The Beginning of the 54th Massachusetts

On January 26th, in 1863, the Massachusetts Governor was given permission from the U.S. Secretary of War to raise a militia of African-American men.  This group of soldiers became known as the 54th Massachusetts Regiment.

The Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment was the first military unit that consisted of African-American soldiers that was created during the Civil War. The 54th Massachusetts Regiment was created a month after the adoption of the Emancipation Proclamation which occurred in December of 1862. Massachusetts was the first state to create an African-American regiment.

To learn more about the regiment click here!

Can you name a member of the 54th Massachusetts and write a bit about him? Tell me in class, I'd love to hear it.