Color Plate Commentary
A PRIVATE, 54TH MASSACHUSETTS, 1863 The 54th Massachusetts Colored was one of the first African American regiments raised, and one of only four African American regiments which remained in commission until the end of the Civil War to retain a state designation the 55th Massachusetts and 29th Connecticut Infantry regiments and the 5th Massachusetts Colored Cavalry were the others . Famed for its attack on Battery Wagner in July 1863, it fought at other major battles including Olustee. It has...
Chronology
December 20 South Carolina secedes from the United States. February 4 Confederacy formed joined initially by North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. April 12 Fort Sumter fired upon by Confederate forces. April 15 President Lincoln declares a state of insurrection and sends out a call May 26 Gen Benjamin Butler refuses to return three runaway slaves to their Virginian owners, claiming they are contraband of war. August 6 First Confiscation Act...
Index
References to illustrations are shown in bold. Plates are shown with page and caption locators in brackets. Addeman, Capt Joshua M. 27-28 Anderson, Charles Gabriel 55, 56 Anderson, Charles H. 31, 55, 56 Avers, James 11-12 Baltimore, William 56, 57 Billings, John 25,41 Blunt, Gen James G. 47 Boone, Arthur 20 Brown, William Wells 6, 47 Brunei, Jacob 16, 20 Brunei, Peter 12, 29, 32, 41, 56, 61 Butler, Gen Benjamin 4, 5, 5 Butder, Henry H. 11,56,57 Califf, Joseph M. 10, 19, 30, 48 Callioux, Capt...
Museums And Reenactment
There are several museums on the black contribution to the Civil War. The African American Civil War Memorial Freedom Foundation and Museum at 1200 U Street N.W., Washington, DC 20009, is a national museum dedicated to the service of the USCT during the American Civil WTar. The museum is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm, and Saturday 10am to 2pm. You can get more information at the muse urn's websi te http www. ajroamcivilwar. org. Another good African American military history museum is...
Enlistment
Madam - I seal myself at this time as an opportunity affords itself to me to drop you a few lines in xvay of a communication, to inform you that I am well and I hope ivhen this comes to hand that it may find you all the same. My object in writing is to inform you that I have enlisted in the army of the United Slates for one year, but having faith and confidence in my Father above, I live in hopes to get back home once more, xohen I expect to find my ivork and old customers waiting for their old...
Training
The first attempt to form company xuas a crucial lest of the faith of the new officer. No uniform clothing had been issued, and many of the recruits had scarcely rags enough to hide their nakedness. I confess that I was staggered, almost appalled, at the thought of the self-imposed task. Henry Romeyn, on taking charge of a company in the 14th Less promising material for soldiers than the newly recruited African American troops was hard to find in Civil War America. Most slaves were unfamiliar...