The Doomed Civil War Charge That Shattered Doubts About Black Military Courage

Fort Wagner, South Carolina

Shaw’s boys from Massachusetts walked into hell at Fort Wagner. These were some of the first Black troops to see real combat, and they picked the hardest target on the South Carolina coast.

The July assault was a bloodbath but it mattered more than most victories. Here’s the story of that deadly summer night.

Formation of the 54th Massachusetts

After President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863, the Union Army began recruiting Black soldiers.

Massachusetts Governor John Andrew quickly moved to form the 54th Massachusetts, one of the first Black regiments in the North.

Frederick Douglass, a former slave and famous abolitionist, led recruitment efforts throughout the United States and Canada. He even enrolled his own sons, Lewis and Charles, to show his commitment.

By May 1863, about 1,000 Black men had volunteered to fight for the Union cause and their own freedom.

Robert Gould Shaw Takes Command

Governor Andrew chose 25-year-old Robert Gould Shaw to lead the 54th Massachusetts. Shaw came from a wealthy Boston family known for supporting the anti-slavery movement.

He had already served as a captain in the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry and fought in several battles. Though hesitant to leave his old unit, Shaw accepted this new role after encouragement from his parents.

At first, Shaw doubted whether Black soldiers could fight effectively.

After training with the men, he quickly changed his mind, impressed by their intelligence, discipline, and determination to prove themselves in battle.

Training and Departure for War

The 54th trained at Camp Meigs near Boston from February to May 1863. The men learned military discipline, marching, and how to handle weapons under white officers.

Their training complete, the regiment marched through Boston on May 28, 1863. More than 20,000 people lined the streets to watch them pass.

The band played “John Brown’s Body” as they headed to the harbor. The soldiers boarded a ship called the De Molay bound for South Carolina, ready to face the enemy and prove Black men could fight as well as whites.

First Combat Experience at James Island

The 54th first fought at Grimball’s Landing on James Island on July 16, 1863. A force of 3,000 Confederate soldiers attacked the Union position early that morning.

During the battle, 900 Confederate troops directly attacked 250 men from the 54th. Despite being outnumbered nearly four to one, the 54th held their ground and pushed back the enemy.

General Alfred Terry praised the regiment in his report, noting their discipline under fire.

Preparations for the Fort Wagner Assault

Union commanders planned to attack Fort Wagner as part of their campaign to capture Charleston. Colonel Shaw asked for his regiment to lead the charge, knowing this was their chance to prove themselves.

On July 18, Union guns bombarded Fort Wagner for six hours. Over 9,000 shells hit the fort, but the sandy walls absorbed much of the impact.

Only 8 defenders died and 20 were wounded. General George Strong gave the 54th the honor of leading the assault.

Shaw accepted immediately, despite knowing his tired men would face extreme danger.

The Charge on Fort Wagner Begins

At 7:45 p.m. on July 18, the 54th Massachusetts led 600 men across the beach toward Fort Wagner. They had to advance through a narrow strip of land between the ocean and a swamp, only 60 yards wide.

As they got closer, Shaw ordered his men to pick up speed. The soldiers fixed bayonets and charged forward, unable to return fire while running.

When they reached 150 yards from the fort, Confederate defenders opened fire. Artillery and rifles cut through the advancing soldiers, but they kept moving toward the walls.

Colonel Shaw Falls Leading His Men

Colonel Shaw reached the fort’s walls and climbed to the top of the parapet. Waving his sword, he shouted “Forward, 54th!” to urge his men onward.

Confederate soldiers fired at the young officer, killing him instantly with multiple bullets. Despite losing their leader, the men of the 54th continued fighting, inspired by his bravery.

After the battle, Confederates buried Shaw in a mass grave with his Black soldiers, intending this as an insult. Shaw’s father responded that he was proud his son was buried with the men he led into battle.

Sergeant William Carney’s Heroic Flag Defense

During the assault, the regiment’s flag bearer fell wounded. Sergeant William Carney, born a slave in Virginia, dropped his rifle and grabbed the American flag before it hit the ground.

Though shot in the chest, Carney carried the flag forward and planted it on the fort’s wall. When Union forces retreated, he refused to leave the flag behind.

Wounded multiple times, Carney struggled back to Union lines with the flag held high. Upon reaching safety, he said: “Boys, I only did my duty; the old flag never touched the ground!”

For this bravery, he later received the Medal of Honor.

The Battle’s Bloody Conclusion

The fighting lasted about an hour as men battled hand-to-hand on the fort’s walls.

Some soldiers from the 54th and other regiments briefly got inside the fort but couldn’t hold their position.

Confederate troops from the Charleston Battalion and 51st North Carolina fired into the attackers from multiple angles. Three cannons loaded with canister shot tore through the Union ranks. By 10:00 p.m., Union commanders ordered a retreat.

Bodies covered the beach and filled the fort’s defensive ditches. General Taliaferro later wrote: “In front of the fort the scene of carnage is indescribable.”

Aftermath and Legacy of the Battle

The 54th Massachusetts suffered heavy losses, and about 42% of the regiment became casualties. About 280 of the 600 men who attacked were killed, wounded, captured, or missing.

The entire Union force lost 1,515 men while Confederates lost only 174. Despite this defeat, the 54th’s bravery changed minds across the North about Black soldiers.

News of their courage spread quickly through newspapers and personal accounts. By war’s end, more than 180,000 Black soldiers served in the Union Army.

Their contribution—about 10% of all Union forces—proved vital to winning the war and ending slavery.

Fort Wagner Today

Fort Wagner no longer exists physically, as ocean tides washed away the entire structure by the 1880s. Morris Island remains largely uninhabited and accessible only by boat.

Local charter companies in Charleston offer tours to the island where you can view the site from offshore.

The Charleston Museum on Meeting Street also displays artifacts and exhibits about the Morris Island Campaign.

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