54th. Mass. Volunteer Infantry, Co. I

Portraying the experience of the African American soldier in the American Civil War in South Carolina

Contents

• The Fighting 54th. Reenactors Today
• Upcoming 54th. Events.
• Recent Unit Activities
• Contacting the 54th. Mass and other African American Civil War Reenacting Units.
• History of the original 54th. Massachussets
• Information on other Afro Carolinians in the Civil War
• Information on other African Americans in the Civil War outside of South Carolina

The Fighting 54th. Today

Members of the unit participate in battle reenactments, visit schools and participate in public events as fully equipped and trained reenactors of the period. The unit has sponsored two events of its own: The Battle for McLeod Plantation (March 1995, Pictures McLeod Plantation House and Sgt. Joe McGill in front of period slave cabins) and a reenactment of its muster out in the Town of Mt. Pleasant (August 1995). City of Charleston Police Chief Reuben Greenberg is a member of the Unit.

The Unit meets on the 2nd. Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Courtroom of the City of Charleston Police Department

Other reenactment units of the 54th. exist in Boston, MA; Washington, DC; Philadelphia, PA and Atlanta, GA. A unit of the 1st SC Vol Inf., Colored is active in Savannah, GA

Upcoming Events

1. The Liberation of Port Royall, 1997 a battle reenactment and Civil War living history weekend at the Historic Penn Center on St. Helena Island, near Beafort, SC, Sept 19-21, 1997.
2. Schedule of Charleston Area Events including 54th. Events
   
3. The Unit raises money for education and preservation projects by the sale of T-shirts bearing its Flag Bearer Logo. The cost is $15.00 and includes postage and handling. Caps with an Infantry Horn symbol are also available. Mail your check and order to George Hughes, Quartermaster.

1. Unit attends 100th. annaversary celebration for Shaw Memorial in Boston, Mass on May 31, 1997.
2. Court Martial Reenactment Raises $1000 for Memorial, January 18, 997.
3. Blue and Grey to March together in Charleston Christmas Parade. A special holiday gift of brotherhood, history and peace on Earth for Charleston, December 8.
4. Liberation of Port Royal, a reenactment and living history weekend at the historic Penn Center near Beaufort & Hilton Head, South Carolina, Oct. 5 & 6, 1996.
5. Dedication Parade for African American Civil War Memorial in Washington DC.
6. Article on C.N.N. Interactive about the Parade.
7. Dedication of U.S. African American Civil War Memorial, Washington, DC, September 8 - 12, 1996. A detailed schedule of events in D.C. with contact information for Memorial Commission.
8. An account of the Tennesee Campaign, Oct. 1985 including a detailed description of the Charge of the 13th. United States Colored Troops.
9. Photo The Pierce Family in the 54th. Camp at the Battle of Secessionville, 1995
10. Photo - A member of the 54th. at a U.S.C.T. grave at Florence National Cemetary, March 1996.
11. Image: Members of Co. I, Company "A" (Boston Mass) and other Companies in formation at Olustee Florida, from 54th. Co. "A" Webpage.
12. Death Before Breakfast an account of the 54th. Mass in action at a reenactment of the Battle of Gambles Hotel in Florence, SC.
    
13. Fighting for Battlefield Preservation at Grimbal's Causeway on James Island

Contacting 54th. Mass & other African American Civil War Reenacting Units

Postal & Telephone communication to the 54th. Mass., Co. "I"

Contacting other Companies of the 54th. and U.S.C.T. reenactment units:

• Co. B. 54th. Mass, Washington, DC
• 1st SC Vol Inf., Colored Savannah, GA, Contact information and unit history.
  
• 34th. Texas Cavalry, multi ethnic & racial Confederate unit.

1. Battery Wagner, July 18, 1863, in its second engagement, the men of the 54th. Massachusetts attacked a sand fort on Morris Island. Their gallant conduct persuaded the union that African American men could and would fight for their freedom. See the detailed web page on the battle made famous in the movie Glory. Here is a photograph of the Fort after federal occupation and the famous Currier and Ives print of Assault on Ft. Wagner.
2. 54th. Casualty List from Battery Wagner, National Archives
3. Painting of Sgt. Carney, First African American to win the Congressional Medal of Honor, with 54th.'s National Color.
4. Battle of Sol Legare Island July 16, 1963, an account of the 54th.'s first test under fire,
   
5. A Brief History of the 54th. Mass
6. Summary War Record from the Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service.
7. Members of the 54th. were held prisoner at Castle Pinkney (photograph) in Charleston harbor after their capture in 1863.
   
8. The Battle of Olustee in which the 54th. fought a reargaurd action to save the Federal army.
   
9. An Account of the Unit's Service on Potter's Raid inland from Goergtown, SC to Camden, April and May of 1865.
10. Head Models for Shaw Monument to 54th. Mass. in Boston.
11. U.S. Military History Institute Bibliography on the 54th. Massachusetts.
12. Midi soundfile version of Theme from Motion Picture Glory.
13. Review of the Motion Picture "Glory", a film about the unit's organization, training and assault on Battery Wagner.
14. Selected Bibliography on African Americans in the Civil War

Information on Other African Americans in South Carolina during the war.

1. The 1st. S.C. Colored (U.S.), history and reenactment unit information.
2. Illustrated web page on DonTroiani print of 1st. SC Colored in their famous red pants in Beaufort.
3. Article on Black Confederates from Post & Courier mentions S.C. Monument.
4. The 105th. U.S. Colored Troops were raised in Charleston, SC in 1865, but never mustered in or paid. Here is their story.
5. Members of the 55th. Massachusettes and the circumstances of the burial under the present site of the Charleston Country Club.
6. Robert Smalls, A Charleston slave who piloted the ship Planter to freedom, served as a Federal river pilot during the war. and later became a U.S. Congressman during reconstruction.
7. Review of Gullah Statesman, a new book on Robert Smalls, see previous item.
8. Court martial trial of Sgt. William Walker, 3rd. S.C. Colored Infantry, U.S. A living history project.
9. Selected Bibliography on African Americans in the Civil War
10. African Americans and S.C.: This is a general interest African American site.

Other Information on African Americans in the Civil War around the nation.

1. United States Colored Troops from the National Park Service, includes a comprehensive, searchable name listing.
2. Lest We Forget, African American's In the Civil War Page. This has a lot of links.
3. Brief history of Colored Troops, including Medal of Honor winners, National Park Service.
4. African American Civil War Memorial dedication in Washington, D.C., A detailed events schedule with background information is available.
5. Louisiana Native Guards
- a detailed page with graphics and references.
6. African Americans at Petersburg
7. Arkansan African Americans in the Civil War
8. African Americans as depicted in political cartoons during the Civil War, an illustrated essay.
9. Black in Grey, an article on African American Confederates
10. Frederick Douglas, Slave, Abolitionist and Civil Rights Advocate.
11. Excerpts from Slave Narratives This includes a number of original documents about Emancipation and the Civil War, listed at the Bottom in Chronological order.
12. The alt.culture.african.american.history newsgroup covers Slavery, The War & Reconstruction among other eras.
13. Selected Bibliography on African Americans in the Civil War

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Additional Key words: war between the states; Robort Gould Shaw; Morris Island;U.S.C.T.; James Island; negro; slave; slavery; freedman; emancipation; confederate; infantry; honey hill; olustee; secession; USCT; United states colored coloured troops