54th Massachusetts Regiment

During the civil war union troops spearheaded by the 54th massachusetts volunteer infantry made up of black soldiers charged confederate held fort wagner on morris island south carolina.

54th massachusetts regiment. 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 unit was the second african american regiment following the 1st kansas colored volunteer infantry regiment organized in the northern states during the civil war. Prior to 1863 no concerted effort was made to recruit black troops as union soldiers. The 54th regiment became famous for its fighting prowess and for the great courage of its members.

This was one of the first major actions in which african american soldiers fought for the union in the american civil war. The 54th massachusetts volunteer infantry regiment company b washington dc is a 501 c 3 non profit organization of volunteers dedicated to preserving the history of the 54th massachusetts and the black soldier in the civil war. Its exploits were depicted in the 1989 film glory. 54th regiment in full fifty fourth massachusetts volunteer infantry regiment massachusetts infantry unit made up of african americans that was active during the american civil war 186165.

Friends of the public garden which supports efforts to care for the monument has also used it recently as the basis for conversations on race the kind of conversations that the black lives matter movement aims to encourage. The fifty fourth massachusetts volunteer infantry regiment was the first military unit consisting of black soldiers to be raised in the north during the civil war. The 54th massachusetts infantry regiment was an infantry regiment that saw extensive service in the union army during the american civil war.