What’s So Important About The Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry?

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The Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry. Now, when you just read those words, most of you probably didn’t see anything special in them. Just one Infantry among many. Maybe a few of you have heard of that particular one before, but it doesn’t mean much to you, does it?

It should. It may seem that this particular regiment was any more special than any other regiment. Sure the men making up it were black, but you’re thinking there’s not anything special about that, right? Today many soldiers are black. It was a big deal back then though. The Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry was one the first official black units in the United States Army. This regiment rebelled against normality and dared to do and be something that many were opposed to. Even though their wages were below the wages of white men at the same level until 1864, they still fought. Even though they couldn’t even hold the rank of officer at first, they kept fighting for their country. Everything was against them, but they still loved their country enough to keep fighting. They paved a way that many other would follow, and did something unusual until eventually it became usually. In the war, they were black pioneers, and any black man or woman in the army today should be thankful for the bravery they had. They had the bravery to try.

In 1863 John A. Andrew authorized the regiment. Most of the men that made up the unit were free blacks from Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Among their ranks were the sons of the famous Frederick Douglass. Most of them were recruited by white abolitionists, and a white man was placed over them , Robert Gould Shaw.

The first event that gave this regiment fame was when they raided the town of Darien in Georgia. While the raiding of Darien may have been the first event that gave attention to them, their first real action was  on James Island in South Carolina, where they stopped an attack from the Confederates. However, the battle the 54th is most recognized for is their assault on Fort Wagner on July 18th, 1863. 116 of their men were killed, along with Shaw; 156 were wounded as well. The Union forces were not able to take hold of the Fort, but the 54th was recognized for its bravery.   Sergeant William H Carney received the Medal of Honor for his courage during the battle and was the first African American to do so. The regiment kept fighting until 1865. These men, black men, fought with the same courage as any other man on the battle field then, and maybe with more bravery; because they needed it.

The Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry. These words probably mean a lot more to you now. Those brave soldiers were the ones who opened up the opportunities for black men for many generations after them. Whether or not future black men had the chance to fight depended on the way them. These men are some of the courageous men we should be looking up to. These are the brave. These men were the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry.