The Union Army

Civil War History

Ordered forward, the color-bearer of the 54th Massachusetts stepped out of the ranks. Above him, Major General George C. Strong sat astride a gray horse, surrounded by his staff officers. Motioning to the color-bearer, the General addressed the assembled regiment. "If this man should fall," he called, "who will lift up the flag and carry it on?" Standing nearby, 25-year-old Colonel Robert G. Shaw, the regiments commander, quietly replied: "I will." The troops of the 54th — all of whom were black — responded with wild cheers.

It was July 18,1863, and the regiment was moments away from leading an assault on Battery Wagner, a fiercely-defended Confederate fortification on Morris Island near Charleston, South Carolina. For the Union's most prominent all-black regiment, leading the assault was an honor — although a dubious one. Northern leaders had reluctantly fielded black troops and some still questioned whether they would perform well in battle. As ordered by General Strong, the 54th Massachusetts would make a bayonet assault; no shots were to be fired until the troops were atop the walls of the earthen fort.
It was almost dark as Shaw led the troops forward. Still two hundred yards from the fort, the ranks of the 54th were shredded by a ferocious fire. Although depleted by losses, the regiment assaulted Battery Wagner's earthen walls. Once atop the fort, both the national and state flags were planted on the parapet. "Forward, Fifty-fourth!" shouted Colonel Shaw who was shot dead only seconds later. Despite the deadly fire, the troops of the 54th stood their ground, waiting for support troops to arrive. The fighting became hand-to-hand, with both sides struggling courageously until the blue-uniformed attackers were finally forced back. The regiment s national colors survived, but in the chaos of battle the 54th's state flag was torn from the staff and captured. The assault on Battery Wagner cost more than 1,500 Federal casualties, while the Confederates had losses of less than 200. Of the more than 600 men the 54th Massachusetts took into action, 272 were lost. Despite the defeat, however, the regiment proved that black troops would fight.

he 54th Massachusetts was mustered into Federal service on May 13,1863. It was the first regiment of black troops raised in the Northeast. Like other black regiments in Federal service, the 54th was led by white officers. "At the time a strong prejudice existed against arming the blacks and those who dared to command them," recalled an officer in the regiment. "The sentiment of the country and of the army was opposed to the measure. It was asserted that they would not fight, that their employment would prolong the war, and that white troops would refuse to serve with them." Even President Lincoln had been reluctant to field black troops, but after issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln saw merit in agreeing to the requests of Northern abolitionists who had long argued for acceptance 3f black soldiers. On January 26,1863, the U.S. War Department gave Massachusetts Governor John A. Andrew, a prominent abolitionist, permission to raise a regiment of 'persons of African descent."

In February, the Boston Journal published a recruiting call 'or the 54th Massachusetts: "Wanted. Good men for the Fifty-fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers of African descent..." When Massachusett's black population proved too mall to provide enough volunteers, recruiters sent a all to the black communities in other Northern states. eventually, enough volunteers were recruited to field a regiment. Governor Andrew offered command of the 54th to Captain Robert G. Shaw, an officer in the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry and the son of a prominent New England abolitionist. Shaw was commissioned a colonel and oversaw the regiment's training. He was convinced that black Americans would make good soldiers and at one point, the regiment refused to accept any pay until the Federal government paid them the same wages as white troops.
On May 28,1863, the troops of the 54th were shipped to the coast of South Carolina where they were eventually attached to the 1st Division of the U.S. X Army Corps on Morris Island, opposite Charleston harbor. The regiment served in several coastal expeditions and saw action on James Island near Charleston, before it was ordered to lead the assault on Battery Wagner. Previous Federal attacks on the powerful fortification had failed, but General George C. Strong hoped another attack would be successful.
The bloody assault failed and so did several others that followed. Admiration for the fighting ability of the 54th was expressed afterwards by a Confederate officer, Lieutenant Iredell Jones: "The Negroes fought gallantly, and were headed by as brave a colonel as ever lived." Eventually, the Confederates evacuated Battery Wagner, ending what one Northern soldier described as the "most fatal and fruitless campaign of the entire war."
After the failed assault on Battery Wagner, the troops of the 54th Massachusetts were engaged in siege operations from Morris Island, then moved to Hilton Head. In early 1864, the regiment was shipped to Jacksonville, Florida, which was captured by Federal forces, and was engaged in the Battle of Olustee. Back on the coast of South Carolina, the regiment was engaged in actions on James Island and at the Battle of Honey Hill. In January of 1865, the 54th joined General William T. Sherman's army for part of Sherman's march through South Carolina, then occupied Charleston when the city was evacuated by Confederate forces. In April of 1865, the regiment participated in Potter's Raid from Georgetown to Camden, and was engaged at Dingle's Mill and Boykins' Mill. At war's end, the 54th Massachusetts remained on occupation duty at Georgetown, Charleston and elsewhere in South Carolina until August 20,1865, when the regiment was mustered out near Charleston.