On July 18, 1863, at dusk, the Black soldiers of the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry of the U.S. Army charged the walls of Fort Wagner, a fortification on Morris Island off Charleston Harbor in South Carolina. Because Fort Wagner covered the southern entrance to the harbor, it was key to enabling the U.S. government to take the city.
My experience in school was that the black regiments’ contributions to the success of the Union forces was never mentioned. Thank you for for making it come alive.
'The 54th Massachusetts’ valor at the Battle of Fort Wagner paved the way for more African Americans to enlist. By the end of the war more than 180,000 African Americans enlisted in the U.S. Army, making up 10% of all U.S. forces for the duration of the war. Correspondents relayed the 54th Massachusetts’ heroism and devotion, even after their defeat. After visiting wounded members of the 54th, a writer for the New York Post reported “No man can pass among these sufferers…and not be inspired with the deepest abhorrence of slavery and an unquenchable desire for the freedom of their race.”[15]
'The members of the regiment lamented their heavy losses in letters home. One of the troops, Lewis Douglass, son of the famous abolitionist Frederick Douglass, wrote:
'Saturday night we made the most desperate charge of the war on Fort Wagner, losing in killed, wounded and missing in the assault, three hundred of our men. The splendid 54th is cut to pieces…. If I have another opportunity tonight, I will write more fully. Goodbye to all. If I die tonight, I will not die a coward.[11]'(NationalParksService)
All people like us. And we like them. Different times and places. May there be more of us who do the right thing, caring for all others and working for equality, equity, diversity, and honor. Thank you, Dr. R!
I just read the last message from Heather Cox Richardson. Bless her. I am in tears. It is 1:42 in the morning. My life was saved at 5 years by a middle aged crippled orphaned syphilitic daughter of a Georgia plantation slave long emancipated. She returned from her hospital to save me. I would eat for no one else. She was taken from me first when I was 20 months old. She was committed and died alone a few years later. I was raised by her. She alone touched me. Her love inspired a five year old to eat at 778 Park Avenue. We know these good people. We know the unmarked graves of Barbados. The original sin of America is rising world wide, urged by a fascist president and his millions of racist followers hawking the Big Lie.
Born Again and Newt Gingrich be damned. Trickle down be damned. SCOTUS be damned.
To Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson: thank you.
To the GOP: get help.
To Abraham Lincoln and the art of the impossible.
To Black Women, please forgive us, lead us, love us, for I love you.
Lordie but you are a wonderful Historian. I've just read an essay by Barbara Tuchman on the Historian as Artist. She would loved what you are doing, giving.
“ and hoped that what they had done was worth the horrific cost. I am not one for ghosts, but I swear you could feel the blood in the floors.”
I hope we will continue to honor their courage and sacrifices and defend our constitution and country, this time through our votes, our legislation and against the rising fascism and lingering white supremacy we “battle today” much coming from the same confederate states of this and other battles. Thank you, Professor, for reminding us that our nation was built on the sacrifices of all people, all colors, (and all genders) not only the white man.
The Shaw memorial to the 54th regiment created by Augustus Saint Gaudens reflects your sentiments. The courage and determination of Shaw and all the Black regimental soldiers is so palpable even today, from the forward motion of their bodies to the details of their boots worn from miles of marching. A true testament to the values of equality we strive to uphold then and now.
Thank you Heather. You are a national treasure and I can’t tell you how much this truck driver’s daughter from Texas appreciates the top notch education you are offering for free. I consume ALL of the things you offer and I have one request. Please, do guns! We need a historical accounting of gun laws and gun culture to combat the crazy we are experiencing. 🙏🏻😣 ~Desperate in Texas.
The valiant efforts of minority groups to show their "worthiness" to the white majority is almost a completely lost cause. For if they make the effort and fail, the hateful segment of the majority group can say, "I told you so." And if they make the effort and succeed, as did the members of the Mass. 54th Volunteer Infantry, and the Navajo Code Breakers, The Tuskeegee Airman, The 442nd Infantry Unit of second generation Japanese and other minority groups in WW2, then their success is threatening to the hateful segment of the white majority group, and their fine deeds must be ignored, played down, or erased.
In the end, such valiant people as comprised those minorities who fought bravely did so as so many other valiant white people did -- to maintain their honor and self-respect regardless of what anyone else may have thought.
Such valiant people are worthy in their own right and need ask no permission to participate.
My experience in school was that the black regiments’ contributions to the success of the Union forces was never mentioned. Thank you for for making it come alive.
