Faces of the 54th

• Faces of the 54th: Soldier and Officer Database

• 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment

 

The Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Lincoln in 1863 opened the door for African American men to enlist in the military. With the help of prominent abolitionists including Frederick Douglass and Lewis Hayden, Governor Andrew succesfully recruited soldiers and officers to create the 54^th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, one of the first Black regiments to fight in the Civil War.

At the Battle of Fort Wagner, Colonel Robert Gould Shaw led the 54^th in the attack on Confederate forces. Despite losing the battle, their actions earned them widespread respect and admiration. As a result of their bravery, the 54th helped to erode public opposition to Black soldiers and inspired the enlistment of more than 180,000 African Americans in the U.S. Army.

The bravery and service of the enlisted men and officers proved instrumental in securing freedom for enslaved people. While the story of the 54^th remains well known in history, the stories of many of its soldiers remain untold. Explore these data sets to learn more and make your own discoveries.

 

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  Medal of Honor Recipient

  William H. Carney

  Sergeant William H. Carney, Jr. served in the MA 54th Volunteer Infantry Regiment and is known for his heroics at the Battle of Fort Wagner.

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  Captain, Historian, and Author

  Luis Emilio

  Captain Luis F. Emilio, the son of Spanish immigrants, served with the 54th MA and wrote a book on the history of the regiment.

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  Prisoner of War

  Isaac S. Hawkins

  At the Battle of Olustee, Confederate soldiers captured Isaac Hawkins and imprisoned him in the infamous Andersonville prisoner of war camp.

 

Soldier and Officer Database

These online, searchable data sets serve as a resource for finding soldiers and officers who served with the 54^th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment between February 1863 and August 1865. Data include the men’s age, enlistment and mustered out dates, place of enlistment, profession at enlistment, rank, and company. Over 1,500 men are listed in the data sets below.

Data sets have been divided according to whether an individual mustered in as an enlisted soldier or commissioned officer. Additional details will be added to the data sets as we continue to research and update information.

 

Enlisted Soldiers

This table includes the names of individuals who served as enlisted soldiers with the 54^th Massachusetts Regiment.

Enlisted Soldiers

Company	Rank	Last Name	First Name	Middle Name	Age	Occupation	Place of Enlistment	Date of Enlistment	Reason They Left the 54th	Date They Left the 54th	Place of Death	Date of Death	Notes

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Commissioned Officers

This table includes the names of individuals who served as commissioned officers with the 54^th Massachusetts Regiment.

Commissioned Officers

Company	Rank	Last Name	First Name	Middle Name	Age	Occupation	Place of Enlistment	Reason They Left the 54th	Date They Left the 54th	Place of Death	Date of Death	Notes

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Sources

Emilio, Luis F., A Brave Black Regiment: History of The Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1863-1865, New York, NY: Da Capo Press, 1995.

“National Gallery of Art.” The 54th Massachusetts Regiment, n.d. https://www.nga.gov/collection/sculpture/fifty-fourth-regiment.html.