The Importance of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment
The 54th Massachusetts was a regiment consisting of African Americans who volunteered, enduring harsh training and unequal treatment, to then make their place in history fighting and dying at the Battle of Fort Wagner. African Americans were able to volunteer for the war after the Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, authorized it. Frederick Douglass and Massachusetts Governor, John A. Andrew were given authorization to create an African American troop with white commissioned officers, resulting with the creation of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment.1A Many African Americans volunteered because this was one of their first chances they had to get to fight for their freedom. As the new volunteers