Fort Wagner By Caleb Miller

July 18th is a special anniversary in the history of our state. On that day in 1863, Union troops attacked the Confederate stronghold of Fort Wagner on Morris Island, south of Charleston Harbor. The Northern forces assaulted the place in an attempt to get through to Charleston. Among the attackers was the 54th Massachusetts regiment, a unit made up of African-American soldiers. This unit led the charge on the fortifications. Their colonel, Robert G. Shaw, cried “forward, 54th, forward!” and climbed onto a parapet and was shot through the heart. Ultimately, the Union forces were unable to capture the fort and suffered many casualties. The casualties were 246 killed, 880 wounded, and 389 captured for the Union and 36 killed, 133 wounded, and 5 captured for the Confederates. Only 315 men were left in the 54th after this battle out of the entire regiment. In addition to Shaw, three other leading officers died in battle or of their wounds. Shaw and his men were highly honored for their courage during the battle. A memorial for them is present at Boston as part of the Boston Black Heritage Trail. This was a significant symbol for the growing tolerance for blacks. Remember the men who fought at that island so long ago.


Image from the Library of Congress Collection- originally published in Courier and Ives