Private William A. Davis served with the 54th Massachusetts, Company F during the United States Civil War. He enlisted 15 December 1863 from St. Albans, Vermont when he was 38 years old (most 54th soldiers were under 30) and married with about seven children (some may have died in infancy.) Discharged 8 June 1865.
The soldiers of the 54th received no pay for over a year due to their refusal to accept the federal government's unequal pay for soldiers of color after being promised pay equal to a white soldier, so things may not have been easy at home for his wife Elizabeth (Green(e)) and their children. William and Elizabeth had at least nine children before and after the war: Sophronia Satchell, William H. Davis, Marion B. Freeman, Lillian Davis, Frederick Eugene Davis, Henry Davis, Arthur W. Davis, Alfred Herbert Davis and Henry H. Davis (named for his older brother Henry who died not long before he was born.) Some of William's grandchildren passed as white in census records and both he and Elizabeth are sometimes listed as black, sometimes as mulatto (19th and early 20th century mixed race designation) in federal census records.
William's daughter Marion married Leander Freeman (memorial ID 40236090) who also served with the 54th in Company H.
Ref: WikiTree Collaborative Research on Private William A. Davis
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The all-black regiment was authorized in March 1863 by the Governor of Massachusetts, John A. Andrew. It was the first Union Army regiment army to accept soldiers of color. Commanded by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, it was commissioned after the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton decided white officers would be in charge of all "colored" units. Colonel Shaw was hand picked by Governor John Andrew. Governor Andrew also selected Norwood Penrose "Pen" Hallowell as the unit's second in command, a rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
The regiment gained recognition on July 18, 1863, when it spearheaded an assault on Fort Wagner near Charleston, South Carolina. At this battle, Colonel Shaw was killed, along with 29 of his men. 24 more later died of wounds, 15 were captured, 52 were missing in action and never accounted for, and 149 were wounded. The total regimental casualties of 272 would be the highest total for the 54th in a single engagement during the war.
The story of the unit was depicted in the 1989 Academy Award winning film "Glory" starring Matthew Broderick as Shaw, Denzel Washington as Private Tripp, Morgan Freeman, Cary Elwes, Jihmi Kennedy and Andre Braugher.
Ref: 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Wikipedia
The soldiers of the 54th received no pay for over a year due to their refusal to accept the federal government's unequal pay for soldiers of color after being promised pay equal to a white soldier, so things may not have been easy at home for his wife Elizabeth (Green(e)) and their children. William and Elizabeth had at least nine children before and after the war: Sophronia Satchell, William H. Davis, Marion B. Freeman, Lillian Davis, Frederick Eugene Davis, Henry Davis, Arthur W. Davis, Alfred Herbert Davis and Henry H. Davis (named for his older brother Henry who died not long before he was born.) Some of William's grandchildren passed as white in census records and both he and Elizabeth are sometimes listed as black, sometimes as mulatto (19th and early 20th century mixed race designation) in federal census records.
William's daughter Marion married Leander Freeman (memorial ID 40236090) who also served with the 54th in Company H.
Ref: WikiTree Collaborative Research on Private William A. Davis
---
The all-black regiment was authorized in March 1863 by the Governor of Massachusetts, John A. Andrew. It was the first Union Army regiment army to accept soldiers of color. Commanded by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, it was commissioned after the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton decided white officers would be in charge of all "colored" units. Colonel Shaw was hand picked by Governor John Andrew. Governor Andrew also selected Norwood Penrose "Pen" Hallowell as the unit's second in command, a rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
The regiment gained recognition on July 18, 1863, when it spearheaded an assault on Fort Wagner near Charleston, South Carolina. At this battle, Colonel Shaw was killed, along with 29 of his men. 24 more later died of wounds, 15 were captured, 52 were missing in action and never accounted for, and 149 were wounded. The total regimental casualties of 272 would be the highest total for the 54th in a single engagement during the war.
The story of the unit was depicted in the 1989 Academy Award winning film "Glory" starring Matthew Broderick as Shaw, Denzel Washington as Private Tripp, Morgan Freeman, Cary Elwes, Jihmi Kennedy and Andre Braugher.
