54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Essays

  • The 54th Regiment of Massachusetts: African-American Soldiers of the Civil War

    2301 Words  | 5 Pages

    Black enlistment, various troops of Black volunteers had already been organized, including the First South Carolina and the Kansas Colored Troops. It wasn't until January 26, 1863, however, that secretary of war Edwin Stanton authorized the enlistment of Black troops. As a result, the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer infantry was founded, becoming the first all-Black Union regiment raised in the north.(Emilio 1990) Training began for Black volunteers at Camp Meigs in Readville, MA on February

  • African American Soldiers: Pivotal Contributions in the Civil War

    1106 Words  | 3 Pages

    the war against the South could not have been won.”2 African Americans were ready to join the Union Army to fight against slavery in hopes that military service would demonstrate their equality. Several states, to include Louisiana, would form volunteer regiments as a result of the Militia Act of 1862 passed by Congress in July. The 1st Louisiana Native Guard was the first regiment of African Americans in the Union Army.3 This regiment of United States Colored Troops (USCT) was officially formed

  • The Movie Glory Movie

    781 Words  | 2 Pages

    Movie was based on personal letters of Colonel Shaw and, the story is based on the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first formal unit of the US Army to be made up entirely of colored men, as told from the point of view of Colonel Shaw, he is the commanding officer during the war. Robert Shaw the officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. As the officer he commanded all black, 54 Massachusetts, to enter the war in 1863. Officer Colonel Shaw is the main subject of the film.Private

  • African Americans in the Civil War

    585 Words  | 2 Pages

    soldiers as early as Fort Sumter. Once enlistment began 185,000 black union soldiers were organized into 166 all black regiments (145 infantry, seven cavalry, 12 heavy artillery, one light artillery, and one engineer).1 Black soldiers participated in 449 battles, 39 of them being major engagements.2 Of these engagements Frederick Douglass' own two sons were with the 54th Mass... ... middle of paper ... ...ice. This regiment later became by a strange mutation of history, the first black regiment

  • The Civil War in the Film Glory

    829 Words  | 2 Pages

    he’s clear to leave, he visits his family at their plantation, where he meets Frederick Douglass, and is offered the position of Colonel for the 54th Massachusetts Regiment. He accepts the promotion, and invites his old friend, Major Forbes, to be his right hand man in leading the infantry. He accepts as well, and soon after, black soldiers quickly volunteer, of these including Rawlins, Searles, Trip, etc., which will become important factors in the plot of the movie. Throughout the film, it is clear

  • African-american Troops In The Civil War: The 54th Massachusetts

    1644 Words  | 4 Pages

    African-American Troops in the Civil War: The 54th Massachusetts The Fifty-fourth Massachusetts was organized in early 1863 by Robert Gould Shaw, twenty-six year old member of a prominent Boston abolitionist family. Shaw had earlier served in the Seventh New York National Guard and the Second Massachusetts Infantry, and was appointed colonel of the Fifty-fourth in February 1863 by Massachusetts governor John A. Andrew. As one of the first black units organized in the northern states, the Fifty-fourth

  • Movie Review: Glory

    823 Words  | 2 Pages

    equity. Colonel Shaw acted by Matthew Broderick takes the audience with him on journey of transform from a naïve boy to a pre-adult and finally manhood and through his eyes the audience understands the internal and external struggles of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment. The movie opens with a naive Shaw who believes in the equality of all men as promised in the Declaration of Independence. The first scene opens with Shaw and his company marching to Antietam. He is very enthusiastic about being in

  • Branded

    1555 Words  | 4 Pages

    depicts the struggles any society endures in order to become civilized through the depiction of the 54th colored regime’s training and struggles, to represent the struggles societies endure in their progress and journey to becoming civilized. The movie is depicted from the perspective of Colonel Shaw who is of wealthy descent. Despite being a Northerner he does not understand the colored soldiers who volunteer for his colored regime. Many Northerners and Union soldiers despite supporting the abolition

  • Glory

    1374 Words  | 3 Pages

    Glory: A Look From Within It is the evening before a powerful and epic battle with more than victory at stake. Tomorrow, the 54th regiment will forever stamp themselves as a symbol of hope and freedom in a new world during an attack on Fort Wagner as soldiers for the North. Dozens of men with young children, wives, and an idealistic dream of a free world will die in a matter of hours. As the Northern soldiers gather on this night before war, there are no tears of fear to be shed. The din in the air

  • What Is William Harvey Carney Journey Of Life

    555 Words  | 2 Pages

    William Harvey Carney William Harvey Carney is my character in my assigned essay. The purpose of my research paper is to is to provide information about William Harvey carneys journey of life and and about his impact on others. Unfortunately William Harvey Carneys young life was a struggle and very difficult. He was born in Norfolk, Virginia. William was born into slavery much of a childhood; rather not call it a childhood. Ann Dean Williams mom stayed behind in the plantation, while William and

