your picture with the caption

President Lincoln reads the Emancipation Proclamation to his cabinet

He's not even looking at the piece of paper in his hand. Is he using a teleprompter?

Actually, they weren't surprised, they were irritated. They had to stay still for hours while posing for this painting. No food breaks, no bathroom breaks... How would you feel?

Thank you sir. I appreciate it.
Regards,
Jim

Great job as usual James. I saw the movie in which Denzel Washington starred. Absolutely enthralling tale.

Thank you! "Glory" is indeed a great movie.
Regards,
Jim

I, too, saw "Glory" and was quite moved. Based on what you wrote, it seems as though much of the movie was accurate. You really brought the whole episode to life.

Thanks,Larry. Most of what we know about the 54th is based on Shaw's letters which the movie Glory was based on to a large degree.
Regards,
Jim

By this time, the Confederates at Fort Wagner were reinforced. They now had almost 1,800 men.

How did the Confederates reinforce Fort Wagner if the Union forces had control of the southern access?

By boat, presumably. Probably the northwestern or western side of Morris Island. The Confederates had control of the harbor because of the guns both at Fort Wagner and Fort Sumter. Plus there were other Confederate gun batteries covering the harbor. I guess if they did it by night, the Union gunships to the east of Sumter wouldn't even be aware of it.

That's why the Federals wanted Fort Wagner -- It could be used to help neutralize Fort Sumter.

Try Google mapping the area.

My personal opinion is that as long as Sumter was held by the Confederates, the Federals couldn't gain effective access to Charleston Harbor anyway. The Union commanders there just wanted to make a name for themselves. It was a useless and futile attack which accomplished nothing other than to create casualties. The approach to the fort was narrow. It was like funneling troops into a sausage machine. Fort Wagner was never taken. Charleston eventually fell by the landward approach by a much larger force than was then available. I should have mentioned this in the intel.

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