History of the fiftyfourth regiment of massachusetts volunteer. The 54th massachusetts volunteer infantry regiment became the second black. Hartwell, of the fifty fourth massachusetts, had been designated as colonel and lieutenantcolonel of the new regiment. The fiftyfourth massachusetts volunteer infantry regiment was the first military unit consisting of black soldiers to be raised in the north during the civil war. The story of the massachusetts fiftyfourth regiment, is a phenomenal book, this book really shows the hard ships that africanamerican had to face just, so they could fight for a nation that was divided half for nonslave rights, or for slaves to be free and the other half fought for the right to own slave. Drawing upon military pension files, published accounts, and welfare records, this book pays particular attention to soldiers and families connected with the fiftyfourth massachusetts volunteer infantry, the brave black regiment made famous by the academy awardwinning 1989 film glory that helped shape national debates over black military. It depicts colonel robert gould shaw leading members of the 54th regiment massachusetts volunteer infantry as it marched down beacon street on may 28, 1863 to depart the city to fight in the. It depicts colonel robert gould shaw leading members of the 54th regiment massachusetts volunteer infantry as it marched down beacon street on.
New bedfords civil war examines the social, political, economic, and military history of new bedford, massachusetts, in the nineteenth century, with a focus on the civil war homefront from 1861 to 1865 and on the citys black community, soldiers, and veterans. William carney spurred the north to push forward and ultimately win the war. A brave black regiment shows that fact is far more riveting than fiction and you get to see the real privations that the 54th went through before and watch glory, but read this book and blue eyed child of fortune from the letters of robert gould shaw of his war experiences. The fiftyfifth regiment of the massachusetts volunteer. Undying glory was chosen as a cbcncss notable childrens trade book in. The authorities at the state house had issued an order designating the official numbers of the nine months regiments of which the following is an extract. Hartwell, of the fiftyfourth massachusetts, had been designated as colonel and lieutenantcolonel of the new regiment. 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 fresh troops and the manner of their approach momentarily staggered the enemy. The annual of the association for documentary editing. Read beverly ford of history of the second massachusetts regiment of infantry. Full text of history of the fiftyfourth regiment of massachusetts volunteer infantry, 18631865 see other formats. Brown, and donald yacovone represents a specific, individual, material embodiment of a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in boston university libraries. History of the fiftyfourth regiment of massachusetts volunteer infantry, 18631865 by emilio, luis f. Which state was the last to sign a bill authorizing the holidays official federal holiday status, in 2000. No regiment went into action more gallantly, fought more desperately, or did better execution than the first north carolina colored troops. On may 6, only ten days after the regiment left massachusetts, it was engaged in the battle of the. The history of the fiftyfourth regiment of massachusetts. History of the fiftyfourth regiment of massachusetts. An extremely talented cast and crew earned three academy awards cinematography, sound and supporting actor and five nominations for their work in glory. Recruiting for the fiftyfourth massachusetts commenced in february, 1863, and its ten companies were full by may. The monument by augustus saintgaudens to robert gould shaw and the 54th massachusetts regiment, located on boston common, stands at a symbolic crossroads of american history.
Illinois was first, adopting it as a state holiday in 1973, but 20 years later some states still did not officially observe the day. It initiated the new negor soldier policy of procedding not by the the parceling out of authority to selected individuals and states but by decree and direction. 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 fifty fourth massachusetts regiment served a year without pay rather than accept the unfair wages. The memorial to robert gould shaw and the massachusetts fifty fourth regiment is a bronze relief sculpture by augustus saintgaudens opposite 24 beacon street, boston at the edge of the boston common. By may 1863, the regiment was full with enlisted men and a full complement of white officers. Fiftyfourth massachusetts infantrys war to end slavery shepard, ray anthony on. The fifty fourth 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. Fiftyninth regiment massachusetts volunteer infantry three years. In 1864, what injustice did congress pass a bill to rectify. The fiftyfourth massachusetts regiment served a year without pay rather than accept the unfair wages. Many africanamericans also had fought in the american revolution and the war of 1812 on both sides. Record of the service of the fiftyfifth regiment of. Sir,i take the liberty to address you because i am informed that efforts are to be made to recover the body of my son, colonel shaw of the fiftyfourth massachusetts regiment, which was buried at fort wagner.
