Through their heroic, yet tragic, assault on Battery Wagner, South Carolina in July 1863, the 54th helped inspire the enlistment of more than 180,000 Black soldiers…a boost in morale and manpower that Lincoln recognized as essential to the victory of the United States and the destruction of slavery throughout the south.
The 54th Massachusetts numbered 600 men at the time of the assault. Of these, 270 were killed, wounded, or captured during the engagement. Colonel Shaw was killed, along with 29 of his men; 24 more later died of wounds, 15 were captured, 52 were missing in action and never accounted for, and 149 were wounded.
Many soldiers of the 54th Massachusetts remain in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Section 16 of Beaufort National Cemetery is one of the largest burial sites for soldiers of the regiment, many of whom died in the hospitals around the city of injuries and disease.
Artifact54th Massachusetts RegimentCollectionThe Underground RailroadThe African American Museumat the England ManorShare
Cathay Williams 1844-1893 Omar (Student) Cathay Williams is an African American soldier who I think was very brave as an African American woman to pose as an African American man. She served her country in the Indian Wars as a Buffalo Soldier and is the…
Underground Railroad Routes Jalani (Student) A route is a way or course taken in getting from a starting point to a destination. The Underground Railroad routes went north to open states ( places that did not allow slavery) like Canada, the Caribbean, and into United…
Colored Troops Jurnee (Student) United States Colored Troops were Union Army regiments(175 regiments; 178,000 men) The American Civil War was against the North and South so that the South would free their slaves. During the American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – April 9, 1865)…