2. 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, established in 1863, was among the first African American units in the Union Army during the Civil War. Composed of free Black men from various states and territories, the regiment gained fame for its courageous assault on Fort Wagner in South Carolina on July 18, 1863. Despite heavy casualties, their valor proved the effectiveness of Black soldiers, leading to the enlistment of over 180,000 African Americans in the Union Army. Their legacy is honored through monuments and historical sites, including the Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Regiment Memorial in Boston. (nps.gov)
