File in this march 26, 2011 file photo, people walk past the memorial to union col. The 54th massachusetts infantry regiment was one of the most celebrated regiments of black soldiers that fought in the civil war. Letters from the soldiers and officers of the 54th massachusetts. A biographical study ofthe 54th massachusetts regiment. The regiment took heavy casualties during the war and gained everlasting fame. Their descendants of the hazard family, zellner family and coblyn family. This was the first black regiment raised in the north during the civil war. Even though the union army failed to capture fort wagner, they caused much damage to the confederate army. A tribute to the 54th ma regiment and educational posts leading up to the mural dedication in new bedford, ma on july 18. During the american civil war, the 54th massachusetts regiment is most noteworthy for being the first allblack regiment in the u. Robert gould shaw and the 54th massachusetts volunteer infantry regiment, the first military unit composed of men of african decent. The 54th regiment became famous for its fighting prowess and for the great courage of its members. Feb 19, 2015 printed form completed in manuscript donated to the massachusetts historical society by captain john w. 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.
The fiftyfourth massachusetts was organized in march 1863 at camp meigs, readville, massachusetts by colonel robert gould shaw, twentysix year old member of a prominent boston abolitionist family. The flag is made of cotton muslin fabric and the wood frame is 10 x 12 in size. Richard henry lee jewett of members of the 54th massachusetts volunteer infantry regiment, the first black regiment raised in the north during the civil war. This is a framed historic flag reproduction of the civil war national flag carried by the 54th massachusetts 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. The 54th regiment massachusetts infantry was a volunteer union regiment organized in the american civil war. After ceremonies at the state house, they marched to battery wharf and boarded. The history of the fiftyfourth regiment of massachusetts volunteer infantry 18631865. Colonel robert gould shaw was commanding officer of the 54th regiment. Apr 14, 2015 medal of honor recipient melvin morris walks in the footsteps of the 54th massachusetts duration. History of the 54th regiment of massachusetts volunteer infantry 18631865. Known simply as the 54th, this regiment became famous after the heroic, but illfated, assault on fort wagner, south carolina. Its members became known for their bravery and fierce fighting against confederate forces. After the battle at fort wagner he remained one of the highest ranking officers.
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. The 54th regiment was established in march of 1863, and authorized by the secretary of war, edwin m. 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 regiment and augustus thunder at the gat es. By may 1863, the regiment was full with enlisted men and a full complement of white officers. The pay controversy did not minimize or cause unrest in this courageous regiment as they accepted the order and commands of their leader, colonel. The real story of the 54th regiment of massachusetts. 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. But ironically, perhaps the most famous regiment of the entire war today is the 54th massachusetts, which was one of the first and ultimately the best known regiment that consisted of black soldiers. Harriet tubmans connection to the massachusetts 54th 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 54th massachusetts regiment is the best known african american fighting unit formed during the civil war. 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 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. The 54th regiment massachusetts volunteer infantry was an infantry regiment in the union army during the american civil war. Andrew of massachusetts issued the civil wars first official call for black soldiers. Study 44 terms political science flashcards quizlet. We are a revolutionary war reenacting unit based in eastern connecticut, dedicated to portraying his. Lewis hayden later became a recruiting agent for the famous 54th massachusetts volunteer infantry regiment in the civil war. Coronavirus may slow pentagons push to fill vacancies. The black civil war r egiments that redeemed america. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. This book basically proves that without the help of black freedman, the war against the south could not have won. The 54th massachusetts volunteer infantry regiment, company a marches on.
They were nicknamed the swamp angels the regiment was one of the first official africanamerican units in the united states during the civil war. Hallowell, who, for a short time, had served as secondincommand to robert gould shaw of the 54th. On july 16, 1863, the 54th massachusetts saw its first. This album contains 43 cartedevisite photographs collected by capt. 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. Dec 20, 2011 ap us history project by olivia hord and anna smith. The remaining recruits became the nucleus of the 55th massachusetts regiment, commanded by norwood p. More importantly, the 54th massachusetts regiment was widely praised for its bravery which led to greater enlistment by african americans. 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. Robert gould shaw october 10, 1837 july 18, 1863 was an american officer in the union army during the american civil war. Mar 20, 2020 people walk in 2011 past the boston memorial to union col. The 54th massachusetts regiment was a voluntary infantry regiment for the union during the civil war. The massachusetts 54th regiment was a group of africanamericans who fought for and served the union during the civil war. Jun 07, 2019 the 54th massachusetts early in february 1863, the abolitionist governor john a.
The story of the 54th massachusetts infantry regiment, an african american military unit that saw combat in the civil war. The story of the 54th massachusetts infantry regiment. Framed, 34 star civil war flag54th massachusettsglory. Its the story of the 54th regiment, the first colored regiment. Members of the 54th massachusetts volunteers company a come from all walks of life, there are several descendants as well.
The 54th massachusetts regiment and augustus saintgaudens shaw memorial. The mens age, enlistment and mustered out dates, place of origin, profession at enlistment, rank, and company are also provided if. The black civil war regiments that redeemed america. This is the original enlistment roll of company a, 54th massachusetts volunteer infantry regiment. Tubman was active with the 54th and other union forces during the war. 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. Massachusetts was the first state to enlist black soldiers.
Born into a prominent boston abolitionist family, he accepted command of the first allblack regiment the 54th massachusetts in the northeast. A very detailed history of the 54th all black regiment from massachusetts as told by luis fenollosa emilio a captain in that regiment. Stanton, who gave john andrew the authority to create the regiment. This was one of the first major actions in which african american soldiers fought for the union in the american civil war. It was commanded by colonel robert gould shaw, a white abolitionist from massachusetts. Emilios father was a spaniard and luis was born in new bedford. Celebrating augustus saintgaudens magisterial shaw memorial 18831900, and the real soldiers of the 54th represented.
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