[Transcript]
By the middle of the American Civil War, in 1863, the Union Army was beginning to run low on soldiers. And so, President Abraham Lincoln called for the creation of black regiments. And one of the first states to do so was Massachusetts, establishing the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
Although the men serving in the 54th were black, the officers were still white. But the goal was to find white officers who came from abolitionist families. So, the Massachusetts governor promoted 25-year-old Captain Robert Gould Shaw to lead the 54th.
Shaw was from right here in Beacon Hill and belonged to a wealthy abolitionist family. Now, Shaw knew what they were up against. The general public thought black men just weren't cut out for soldiering.
So, it was up to the 54th to prove them wrong. But fortunately, the men quickly turned into a well-trained force, and Shaw proved to be a good leader. With their training over, Shaw and the 54th Regiment arrived in South Carolina in June 1863.
They were eager to prove themselves in battle, but for a month, their only jobs were manual labor and ransacking a town. But finally, finally, a chance came to prove themselves. During the Battle of Grimble's Landing, they got into a skirmish with Confederate troops.
They fought well and saved the skin of the all-white 10th Connecticut. And just two days later, there was another chance.
The Battle Begins: A Narrow Beach and an Impossible Fight
The Union was planning an assault on Fort Wagner, a seaside fort near Charleston, South Carolina.
Because of its location on an island, the Union soldiers wouldn't be able to approach on all fronts. There was only a narrow strip of beach. It was a dangerous assignment.
The unit that led the assault would be under considerable risk, but Shaw accepted the challenge for the 54th. On July 18th, 1863, Shaw personally led his unit in the assault. He told his men that the eyes of thousands were on them that day.
There, on the narrow beach, they marched on Fort Wagner with nowhere to hide. Shaw hollered, forward 54th! And then they attacked.
Legacy of the 54th: Courage That Changed a Nation
The battle was an absolute disaster for the 54th.
Shaw was shot dead early in the fight, though his men pressed on. Despite their bravery, they failed to capture the fort. And by the end of the battle, 40% of them were dead, wounded, or captured.
What a blow for these brave men. The 54th may not have taken Fort Wagner, but they accomplished something else. They gained the respect of the country.
The public acknowledged their bravery and fighting skills. In the end, the 54th Massachusetts inspired more than 180,000 black men to enlist in the Union Army. These men helped tip the scales in the Union's favor and end the war in 1865.