Hold the flag high is the heroic story of the first africanamerican regiment to see battle during the civil war. What was the significance of the 54th massachusetts. The gallant charge of the fifty fourth massachusetts colored regiment. Two of douglasss sons, lewis and charles, are among the recruits. The failure to push on to the head of johns island that day, before the. Full text of history of the fifty fourth regiment of massachusetts volunteer infantry, 18631865 see other formats. Douglass travels throughout the north and recruits more than 100 members for the regiment. Some are aware that another african american infantry regiment, the 55th, was also or ganized in massachusetts. The gallant charge of the fifty fourth massachusetts colored.
It presaged the fullscale organization and employment of negro soldiers. It was the first colored regiment raised in a northern state, the first kansas having been recruited largely in missouri, and partly from enslaved blacks. They ultimately comprised ten percent of union army and navy the fifty fourth s successful campaign for equal pay also signaled a move toward racial justice in the military. Exercices at the dedication of the monument to colonel. The memorial to robert gould shaw and the massachusetts fiftyfourth regiment is a bronze relief sculpture by augustus saintgaudens opposite 24 beacon street, boston at the edge of the boston common. In the department of the south, the massachusetts volunteers had to contend with the prejudiced policies of the us government as well as the confederate enemy. This picture book, filled with vibrant artwork featuring the faces of soldiers and the flag of. The fiftyfourth massachusetts volunteer infantry the. Excerpt from record of the service of the fifty fifth regiment of massachusetts volunteer infantry, 1868 l. The same account said that the 54th massachusetts and the 1st nccv even began to push back the enemy. Hallowell, who, for a short time, had served as secondincommand to robert gould shaw of the 54th. Army command and general staff college, penny hill press, inc on. Prior to 1863, no concerted effort was made to recruit black troops as union soldiers.
The fiftyfourth massachusetts infantry volunteers the american civil war u. The history of the fifty fourth regiment of massachusetts volunteer infantry 18631865 emilio, captain luis f. In the autumn of 1865 a meeting was held in the council chamber at the state house, at the call of governor andrew, dr samuel g howe, senator charles sumner, colonel henry lee, mr j b smith, and others, to consider the matter of a suitable memorial to robert g shaw, the late commander of the massachusetts fifty fourth regiment the regiment gained recognition on. The gallant charge of the fifty fourth massachusetts. Full text of history of the fiftyfourth regiment of. The fiftyfifth regiment of the massachusetts volunteer colored infantry database online. The 54th massachusetts infantry is the best known of all the african american regiments in the civil war. Publication date 1891 topics massachusetts infantry. The remaining recruits became the nucleus of the 55th massachusetts regiment, commanded by norwood p. To the regiment his loss will be irreparable, loring continued. A sister regiment, the fiftyfifth, had already begun to form by the time members of the fiftyfourth departed for south carolina. Page 2 ordered, that governor andrew of massachusetts is authorized, until further orders, to raise such number of volunteer companies of artillery for duty in the forts of massachusetts and elsewhere, and such corps of infantry for the volunteer military service as he may find convenient, such volunteers to be enlisted for three years or until sooner discharged, and may include persons of. The history of the fifty fourth regiment of massachusetts volunteer infantry 18631865 the 24th wisconsin infantry in the civil war. A biographical study ofthe 54th massachusetts regiment.