Ref: 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Wikipedia
Private William A. Davis served with the 54th Massachusetts, Company F during the United States Civil War. He enlisted 15 December 1863 from St. Albans, Vermont when he was 38 years old (most 54th soldiers were under 30) and married with about seven children (some may have died in infancy.) Discharged 8 June 1865.
The soldiers of the 54th received no pay for over a year due to their refusal to accept the federal government's unequal pay for soldiers of color after being promised pay equal to a white soldier, so things may not have been easy at home for his wife Elizabeth (Green(e)) and their children. William and Elizabeth had at least nine children before and after the war: Sophronia Satchell, William H. Davis, Marion B. Freeman, Lillian Davis, Frederick Eugene Davis, Henry Davis, Arthur W. Davis, Alfred Herbert Davis and Henry H. Davis (named for his older brother Henry who died not long before he was born.) Some of William's grandchildren passed as white in census records and both he and Elizabeth are sometimes listed as black, sometimes as mulatto (19th and early 20th century mixed race designation) in federal census records.
William's daughter Marion married Leander Freeman (memorial ID 40236090) who also served with the 54th in Company H.
Ref: WikiTree Collaborative Research on Private William A. Davis
---
The all-black regiment was authorized in March 1863 by the Governor of Massachusetts, John A. Andrew. It was the first Union Army regiment army to accept soldiers of color. Commanded by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, it was commissioned after the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton decided white officers would be in charge of all "colored" units. Colonel Shaw was hand picked by Governor John Andrew. Governor Andrew also selected Norwood Penrose "Pen" Hallowell as the unit's second in command, a rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
The regiment gained recognition on July 18, 1863, when it spearheaded an assault on Fort Wagner near Charleston, South Carolina. At this battle, Colonel Shaw was killed, along with 29 of his men. 24 more later died of wounds, 15 were captured, 52 were missing in action and never accounted for, and 149 were wounded. The total regimental casualties of 272 would be the highest total for the 54th in a single engagement during the war.
The story of the unit was depicted in the 1989 Academy Award winning film "Glory" starring Matthew Broderick as Shaw, Denzel Washington as Private Tripp, Morgan Freeman, Cary Elwes, Jihmi Kennedy and Andre Braugher.
Ref: 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Wikipedia
The soldiers of the 54th received no pay for over a year due to their refusal to accept the federal government's unequal pay for soldiers of color after being promised pay equal to a white soldier, so things may not have been easy at home for his wife Elizabeth (Green(e)) and their children. William and Elizabeth had at least nine children before and after the war: Sophronia Satchell, William H. Davis, Marion B. Freeman, Lillian Davis, Frederick Eugene Davis, Henry Davis, Arthur W. Davis, Alfred Herbert Davis and Henry H. Davis (named for his older brother Henry who died not long before he was born.) Some of William's grandchildren passed as white in census records and both he and Elizabeth are sometimes listed as black, sometimes as mulatto (19th and early 20th century mixed race designation) in federal census records.
William's daughter Marion married Leander Freeman (memorial ID 40236090) who also served with the 54th in Company H.
Ref: WikiTree Collaborative Research on Private William A. Davis
---
The all-black regiment was authorized in March 1863 by the Governor of Massachusetts, John A. Andrew. It was the first Union Army regiment army to accept soldiers of color. Commanded by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, it was commissioned after the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton decided white officers would be in charge of all "colored" units. Colonel Shaw was hand picked by Governor John Andrew. Governor Andrew also selected Norwood Penrose "Pen" Hallowell as the unit's second in command, a rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
The regiment gained recognition on July 18, 1863, when it spearheaded an assault on Fort Wagner near Charleston, South Carolina. At this battle, Colonel Shaw was killed, along with 29 of his men. 24 more later died of wounds, 15 were captured, 52 were missing in action and never accounted for, and 149 were wounded. The total regimental casualties of 272 would be the highest total for the 54th in a single engagement during the war.
The story of the unit was depicted in the 1989 Academy Award winning film "Glory" starring Matthew Broderick as Shaw, Denzel Washington as Private Tripp, Morgan Freeman, Cary Elwes, Jihmi Kennedy and Andre Braugher.
Ref: 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Wikipedia
Inscription
WM. A. DAVIS
1827 - 1908
CO. F. 54 REGT.
MASS VOLS
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