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A Brave Black Regiment: The History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1863-1865
In January 1863 the Union War Department authorized the creation of "a special corps" composed of "persons of African descent"—the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Col. Robert Gould Shaw. Hundreds of free blacks enlisted. When the 54th Massachusetts spearheaded the suicidal charge against Fort Wagner on July 18, 1863, the regiment was showered with acclaim, but that defining event was not its only illustrious moment. After the devastating repulse at Fort Wagner left all of the unit's ranking officers dead or wounded, Captain Luis F. Emilio (1844–1918) emerged as the 54th's acting commander. A Brave Black Regiment offers an unparalleled, moving, inside view of the entire history of the 54th Massachusetts, from recruitment through disbandment. With a new introduction, rare, previously unpublished photos of Emilio and members of the 54th, the complete regimental roster, and his lengthy appendix concerning Confederate treatment of black prisoners-of-war, this Da Capo Press/Persues Books Group edition is certain to remain definitive for a long time to come.
204 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1891
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 10, 2022
Fascinating.
July 25, 2011
This is the authoritative first-person account of the 54th Massachusetts regiment from the Civil War (featured in the movie Glory). I was reading it for research for a novel that I'm writing, but it's also an interesting story to anyone interested in Civil War history. The 54th is known for its dramatic (failed) charge at Battery Wagner on Morris Island, as well as for being one of the first black regiments in the war. They differed from the earliest regiments (like the First South Carolina Volunteers), in that most of the soldiers in the 54th were free men. They faced great discrimination with continued fortitude--as a group, they refused to accept less pay than white soldiers, and went more than a year without pay, while their families back home suffered.
In terms of military action, they weren't involved in many important battles beyond the attack on Battery Wagner, and shortly after that attack, found themselves filling sandbags and digging ditches during the siege of Wagner, for almost two months (white troops were much more likely to be given guard duty, while black soldiers were more often put to hard physical labor in the harsh summer heat).
Because they didn't see much big action later, the narrative of the book slows down quite a bit in the second half, and Emilio ends up listing lots of promotions. If you're looking for a well-written narrative about black soldiers in the Civil War, you're better off reading Higginson's Army Life in a Black Regiment. But if you want a first-hand look at the 54th Massachusetts, this one's worth a read.
In terms of military action, they weren't involved in many important battles beyond the attack on Battery Wagner, and shortly after that attack, found themselves filling sandbags and digging ditches during the siege of Wagner, for almost two months (white troops were much more likely to be given guard duty, while black soldiers were more often put to hard physical labor in the harsh summer heat).
Because they didn't see much big action later, the narrative of the book slows down quite a bit in the second half, and Emilio ends up listing lots of promotions. If you're looking for a well-written narrative about black soldiers in the Civil War, you're better off reading Higginson's Army Life in a Black Regiment. But if you want a first-hand look at the 54th Massachusetts, this one's worth a read.
November 17, 2021
Completely not what I expected - this is a regimental history written by one of the officers over the course of 30 years after the war. If you've never read a regimental history, please be aware that it is a prose only in a strict sense and is heavily focused on individuals, movements of bodies of troops, and very detailed accountings of day to day tasks.
November 15, 2020
History Was Successfully Earned
This quote, from the book, best sums up this story: ... "the private soldier: — ‘He does not expect to see his own name on the title-page of history, and is content with a proper recognition of the old command in which he fought; but he is jealous of the record of his regiment, and demands credit for every shot it faced and every grave it filled.’"
Considering that Captain Emilio (who served with the regiment) set out to document the actions and activities of the regiment during their time of service, the story lacks any real sense of individual personalities except maybe the two primary Colonels who commanded the regiment at the start and end. But as the quote states, it was the regiment's story and not that of any one individual.
Worth the effort to work through the various command assignments and troop movements.
This quote, from the book, best sums up this story: ... "the private soldier: — ‘He does not expect to see his own name on the title-page of history, and is content with a proper recognition of the old command in which he fought; but he is jealous of the record of his regiment, and demands credit for every shot it faced and every grave it filled.’"
Considering that Captain Emilio (who served with the regiment) set out to document the actions and activities of the regiment during their time of service, the story lacks any real sense of individual personalities except maybe the two primary Colonels who commanded the regiment at the start and end. But as the quote states, it was the regiment's story and not that of any one individual.
Worth the effort to work through the various command assignments and troop movements.
July 6, 2022
Even while fighting for their country the men refused to accept the discrepancy of their pay from white soldiers and refused it on principle. The regiment colors was never dropped or dishonored an their commanders praised their bravery effort to perform their duty.
The investigation after the war concerning the treatment of prisoners proved inhumane.
The investigation after the war concerning the treatment of prisoners proved inhumane.
August 17, 2022
Some of the most moving passages ever written, and they’re about some of the most gallant heroes who ever lived.
January 24, 2012
Written by Louis F. Emilio after the war of his experiences as a captain in the 54th and 55th Massachusetts Volunteers, A Brave Black Regiment is a true to life account of these two regiments exploits in the civil war. Watch Glory, but read this book and Blue Eyed Child of Fortune (from the letters of Robert Gould Shaw of his war experiences). A Brave Black Regiment shows that fact is far more riveting than fiction and you get to see the real privations that the 54th went through before and after Fort Wagner, South Carolina. Emilio and other white officers of the 54th (the 55th was formed out of the excess of volunteers of free blacks from Massachusetts) were granted commissions from the Governor of Mass. as other officers were in the volunteer service. This differed from the selection process used by the army to fill officer quotas in the USCT formations of a written exam and board interview. Emilio was a non commissioned officer in the 23rd Mass. at the time Gov. Andrew began petitioning the War Dept. for the raising of a black regiment. Contrary to the movie, Andrew was not the first to raise a black regiment, but the 54th and 55th were the first northern units raised from free blacks. Emilio took his chance and requested an appointment for commission and was granted it after an interview with those whom Andrew commissioned to recruit officers.
What is also notable is the service the regiment gave after Fort Wagner and the fight at Olustee, Florida where it and the 55th and several USCT regiments fought alongside white brigades and further proved their mettle in a fight.
What is also notable is the service the regiment gave after Fort Wagner and the fight at Olustee, Florida where it and the 55th and several USCT regiments fought alongside white brigades and further proved their mettle in a fight.
February 15, 2014
This is the story of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry from initial recruitment of the regiment to its final service. The book even includes a complete roster. This wasn't the most exciting read but was still a useful history of the regiment which was commemorated in the 1989 film Glory.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews