History Bites : The 54th Massachusetts

Join Jim Ward as he discusses the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, the first all-black regiment in the Civil War, and whose gallant charge on Fort Wagner, South Carolina led to the acceptance of black soldiers in the Union ranks.

[@clinterz]

Pretty impressive stuff. A group of men that makes you proud to be an American.

[@boondocker7964]

They look "stout", and determined!

[@QuinnJACKSON-zx1dx]

I didn't know about the 54th protecting the 10th Connecticut. Awesome and thank you for the information.

[@user-xu2id3cu2s]

GREAT VIDEO!!!!! :))))

[@HFFCANADA]

Fantastic video 🎉

[@okapmeinkap7311]

Thank you. The thought of the memorable 54th Massachusetts Regiment always brings tears to my eyes. ***Thank you for your service to our nation.***

[@doreenwyatt6409]

They were all free men of color love ❤️ Robert Gould Shaw my hero so so sad 😞 he died I wish he survived to see how he made history and were celebrated .

[@bootnazz1786]

How were they free?blacks didn't even have rights

[@marcusjustice6165]

1:09 Sergeant Major Lewis Douglass 54th Massachusetts Colored Volunteer Infantry Regiment. First Sergeant Charles Redmond Douglass 5th Massachusetts Colored Volunteer Cavalry Regiment. Sons of Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey Douglass (1817 or 1818 to 1895).

[@sethjones5250]

Did they survive the war?

[@marcusjustice6165]

@@sethjones5250Yes They Did. Lewis Henry Douglass (1840 to 1908) and Charles Remond Douglass (1844 to 1920).

[@johngaither9263]

The opening photo is NOT of men of the 54 Ma. infantry regiment. It is one of the first "colored" units recruited in Ks. before the emancipation proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863. There was no basis for creating it but the men were willing to fight and die for the union cause, so they were accepted.

[@user-qz1sj1ru3d]

10 dollars a month, not week.

[@inthewoods6111]

If you are a US Veteran, watch the charge of the 54th on You Tube. I dare you to get through it without tears of pride for those very very brave men. God bless them all.,

[@okapmeinkap7311]

You don't have to be a United States veteran. An American would do. Now I dare YOU to recite the poem, O Kapitan❗Mein Kapitan❗in Englisch, mein freunde.

[@markthomas913]

Slaughtered in every battle they were engaged in. From Grimball Landing to Secessionville, (James Is.) Morris Island Battery Wagner (Chas.Harbor) to Olustee, FL. Cannon fodder.

[@bootnazz1786]

Have to find away to put blacks down.no matter what.

[@okapmeinkap7311]

@@bootnazz1786 Boot, Mark maybe factually right. So is not a putdown. Richard Nixon once said, the hardest steel came from the hottest fire. Hardened fighting makes the 54th a good solid fighting legion of the United States Army.

[@okapmeinkap7311]

No more different than the charging Marines in Saipan, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Okinawa. Not canon fodder. Just great United States Soldiers. Sempi Fidelis❗

[@bootnazz1786]

@@okapmeinkap7311 the difference was,this group had not rights in the country they charged for.

[@bootnazz1786]

@@okapmeinkap7311 but does that even matter?there family were still enslaved and they had no rights.

[@user-vb3tl3fd1x]

wow 37 years later this guy gets a medal , why so late ?

[@joseluissantivanezrojas7781]

'Cause racism was so deep in their society that just after generations it would eventually vanish or at least decrease enough and make possible recognition for all people no matter their ethnicity.

[@TheNapoleonComplex1]

What an incredible story. Imagine being born a slave and dying not only a citizen but an American hero

[@boondocker7964]

Sleeve?

[@TheNapoleonComplex1]

@@boondocker7964 corrected

[@boondocker7964]

@@TheNapoleonComplex1 Sorry, ya just have to do an edit, before you send, I know!

[@TheNapoleonComplex1]

@@boondocker7964 ya?

[@sethjones5250]

And then becoming an American legend.

[@doreenwyatt6409]

The men were all free no slaves as in the movie 🎥 glory told Andrews wanted free men of color and they all were this never gets said , the movie 🎥 portrayed them as slaves which was untrue along with other lies but that was the biggest lie on their legacy and col.robert Gould Shaw was a hero .

[@bootnazz1786]

We're they family free?did they have full rights in America..I don't see your point.

[@doreenwyatt6409]

They were all free they had jobs business careers that’s the TRUTH they were (free) never enslaved .why can’t these documentaries on the 54th United States 🇺🇸 colored troops . Tell the whole truth it is history .

[@640626]

Never expect Hollywoood to tell the truth in any historical movie because the truth are never as entertaining as the lies..

[@bootnazz1786]

You make no since...and if they were all free,was there family?I don't get your point

[@bootnazz1786]

@@640626 you dumb enough to believe that