The 54th Massachusetts: The Heroic Black Union Regiment

In the 19th century, the forced bondage and inhumane treatment of Black Americans fiercely divided the United States, North and South. Across the country, passions were ablaze, prompting the deadliest war in American history. From 1861-1865, a ferocious Civil War was fought. The 54th Massachusetts Infantry, a Black unit, was organized in early 1863 after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Despite deadly gunfire at the ill-fated Battle of Fort Wagner, their tremendous bravery and courage never wavered. The 54th Massachusetts would become synonymous with American heroism and glory.

After the Emancipation Proclamation, President Abraham Lincoln authorized the organization of Black troops to help the Union Army secure a victory. Leaders like Abolitionist Frederick Douglas encouraged Black Americans to join the Union Army. Prompted by recruiting posters and newspaper advertisements, 1,000 men enlisted within a few months. The enlistment was so successful that two regiments, the 54th and the 55th, were created.

The Massachusetts governor chose Robert Gould Shaw, a 25-year-old officer who had been wounded at the Battle of Antietam, as Colonel. A wealthy son of abolitionists, Shaw was an advocate for equal pay and treatment of Black troops. Many of the officers in the regiment were anti-slavery and chosen for their support of a Black regiment.

Several Black soldiers in the 54th quickly earned the rank of lieutenant or sergeant. They drilled their troops with such discipline and enthusiasm that Shaw recorded, “They drill their squads with a great deal of snap.” Both officers and soldiers developed great pride in their regiment.

In a grand send-off, they marched through Boston, past the site of the Boston Massacre, to the tune of “John Brown’s Body.”  A large, enthusiastic crowd aligned the streets, spurring them on. They paraded toward the dock and boarded the ship DeMoray, headed south. Many would never see Massachusetts again.

Facing Challenges: Determined to Stand Tall

As a Black regiment, the 54th faced many challenges. Higher-ranking officials were often hesitant to put Black troops in strategic or critical military positions, preferring to use Black soldiers for manual labor. However, Colonel Shaw felt that the men of the 54th should be treated equally to white soldiers and advocated for such treatment. On one occasion, Shaw expressed outrage that his regiment was ordered to take part in the looting and burning of Darien, Georgia. Beyond citing ethical reasons, Shaw felt that, despite their professionalism, those missions would damage their reputations.

One of the most pressing challenges faced was the matter of payment. The soldiers of the 54th Massachusetts were promised $13 monthly pay, equal to a white soldier’s pay. However, the government lowered the pay to $10 monthly after the men were already in service. Colonel Shaw voiced his grievances to the Governor of Massachusetts, writing that it was a great injustice. In the end, the state government chose to pay the difference, but soldiers waited nearly a year for their back pay. When the regiment participated in the Battle of Fort Wagner on July 18, 1863, they had still yet to be paid.

The 54th is most famous for the tragic yet heroic assault on Fort Wagner on Morris Island, South Carolina. Colonel Shaw was eager for the opportunity to attack Fort Wagner, looking to showcase the 54th and erase any doubt that Black troops were equally capable.

The Union Army wanted to take Charleston to gain a stronghold in the South, so it first needed to capture Fort Wagner. It was a sand earthwork battery with structurally supported walls 30 feet high, well fortified with cannon, ocean, moats, and obstructions surrounding it. Despite this, the Union Army moved forward with a planned attack.

After land and naval batteries had pummeled Fort Wagner all day, the 54th Massachusetts was called in for an infantry attack. The Confederates had prepared by strengthening the defenses with sandbags. Still, the 54th led a frontal attack, breaching the parapet. They could not hold the fort, though, and were forced to retreat.

Though the assault failed, the 54th showed exceptional courage and ferocity in the battle. Colonel Shaw was seen to raise his sword and lead the troops forward before being shot and killed at the top of the sandy barricade. The men of the 54th pressed on under merciless gunfire. They suffered 272 killed, wounded, or missing during the battle, nearly half of their 600 men. The soldiers were immediately recognized for their valiant efforts. Fort Wagner had not just proved Black fighting capability, it exemplified it.

Sergeant William H. Carney: Fierce under Fire

William H. Carney, born into slavery in Virginia, would become the first Black man to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery at Fort Wagner. Gaining freedom shortly before the war, Carney’s family moved north. When the 54th Massachusetts was being raised, Carney heeded the call and enlisted. He was 23 years old and would quickly earn the rank of sergeant.

