The 54th Massachusetts RegimentBefore 1863, there was no effort made by the Union or Confederate armies to recruit black soldiers even though ending slavery was one of the main reasons for the Civil War. When President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation the year before, it gave states the ability to use free black men as soldiers. Massachusetts was the first state to create a military unit to fight for the North, known as the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
There was a great deal of controversy over this decision. The Massachusetts governor at the time, John A. Andrew, felt that black men were very capable of leadership roles but the public didn't fully agree. It was decided that black men could enlist in the military, but could not be commissioned as an officer. These men could rise in rank as high as a lieutenant. In February 1863, recruiting began for the 54th Regiment. Newspaper ads and posters encouraged black men to enlist. Twenty five men responded right away, and by the end of the first week there were 72 recruits. This was not enough, however, and recruiting continued into the South and as north as Canada. By May, the regiment had 1,007 men and 37 white officers. The unit was led by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. |
The 54th Regiment headed south in May of 1863, even though the Confederate army had announced that any Black soldier that was captured would be sold into slavery and any white officer in command of Black troops would be executed. They landed in the South Carolina on July 3 and soon had their first chance at action. On July 18th, the 54th served as a diversion for a Union attack on Morris Island, South Carolina. At James Island, where the 54th was, they lost 45 men. After two days of very little sleep, food and water, they were instructed to lead the attack on Fort Wagner at Morris Island. 1,700 Confederate troops were behind the walls of the fort and ready for battle. The unit showed exceptional bravery and honor but were outgunned and outnumbered. Even while waiting for reinforcements that never arrived, they did not retreat. One soldier, Sergeant William Carney, was shot multiple times but still refused to let the flag of his regiment fall to the ground or be captured by the enemy. Unfortunately, nearly half of the men present were killed, wounded or missing. Robert Gould Shaw was one of the losses. In spite of the disastrous defeat at Fort Wagner, the men earned a great deal of respect and paved the way for a number of other black regiments in the Union army.
Even though the skill and courage of the 54th were quite obvious, the War Department did not recognize that the black and white soldiers were equals. Members of the regiment were promised a pay of $13 a month but were only paid $10. They were also expected to purchase their own uniforms. All men of the 54th regiment--both black and white--fought for 18 months with no pay at all. They refused to accept the wages until black and white men were given equal pay for equal work. After multiple appeals, the men were finally granted full pay in July of 1864, retroactive to their enlistment date.
Even though the skill and courage of the 54th were quite obvious, the War Department did not recognize that the black and white soldiers were equals. Members of the regiment were promised a pay of $13 a month but were only paid $10. They were also expected to purchase their own uniforms. All men of the 54th regiment--both black and white--fought for 18 months with no pay at all. They refused to accept the wages until black and white men were given equal pay for equal work. After multiple appeals, the men were finally granted full pay in July of 1864, retroactive to their enlistment date.
William H. CarneyWilliam Carney was born a slave in Norfolk, Virginia in 1840. His father before him was also a slave; he escaped using the Underground Railroad and eventually earned enough money to buy the freedom of his wife and son. After they were freed, the family moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts.
Carney had originally planned to become a minister, but after the Emancipation Proclamation answered the call to enlist in the Union army. he joined the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, led by Robert Gould Shaw, and rose up to the rank of sargent. He had a strong potential to lead others and a good educational background. In the summer of 1863, Carney and the 54th was sent to South Carolina for combat. There were several roles for soldiers during combat. It was a huge honor to carry the flag for either side, but flag bearers often were a popular target since the flag was such a powerful symbol. These men had to use both hands to carry the large flagpole, which meant they couldn't carry a gun to defend themselves. |
During the Battle of Fort Wagner, the flag bearer was fatally injured. As he began to fall, Carney seized the flag and refused to let it hit the ground in spite of his wounded legs, chest and arm. He climbed the parapet and planted the flag at the top. Even through continuous gunfire, Carney was able to keep the flag up.After the unit withdrew, Carney struggled back to Union lines still carrying the flag. He collapsed, saying "Boys, the old flag never touched the ground."
Carney survived but was discharged from the infantry due of his injuries. For his heroism at Fort Wagner, he was later awarded The Congressional Medal of Honor. He was the first Black American to receive the highest military honor. When he died in 1908, the flag at the Massachusetts State House was flown at half mast in his remembrance.
Carney survived but was discharged from the infantry due of his injuries. For his heroism at Fort Wagner, he was later awarded The Congressional Medal of Honor. He was the first Black American to receive the highest military honor. When he died in 1908, the flag at the Massachusetts State House was flown at half mast in his remembrance.
Robert Gould Shaw
Robert Gould Shaw was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1837. His family was wealthy: he was educated in private schools in New York and Switzerland and by private tutors in Italy and Germany. He attended Harvard University for three years and then worked for his uncle. His parents were both abolitionists.
In 1861, Shaw enlisted as a private in a New York regiment. He was later commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Second Regiment of the Massachusetts infantry. He was wounded twice in battle but prospered in the army, rising to captain. When Governor John Andrew began to form one of the Union's first Black regiments, he recruited Shaw to command the regiment. Initially, Shaw declined but later changed his mind and accepted command (possibly to make his mother happy.) Shaw oversaw the recruitment and training of the men of the 54th Regiment. He initially wasn't excited about his assignment but the dedication of his men impressed him and he grew to respect them as soldiers. When he learned that Black soldiers would earn less than white soldiers doing the same job, he inspired his unit to boycott until it was fixed. |
Shaw led the 54th Regiment to battle at Fort Wagner, which protected Charleston, South Carolina. As he yelled "Onward, 54th!" to his troops, Shaw was killed in battle. Almost half of the regiment died along with him after fierce combat. The Confederates buried him in a mass grave alongside his Black troops, believing that they were dishonoring him. His father later discouraged efforts to recover his body, saying that the most appropriate burial place for a soldier was "on the field where he has fallen." He was proud that his son was buried with his men and knew that Robert would have approved.
The Shaw Memorial
Very soon after the events at Fort Wagner, on July 18, 1863, the survivors of the 54th Regiment raised funds for a memorial on Morris Island, South Carolina but it was never built. In 1865, Joshua B. Smith, who was once an employee of the Shaw family and now a businessman and Massachusetts state senator, raised funds along with the black Beacon Hill community and led the movement to put up a monument to Colonel Shaw in Boston. A committee was formed and a August Saint-Gaudens was commissioned to create a sculpture of Shaw. His family insisted that the sculpture portrayed both Shaw and his men. Ultimately, a monument featuring Shaw on horseback and twenty three of his men marching down Beacon Street next to him was created and unveiled on Memorial Day, 1897. At that time, the names of the five white officers killed in battle were inscribed on the back; the fallen black soldiers were added in 1981.