The topic of this paper is the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Colored Infantry commanded by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw during the Civil War.
Question
Why was the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer important during the Civil War?
Structure and Sources
This paper will first include the prelude to the 54th Volunteer Mass Regiment and how they started. This first section will include the history behind regiment and volunteer black regiments during the Civil War. It will also contain the origins of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and how he came to command the 54th. The important sources for are Blue-Eyed Child of Fortune: The Civil War Letters of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, A History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Colored Infantry of the Civil War, A Brave Black Regiment: The History of the 54th Massachusetts 1863-1865, A Documentary History of the Negro People in the United States, and One Gallant Rush. The letters from Shaw in his early days will help with his background and provide primary source material for his pre-Civil War life as well as his initial military experiences Regiment. The collection of documents: A Documentary History of the Negro …show more content…
They gained more recognition than most other regiments. In a society that claims to have many race problems, these regiments, especially the 54th, are important to study for everyone regardless of stance and political party. This is important to see how far the military has come and the origins of racial integration in the military. Shaw is important to study because he truly was able to lead his men and gain their respect, a lesson that modern day military leaders could study in order to better the military. Overall, the 54th Mass and its importance during the Civil War is crucial in understanding race in the Union Army during the Civil