why was the attack on Fort Wagner a great voctory for the 54th Massachusetts?

Question

it's for a history project. why was it a great victory for the black americans?

Answer 1

"During the Civil War, African Americans soldiers were able to play a significant role. There were several African American units, but the 54th Massachusetts Infantry became the most recognized. Their bravery and courage silenced those who doubted their ability and inspired many other blacks to join in their ranks.
After recruitment and training, the unit was sent to Hilton Head, South Carolina. It was there that their actions proved their competence. On July 18, the troops were ordered to lead the attack at Fort Wagner. They charged ahead as they were bombarded by gunfire from Confederate soldiers. Casualties were high, and by the end of the battle, 250 troops died, including Shaw. While the attack was unsuccessful, this battle brought them recognition.

The regiment received praise for their bravery. William Carney was given individual tribute for a heroic act. Carney was a 23-year-old enlistee assigned to Company C. While suffering from a head, leg, and hip wound, Carney saw that the soldier who was carrying the flag had been wounded. He got up, ran to the flag through a volley of bullets, and delivered it to his regiment. As he fell to the ground he cried, "Boys, the old flag never touched the ground!" For his actions, Carney received the Medal of Honor. He was the first African American to receive it. The flag now hangs in Boston's Memorial Hall near the bronze mural honoring the 54th Infantry."

"The 54th Massachusetts Regiment became the Civil War's most famous African American regiment after their heroic attack on South Carolina's Fort Wagner in July 1863. The assault demonstrated to white Americans that African Americans were willing to die to defend the Union.
After an initial assignment of raiding rebel towns, the regiment was sent to South Carolina to charge Fort Wagner. Fort Wagner was a Confederate fortification that guarded the entrance to Charleston harbor. The assault on South Carolina's Fort Wagner resulted in over 200 casualties, including Col. Shaw.

The story of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment was most notably depicted in the 1989 movie "Glory," starring Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, and Matthew Broderick."


"The Robert Gould Shaw Memorial was built in 1897 in honor of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment, the first all-Black regiment recruited in the North to fight for the Union army during the Civil War. Bravely, skillfully, and honorably the men of the 54th Regiment led the valiant attack on Fort Wagner, SC, on July 18, 1863. Amidst the carnage on that fateful day emerged many stories of valor and patriotic devotion that proved to the nation the uncompromising courage of African-Americans in the battle for American Liberty. Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, for instance, was only 25 years old when he died along with over 270 of his men at Fort Wagner. Sargent William H. Carney, an African-American man from New Bedford, MA, crawled through the bullets and gun fire, death and destruction, while wounded, to rescue the Union flag. For his bravery, Carney became the first African-American in history to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1900.

Denied equal pay, African American soldiers in the 54th Regiment refused pay for 18 months until Congress agreed, in 1864, to pay them the same rate as White soldiers. In the midst of intense opposition by the government and the public, Colonel Shaw and the men of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment struck a blow for American freedom and proved that racial unity ultimately triumphs over hatred. The high relief bronze statue, designed by renowned sculptor Augustus St. Gaudens, is a testament to this triumph. Financed primarily through a fund established by Joshua B. Smith - former slave, state representative, caterer, and former employee in the Shaw family household - the monument was dedicated in a ceremony on Boston Common in 1897. This ceremony was attended by Booker T. Washington, Sargent Carney, and Charles Elliott, then president of Harvard University. The engraving on the back of the monument is taken from Elliott's dedication speech. In 1982, 64 names of soldiers from the city of Boston who died at the Battle of Fort Wagner were inscribed at the bottom on the back of the monument."

"Fort Wagner (also called Battery Wagner) was a fortification on Morris Island, South Carolina, that covered the southern approach to Charleston harbor. It was the site of two American Civil War battles in the campaign known as Operations Against the Defenses of Charleston in 1863.
The first engagement, the Battle of Fort Wagner or the First Assault on Morris Island, occurred on July 11, 1863. The second is better known. The Battle of Fort Wagner/Morris Island, was the Union attack on July 18, 1863, led by the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first major American military unit made up of black soldiers. Colonel Robert Gould Shaw led the 54th Regiment on foot while they charged and was killed in the assault.
The Confederate fortifications, garrisoned by around 1,800 men, extended across the northern quarter of the low and sandy island. The main wall ran for 630 feet from the eastern ocean to salt marshes on the west. The wall was up to 30 feet high and a wide, but shallow, trench stretched in front. Much of the fort was earth barriers and sandbagged emplacements. The site of the fortifications is currently underwater.
The approach to the fort was constricted to a strip of beach 60 yards (55 m) wide. After a bombardment from both land and sea, the Union infantry moved in. The assault force was headed by the 54th Massachusetts and included five other brigades, around 5,000 men in total. Unfortunately for the assault force, the prior bombardment failed to seriously damage the fighting power of the fort. Consequently, the Union infantry suffered considerable casualties in the rush towards the fort.
As the Union troops reached the parapets, the fighting proved intense. Three brigades managed to occupy a portion of the walls, but they were forced to withdraw after an hour of fierce hand-to-hand combat where almost every officer was killed. The Union forces suffered around 1,600 casualties and the Confederate garrison under 200.
Although a tactical defeat, the battle proved to be a political victory for the Union since the valor of the 54th against hopeless odds proved the worth of black soldiers. It spurred additional recruitment that gave the Union Army a further numerical advantage in troops over the South."

Answer 2

54th Massachusetts Regiment Fort Wagner

Answer 3

In spite of the incredible losses, the 54th proved that African-Americans could, would, and should fight. The men of the 54th gave their lives honorably and their courage and heroism was the first step toward ending the stereotypes of African-Americans. The battle at Fort Wagner was a suicide mission, but those men went into battle with incredible courage and strength. We could all learn lessons from the 54th.

Answer 4

Assault On Fort Wagner

Answer 5

in spite of the surprising losses, the 54th proved that African-individuals could desire to, could, and could combat. the adult males of the 54th gave their lives honorably and their braveness and heroism became into the 1st step in the direction of ending the stereotypes of African-individuals. The conflict at citadel Wagner became right into a suicide challenge, yet those adult males went into conflict with surprising braveness and potential. we could desire to all study classes from the 54th.

Answer 6

If you can find it yet there is a double tape set that has the movie "Glory" with a documentary called "The True Story of Glory Continues." It is very informative and sums up what everyone has said on here and more. Your best bet would probably be on the Internet, my mom found it probably about 7 years ago at Best Buy (I think).

Answer 7

fort wagner was a great vic. because it was an all black regiment and although they all died they all fought bravely and they were recognized for how they fought and what they did.