The first black regiment, the fiftyfourth massachusetts volunteers, is assembled. Hallowell, who, for a short time, had served as secondincommand to. Fox of the second massachusetts cavalry, as major, all being at that time stationed at readville, and. The 54th regiment massachusetts volunteer infantry was an infantry regiment that saw extensive service in the union army during the american civil war. The fiftyfourth regiment of massachusetts, consisting entirely of african. Jul 26, 2014 favor of various ladies and gentlemen, citizens of the commonwealth, and friends of the fifty fourth regiment of massachusetts volunteers, i have the honor and the satisfaction of being permitted to join you this morning for the purpose of presenting to your regiment the national flag, the state colors of massachusetts, and the emblematic.
Read history of the second massachusetts regiment of. 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. Colored infantry regiments and the 54th regiment massachusetts volunteers in the battle of honey hill, south carolina on 30 november 1864. The 54th regiment massachusetts volunteer infantry was an infantry regiment in the union army during the american civil war. The book centers around sergeant william carney, a young officer in the massachusetts fiftyfourth, who refused to allow old glory to ever touch the ground, even when carney was wounded and the battle was at its most intense. The fiftyfourth massachusetts volunteer infantry the battle of fort wagner and the battle of chaffins farm the fort pillow massacre colonel robert gould. The regiment saw action at the battle of bunker hill, new york campaign, battle of trenton, battle of princeton, battle of saratoga, battle of monmouth and the. The story of the massachusetts 54th regiment clinton cox.
Read history of the second massachusetts regiment of infantry. 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. They were nicknamed the swamp angels the regiment was one of the first official africanamerican units in the united states during the civil war. Summary and glory captures the heroism of colonel robert gould shaw and the first black regiment in the civil war, the massachusetts fighting fiftyfourth. The history of the fifty fourth regiment of massachusetts volunteer infantry 18631865. New bedfords black soldiers in the fiftyfourth massachusetts. University of south carolina press a brave black regiment. Aristocratic white commander of the 54th massachusetts infantry. Apr 17, 2012 recruiting for the fifty fourth massachusetts commenced in february, 1863, and its ten companies were full by may. The project gutenberg ebook of history of the fortysecond regiment infantry, massachusetts volunteers, by charles p. Acton memorial library civil war archives fiftyninth.
Fiftyfourth massachusetts volunteers was recruited, the. This book will greatly enhance civil war studies, leading to a deeper. Many blacks refused to enlist because of the discriminatory pay. The history of the fiftyfourth regiment of massachusetts volunteer infantry 18631865 the 24th wisconsin infantry in the civil war. The history of the fifty fourth regiment of massachusetts volunteer infantry 18631865 captain luis f. Exercices at the dedication of the monument to colonel robert. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. Bosson this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the united states and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. Codman will be known as the forty fifth regiment, massachusetts volunteer militia. The 54th massachusetts volunteers was the first black regiment from the north and also a fine fighting unit. Essays on the legacy of the fiftyfourth massachusetts regiment martin h. The 4th massachusetts regiment also known as 3rd continental regiment or learneds regiment, was raised on april 23, 1775, by colonel ebenezer learned outside boston, massachusetts.
Another battle on james island was fought on 1 and 2 july 1864 by the 55th and the 33rd u. The fiftyfourth massachusetts infantry volunteers the american civil war. A reminder of the nations ongoing struggle over race, it captures the civil wars higher purpose the end of slavery and memorializes those black soldiers and white officers who made common cause in the service of. Brown, donald yacovone university of massachusetts press, 2009 history 336 pages. Excerpt from record of the service of the fiftyfifth regiment of massachusetts volunteer infantry, 1868 l. A strong general and principal military advisor to president davis, launched offensives against union, led second battle of bull run, antietam, chancellorsville, and gettysburg, surrendered to grant at appomattox court house. Now or never fiftyfourth massachusetts infantrys war to end. The fifty fourth massachusetts infantry was the first northern black volunteer regiment enlisted to fight in the civil war its accomplished combat record led to the general recruitment of africanamericans as soldiers. There was also an african american cavalry regiment formed in massachusettsthe 5th.
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