  • Biography Of Robert Gould Shaw

    782 Words  | 2 Pages

    Robert Gould Shaw was born in Boston, Massachusetts 1837 into a family of abolitionists, unlike his mother Sarah Blake, and his father Francis George Robert Gould Shaw did not really have a thing for freeing slaves but his parents had a passion for it. They wanted to end the slave act and have them freed. his dad was called one of the advocates of the abolition of slavery and his mother was a part of it too. The Shaws had a large inheritance left by his paternal grandfather, Robert Gould Shaw, from

  • Glory

    1891 Words  | 4 Pages

    Glory The 1989 film Glory is a classic Civil War film based on the history of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment. The film focuses on the courage displayed by the first black regiment in the Civil War, also known as the “Fighting Fifty-fourth.” The regiment headed by the admirable Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, Matthew Broderick, must overcome an enormous amount of adversity during the war. The film was daring for filmmakers Zwick and Fields because it was a film not only with, “vivid and

  • The Importance of Black Soldiers in the Civil War

    1732 Words  | 4 Pages

    all). Also, many of these soldiers had trouble getting the basic necessities like shoes, socks and soap. Other areas I will discuss will be the discriminatio... ... middle of paper ... ...ward G. A Regiment of Slaves: The United States Colored Infantry, 1863-1866. Mechanicsburg: Stackpole, 2003. Preisser, Thomas M. “The Virginia Decision to Use Negro Soldiers in the Civil War, 1864-1865.” The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 83, no. 1 (January 1975): 98-113. Accessed April 14, 2014. http://jstor

  • Glory: The Story of Faith

    708 Words  | 2 Pages

    Civil War. This powerful story is told through the eyes of the unit’s leader, Colonel Robert Shaw. The director, Edward Zwick, uses a number of important scenes expressing growth, patriotism and leadership. Whenever there was an obstacle that the 54th regiment needed to overcome faith seemed to be the answer. Faith in their fellow man, faith in their country and faith in God. During the course of the movie, Colonel Shaw is constantly trying to confirm his loyalty and faith he has in his men. He

  • Glory:Fact or Fiction?

    695 Words  | 2 Pages

    The film Glory depicts the action of the Massachusetts 54th and all the black regiment and their role in the war. The Massachusetts 54th was created by Governor Andrews and was helped by Frederick Douglas. This film tells us the story about the regiment from the beginning of their training until their actual participation in the battle. The civil war was a memorable event for many people especially African Americans. In Glory we watch as these men are forced into slavery and the torturous training

  • Analysis Of The Movie Glory

    2619 Words  | 6 Pages

    regiment. The regiment was known as the 54th Massachusetts, and it is famous for the heroic actions that took place during the Battle of Fort Wagner, where Colonel Shaw volunteered his men to lead the charge. Although there were many casualties and the battle was not successful, the 54th Massachusetts’ bravery led the Union to accept thousands of African American men into their ranks which helped the Union win the war. In many parts of the film, While the 54th Regiment was doing labor on the side of

  • Glory Movie Essay

    1451 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Glory” is a 1989 war film based on the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry of the civil war (18861-1865). It stars Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Care Elwes, and Morgan Freeman. It was directed by Edward Zwick, and the screenplay was written by Kevin Jarre who was inspired by two books, One Gallant Rush: Robert Gould Shaw and His Brave Black Regiment (1989) and Lay This Laurel (1973). The story is told largely through Colonel Robert Gould Shaw’s perspective and what he experiences throughout

  • Robert Gould Shaw Summary

    534 Words  | 2 Pages

    My book “Robert Gould Shaw and the Black 54th Massachusetts regiment” was a great resource to learn more about the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the first official African-American military units of the nation during the Civil War . Often referred as the “swamp angels”, the regiment was created in 1863 by John Albion Andrew, governor of Massachusetts at the time. Led by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, the unit fought for political freedom, social freedom, and equality of all citizen

  • The American Civil War

    663 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the civil war she was a recruiter for the 54th regiment of massachusetts she also worked as a... ... middle of paper ... ...ring the Civil War. “ (African Americans in the War). http://www.civilwarvirtualmuseum.org/ Union did not always recruit African American soldiers, but the 54th regiment of Massachusetts was the first military unit recruited in the north and it was also the military unit that consisted of African Americans. The 54th marched to Fort Wagner with no food, exhaustion,

  • The Movie Glory

    1488 Words  | 3 Pages

    the Civil War, particularly in 1862-1865. The film's primary focus is the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first all-black regiment in the Union army. This film covers from their time of enrollment, to their attack on Fort Wagner, a major historical event that influenced African Americans all over the Union to enroll. The movie is depicted through the eyes of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, the leader of the 54th. In addition, it introduces four side characters, each an African American