Civil War Veteran...Grand Army of the Republic. Benjamin Thompson- 54th Massachusetts (all colored regiment), Company F. Wounded in action at Fort Wagner, South Carolina, July 18, 1863.
The Union attack on Fort Wagner, July 18, 1863, led by the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the first major American military units made up of black soldiers. Colonel Robert Gould Shaw led the 54th Massachusetts on foot while they charged and was killed in the assault. After the battle, the Southern soldiers buried the regiment's commanding officed, Colonel Shaw, in a mass grave with the African-American soldiers of his regiment, viewing this as an insult to him. Instead, his family thanked the Southern soldiers for burying Shaw with his men. That site is no longer visible; the land has eroded into Charleston Harbor, and the remains of Colonel Shaw and his men have been washed out to sea.
The Union attack on Fort Wagner, July 18, 1863, led by the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the first major American military units made up of black soldiers. Colonel Robert Gould Shaw led the 54th Massachusetts on foot while they charged and was killed in the assault. After the battle, the Southern soldiers buried the regiment's commanding officed, Colonel Shaw, in a mass grave with the African-American soldiers of his regiment, viewing this as an insult to him. Instead, his family thanked the Southern soldiers for burying Shaw with his men. That site is no longer visible; the land has eroded into Charleston Harbor, and the remains of Colonel Shaw and his men have been washed out to sea.
Civil War Veteran...Grand Army of the Republic. Benjamin Thompson- 54th Massachusetts (all colored regiment), Company F. Wounded in action at Fort Wagner, South Carolina, July 18, 1863.
The Union attack on Fort Wagner, July 18, 1863, led by the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the first major American military units made up of black soldiers. Colonel Robert Gould Shaw led the 54th Massachusetts on foot while they charged and was killed in the assault. After the battle, the Southern soldiers buried the regiment's commanding officed, Colonel Shaw, in a mass grave with the African-American soldiers of his regiment, viewing this as an insult to him. Instead, his family thanked the Southern soldiers for burying Shaw with his men. That site is no longer visible; the land has eroded into Charleston Harbor, and the remains of Colonel Shaw and his men have been washed out to sea.
The Union attack on Fort Wagner, July 18, 1863, led by the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the first major American military units made up of black soldiers. Colonel Robert Gould Shaw led the 54th Massachusetts on foot while they charged and was killed in the assault. After the battle, the Southern soldiers buried the regiment's commanding officed, Colonel Shaw, in a mass grave with the African-American soldiers of his regiment, viewing this as an insult to him. Instead, his family thanked the Southern soldiers for burying Shaw with his men. That site is no longer visible; the land has eroded into Charleston Harbor, and the remains of Colonel Shaw and his men have been washed out to sea.
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