Second Battle of Fort Wagner, unsuccessful Union assault on July 18, 1863, during the American Civil War (1861–65) on Confederate-held Fort Wagner on Morris Island, South Carolina. An early assault on the fort on July 11 (the First Battle of Fort Wagner) had been just as unsuccessful. Despite the Union defeats, the second battle was especially noteworthy for the courageous performance of a regiment of black federal troops, the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, that transformed the image of the African American soldier, aided in the recruitment of additional African American soldiers, and helped to swing Northern opinion in favor of freeing slaves. Its heroic actions were depicted in the 1989 film Glory.

　　American Civil War: 54th Massachusetts regiment“The 54th Massachusetts regiment, under the leadership of Colonel Shaw in the attack on Fort Wagner, Morris Island, South Carolina, in 1863,” mural at the Recorder of Deeds building, Washington, D.C.(more)Despite President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1862, there was no great enthusiasm among Northern whites for the abolition of slavery and widespread skepticism about the ability of blacks to fulfill combat roles. The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment was one of the first Union military units made up of black soldiers under white officers. Its recruitment had been a high-profile event, and its commander, Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, hailed from a prominent Boston abolitionist family. The regiment’s assignment to lead the assault on Fort Wagner was thus seen as a crucial chance to prove that African Americans could fight for their own freedom.

　　American Civil War Events keyboard_arrow_left

　　Battle of Fort Sumter April 12, 1861 - April 14, 1861

　　Shenandoah Valley campaigns July 1861 - March 1865

　　First Battle of Bull Run July 21, 1861

　　Vicksburg Campaign 1862 - 1863

　　Mississippi Valley Campaign February 1862 - July 1863

　　Battle of Fort Donelson February 13, 1862 - February 16, 1862

　　Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack March 9, 1862

　　Battle of Shiloh April 6, 1862 - April 7, 1862

　　Seven Days’ Battles June 25, 1862 - July 1, 1862

　　Second Battle of Bull Run August 29, 1862 - August 30, 1862

　　Battle of Antietam September 17, 1862

　　Battle of Fredericksburg December 13, 1862

　　Battle of Chancellorsville April 30, 1863 - May 5, 1863

　　Battle of Gettysburg July 1, 1863 - July 3, 1863

　　Second Battle of Fort Wagner July 18, 1863

　　Fort Pillow Massacre April 12, 1864

　　Atlanta Campaign May 1864 - September 1864

　　Battle of the Wilderness May 5, 1864 - May 7, 1864

　　Battle of Spotsylvania Court House May 8, 1864 - May 19, 1864

　　Battle of Cold Harbor May 31, 1864 - June 12, 1864

　　Petersburg Campaign June 1864 - April 9, 1865

　　Battle of Monocacy July 9, 1864

　　Battle of Atlanta July 22, 1864

　　Battle of the Crater July 30, 1864

　　Battle of Mobile Bay August 5, 1864 - August 23, 1864

　　Battle of Nashville December 15, 1864 - December 16, 1864

　　Battle of Five Forks April 1, 1865

　　Battle of Appomattox Court House April 9, 1865 keyboard_arrow_right

　　GloryA scene from the motion picture film Glory (1989) with Morgan Freeman (fourth from left).(more)On arriving at James Island on July 16, the 54th Massachusetts was attacked by a large force of Georgia infantry but repelled the assault, impressing commanding Union General A. H. Terry with their disciplined fire. The 54th moved toward Fort Wagner, on neighbouring Morris Island, the following day. The approach to Fort Wagner was a narrow strip of beach 180 feet (55 m) wide with the Atlantic to the east and a marsh to the west. Once on this beach, the Union troops had to cross a shallow moat surrounding the 750 foot- (685 m) wide fort, which was heavily fortified with mortars and other guns. The assault began at 7:45 PM, with a total of ten regiments engaged. The soldiers of the 54th, forming the spearhead of the attack, fought their way on to the fort’s parapet and held out there for over an hour under heavy fire before the attack was called off at around 10:00 PM and they were ordered to retreat. The black regiment had taken more than 50 percent casualties, with Colonel Shaw among those killed. The Confederate commander at Fort Wagner ordered the Union dead to be buried in a common grave, with Shaw among them, intending this as an insult. Shaw’s family in Boston, however, retorted that they regarded it as an honour.

　　The soldiers were hailed for their valor, and the recruitment of African Americans into the Union army sharply increased as a result of the public recognition. Sgt. William H. Carney, for his bravery at Fort Wagner, became the first African American to receive the Medal of Honor, the country’s highest military award.

　　Losses: Confederate, 174 dead, wounded, or captured of 1,800; Union, 1,515 dead, wounded, or captured of 5,000.