The 54th Massachusetts Infantry was one of the first official Black regiments in the Union Army, organized in early 1863 under Colonel Robert Gould Shaw.
On July 18, 1863, the regiment led an assault on Fort Wagner near Charleston, South Carolina. Shaw and many of his men were killed.
Medal of Honor
Sergeant William Carney carried the flag during the attack despite serious wounds and later received the Medal of Honor.
Legacy
Their courage helped convince many Northerners to support Black enlistment. The story was told in the 1989 film Glory, and a memorial by Augustus Saint Gaudens stands in Boston.
Explore More
Ohio is full of Civil War history. Visit the Ohio History Connection in Columbus, Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery, the Sherman House Museum in Lancaster, Grant’s birthplace in Point Pleasant, and Morgan’s Raid markers across southern and eastern Ohio. County historical societies often hold letters, photos, and flags from local regiments, so check with yours too.
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