During the climax of the Battle of Fort Wagner, Carney witnessed the color bearer shot down. He immediately seized the flag while under fierce fire. He ran towards the parapet, where he planted it, urging others to follow. He did not let the flag hit the ground despite the carnage of the battle. Carney was wounded twice and never faltered. He reportedly retrieved the flag after the deadly battle and carried it with him into the hospital. There, the wounded soldiers honored the injured man with resounding cheers. His gallantry was later honored on May 23, 1900, when he received the Congressional Medal of Honor.

He spent the last years of his life working at the Massachusetts State House, not far from the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial. He would ride on horseback during the Grand Army of the Republic’s annual parades and became a popular patriotic speaker. He is remembered as an exceptional American patriot. As the first Black man to receive the Medal of Honor, he, and the 54th, made history.

Twenty-five-year-old Shaw was born in Boston and raised by prominent abolitionist parents. Before the Civil War, Boston was a hotbed of abolitionist activity. Shaw’s family friend, William Lloyd Garrison, was a staunch abolitionist who published the anti-slavery newspaper, “The Liberator.”

As a young man, Shaw struggled to find his path in life. He dropped out of Harvard University and moved to New York. There, he worked with family before joining the militia. He served as Captain of the 2nd Massachusetts in the first year of the war.

When he took charge of the 54th, he understood that its success would have more significant implications. The reputation of not just the 54th Massachusetts but all Black soldiers was at stake.

The Battle of Fort Wagner made casualties of many soldiers, including Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. He was shot in the chest and fell as he reached the precipice of the fort. After the unsuccessful assault on Fort Wagner, Southerners stripped Shaw’s dead body and tossed him into a mass grave with the Black soldiers, meant as one last insult to Shaw. Instead, the Confederates made a martyr of him. Later, when Union forces finally took Fort Wagner, the bodies were retrieved. Shaw’s family insisted he would have wished to remain buried with his soldiers. He and others of the 54th were reinterred in Beaufort National Cemetery in Beaufort, South Carolina.

The Memorial: Immortalizing the 54th Massachusetts

At Boston Common in the spring of 1897, a crowd gathered to watch Sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens unveil his anticipated and impressive 11’ x 14’ bronze memorial, The Robert Gould Shaw Memorial. Despite the cold and drizzly weather, there was a festive mood in the air. When the band struck up “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” artillery and warships fired a 21-gun salute. The celebration included music, salutes, and key speakers, including Booker T. Washington. Sergeant Carney, carrying the American flag, led a procession of Black Union Army veterans.

The memorial was a bas-relief masterpiece. Saint-Gaudens used Black models to make the most life-like soldiers for his piece to avoid stereotypical period depictions. With Shaw on horseback and the soldiers marching beside him, it solidified the eternal connection between the leader and heroes who served and died together. Overhead, an angel guides the 54th to eternal martyrdom and racial unity. The memorial has continued to serve as a source of national inspiration and pride.

The 54th Massachusetts leaves behind a rich legacy. In their attack on Fort Wagner, Black soldiers proved to be skilled and spirited soldiers. The soldiers embodied resoluteness and inspired hope. They are a lasting symbol of determination, grit, and the crusade for equality. The 54th Massachusetts ushered in a cultural shift and highlighted the need for equal rights. Their contribution helped secure a Union victory and liberate Black Americans, making them a critical part of American history.

The heroism of the 54th Massachusetts inspired many works over the years. Poems such as “Robert Gould Shaw” by Paul Laurence Dunbar and “Memorial Ode” by John Greenleaf Whittier honor the men and their leaders. Many nonfiction and fiction books and biographies have been written over the years, including The Brave Black Regiment by Captain Luis F. Emilio, a veteran of the 54th. In 1989, the movie Glory, starring Mathew Broderick, Morgan Freeman, and Denzel Washington, immortalized the 54th Massachusetts at Fort Wagner on screen. American and cultural museums continue to highlight its contribution to American history. The legacy of the 54th Massachusetts is a testament to gallantry and continues to inspire people today.

During the most divisive and challenging time in American history, the soldiers of the 54th Massachusetts volunteered to fight, proving that dedication to American freedom and ideals had no color. They showed uncompromising valor at Fort Wagner when a barrage of gunfire claimed the lives of Colonel Shaw and their comrades. Fort Wagner tested their bravery, and they remained steadfast. Their immortalization in literature, bronze, and movies is a testament to their undying glory. The 54th Massachusetts exemplifies American courage, earning it an honorable place in history.