I'm smarter every time I finish your writings. Thank you
'The 54th Massachusetts’ valor at the Battle of Fort Wagner paved the way for more African Americans to enlist. By the end of the war more than 180,000 African Americans enlisted in the U.S. Army, making up 10% of all U.S. forces for the duration of the war. Correspondents relayed the 54th Massachusetts’ heroism and devotion, even after their defeat. After visiting wounded members of the 54th, a writer for the New York Post reported “No man can pass among these sufferers…and not be inspired with the deepest abhorrence of slavery and an unquenchable desire for the freedom of their race.”[15]
'The members of the regiment lamented their heavy losses in letters home. One of the troops, Lewis Douglass, son of the famous abolitionist Frederick Douglass, wrote:
'Saturday night we made the most desperate charge of the war on Fort Wagner, losing in killed, wounded and missing in the assault, three hundred of our men. The splendid 54th is cut to pieces…. If I have another opportunity tonight, I will write more fully. Goodbye to all. If I die tonight, I will not die a coward.[11]'(NationalParksService)
https://www.nps.gov/articles/the-54th-massachusetts-and-the-second-battle-of-fort-wagner.htm#:~:text=The%2054th%20Massachusetts'%20valor,the%20duration%20of%20the%20war.
Have been to the Shaw memorial on Boston Common. Each face of a black man is individually portrayed. It’s very moving.
All people like us. And we like them. Different times and places. May there be more of us who do the right thing, caring for all others and working for equality, equity, diversity, and honor. Thank you, Dr. R!
I just read the last message from Heather Cox Richardson. Bless her. I am in tears. It is 1:42 in the morning. My life was saved at 5 years by a middle aged crippled orphaned syphilitic daughter of a Georgia plantation slave long emancipated. She returned from her hospital to save me. I would eat for no one else. She was taken from me first when I was 20 months old. She was committed and died alone a few years later. I was raised by her. She alone touched me. Her love inspired a five year old to eat at 778 Park Avenue. We know these good people. We know the unmarked graves of Barbados. The original sin of America is rising world wide, urged by a fascist president and his millions of racist followers hawking the Big Lie.
Born Again and Newt Gingrich be damned. Trickle down be damned. SCOTUS be damned.
To Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson: thank you.
To the GOP: get help.
To Abraham Lincoln and the art of the impossible.
To Black Women, please forgive us, lead us, love us, for I love you.
To Suzy Jones. Bless your heart and soul
Sandy
The movie Glory with Matthew Broderick was about this battle
Lordie but you are a wonderful Historian. I've just read an essay by Barbara Tuchman on the Historian as Artist. She would loved what you are doing, giving.
“ and hoped that what they had done was worth the horrific cost. I am not one for ghosts, but I swear you could feel the blood in the floors.”
I hope we will continue to honor their courage and sacrifices and defend our constitution and country, this time through our votes, our legislation and against the rising fascism and lingering white supremacy we “battle today” much coming from the same confederate states of this and other battles. Thank you, Professor, for reminding us that our nation was built on the sacrifices of all people, all colors, (and all genders) not only the white man.
You're a fine writer and a wonderful historian, Heather. Thank you. We ar all inspired to keep going.
The Shaw memorial to the 54th regiment created by Augustus Saint Gaudens reflects your sentiments. The courage and determination of Shaw and all the Black regimental soldiers is so palpable even today, from the forward motion of their bodies to the details of their boots worn from miles of marching. A true testament to the values of equality we strive to uphold then and now.
That last line gave me a chill. Seriously.
Thank you Heather. You are a national treasure and I can’t tell you how much this truck driver’s daughter from Texas appreciates the top notch education you are offering for free. I consume ALL of the things you offer and I have one request. Please, do guns! We need a historical accounting of gun laws and gun culture to combat the crazy we are experiencing. 🙏🏻😣 ~Desperate in Texas.
Eloquent and haunting ❤️❤️😢
The valiant efforts of minority groups to show their "worthiness" to the white majority is almost a completely lost cause. For if they make the effort and fail, the hateful segment of the majority group can say, "I told you so." And if they make the effort and succeed, as did the members of the Mass. 54th Volunteer Infantry, and the Navajo Code Breakers, The Tuskeegee Airman, The 442nd Infantry Unit of second generation Japanese and other minority groups in WW2, then their success is threatening to the hateful segment of the white majority group, and their fine deeds must be ignored, played down, or erased.
In the end, such valiant people as comprised those minorities who fought bravely did so as so many other valiant white people did -- to maintain their honor and self-respect regardless of what anyone else may have thought.
Such valiant people are worthy in their own right and need ask no permission to participate.
Yep...that last line. The South is full of ghosts.