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The first Negro Troops in the Civil War were from the South, not Massachusetts
Album Description
If you have seen the movie "Glory," starring Denzel Washington, you may have left believing the 54th Massachusetts was the first regiment of Negro troops to fight for for the Union during the US Civil War.
Despite the movie, it was actually troops from South Carolina who made up the first group of Negro troops to fight under a Union General. To be clear, this regiment was not an official unit in the Union Army when it was first assembled and began combat operations.
Before it was officially authorized under the Second Confiscation Act of 1862, General David Hunter recruited former slaves on the South Carolina coast & Sea Islands. Some refused but were forced to be part of this 500-man unit
Congress complained and the unit was later disbanded.
But later, when Congress passed the Second Confiscation Act and the Militia Act allowing Negro troops. The 1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed and officially inducted into the US Army, near Beaufort, South Carolina in August 1862. The unit included up to 100 of the original members of General Hunter's disbanded unit.
A month later, the Second South Carolina Volunteers began.
If you are ever in Beaufort, SC., stop by the Beaufort National Cemetery where many of the soldiers of the 1st and 2nd SC Volunteers are buried; along with members of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, including its leader, Colonel Robert Gould Shaw.
Dress parade of First South Carolina
Col. T. W. Higginson, commander of the 1st SC Volunteers
2nd South Carolina Infantry Regiment raid on rice plantation
"Emancipation Day in South Carolina" - the Color-Sergeant of the 1st South Carolina (Colored) Volunteers addressing the regiment, after having been presented with the Stars and Stripes, at Smith's plantation, Port Royal Island, January 1 / From a sketch by our special artist.
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/99614128/
Reference note
Summary: Illustration shows the First South Carolina Volunteers' color guard addressing a joyful crowd of African Americans after the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.
Created / Published: [New York] : [Frank Leslie], 1863
Subject Headings: - United States.--President (1861-1865 : Lincoln).--Emancipation Proclamation
- United States.--Army.--South Carolina Volunteers, 1st (1862-1864)--People
- African Americans--Military service--South Carolina--Port Royal--1860-1870
- Soldiers--South Carolina--Port Royal--1860-1870
- Liberty--1860-1870
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--African Americans--South Carolina--Port Royal
Genre: Periodical illustrations--1860-1870
Wood engravings--1860-1870
Notes: - Title transcribed from item.
- Illus. in: Frank Leslie's illustrated newspaper, vol. 15, no. 382 (1863 Jan. 24), p. 276.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: ppmsca 71957 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.71957
cph 3b35224 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b35224
Dress parade of First South Carolina, (U.S.C.T.), Beaufort, S.C.
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2013649032/
Reference note
Summary: Photo shows the 1st South Carolina Volunteers, a regiment of African American soliders formed in the fall of 1862 in Beaufort, South Carolina. With shadow of photographer and camera at lower right.
Created / Published: [photographed between 1862 and 1864, printed between 1880 and 1889]
Subject Headings: - United States.--Army.--South Carolina Volunteers, 1st (1862-1864)
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
- United States--South Carolina--Beaufort
Genre: Albumen prints--1860-1870
Notes: - No. 4970.
- Title from item.
- Mounted with four other photographs.
- Gift; Col. Godwin Ordway; 1948.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: ppmsca 35307 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.35307
cph 3b10135 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b10135
[Col. T. W. Higginson, commander of the 1st SC Volunteers (the first African American regiment)] / W. Notman.
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2010645144/
Reference note
Summary: Photograph shows a head and shoulders portrait of Higginson in civilian clothing. He was also an Abolitionist in Worcester, Mass., working as an Underground Railroad operator.
Contributor Names: Notman, William, photographer
Created / Published: Boston : The Notman Photographic Co. Limited, 3 Park Street and 184 Boylston Street, [between 1905 and 1911]
Subject Headings: - Higginson, Thomas Wentworth,--1823-1911
- United States.--Army.--South Carolina Volunteers, 1st (1862-1864)--People
- Abolitionists--1900-1920
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Veterans
Notes: - Title derived from Gladstone collection checklist.
- Gladstone's inventory code and notes: M74.
- "[C]ol. T. W. Higgin[son], Commander, 1st Regiment of freed slaves in Civil War" inscribed on back of mount in pencil.
- Purchase; William A. Gladstone; 1995; (DLC/PP-1995:113.283).
- General information about the Gladstone collection is available at, http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.gld
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: ppmsca 11424 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.11424
ppmsca 11425 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.11425
Port Royal Island - 1. Camp Saxton (Smith's plantation) - the new headquarters of the 1st S.C. Vol. (Colored), Col. Higginson. 2. Mitchelville, the new south village for contrabands, Hilton Head / From sketches by our special artist. Defences of Charleston - the "middle ground" battery, Charleston Harbor / From a sketch by A.P. Palmer, formerly of the Confederate Army. Defences of Charleston - "Folly's battery," near the lighthouse, Charleston Harbor / From a sketch by A.P. Palmer, Co. E, 21st Regt., S.C. (Confederate) Vol. Defences of Charleston - the rebel iron clads in Charleston Harbor - from a sketch [b]y A.P. Palmer, formerly of Company E, 21st Regiment (Confederate) S.C. Vol.
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2014647460/
Reference note
Summary: Illustrations show (top) military camp for 1st South Carolina Infantry Regiment, Union regiment of former slaves, and escaped slaves entering the town of Mitchelville; (middle) batteries; and (bottom) iron clad ships.
Created / Published: [New York] : [Frank Leslie], Feb. 7, 1863.
Subject Headings: - United States.--Army.--South Carolina Volunteers, 1st (1862-1864)--Facilities--South Carolina--Port Royal
- African Americans--Military service--Union--South Carolina--Port Royal--1860-1870
- African Americans--War--South Carolina--1860-1870
- Cities & towns--South Carolina--Mitchellville--1860-1870
- Fugitive slaves--South Carolina--Mitchellville--1860-1870
- Armored vessels--Confederate--South Carolina--Charleston--1860-1870
- Batteries (Weaponry)--South Carolina--Charleston--1860-1870
- Mitchellville (S.C.)--1860-1870
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Military facilities--Union--South Carolina--Port Royal
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Naval operations--Confederate--South Carolina--Charleston
Notes: - Title from item.
- Illus. in: Frank Leslie's illustrated newspaper, v. XV, no. 384 (1863 February 7), p. 316.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: ds 05677 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ds.05677
[2nd South Carolina Infantry Regiment raid on rice plantation, Combahee, South Carolina, and escaped slave named Gordon]
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2014645368/
Reference note
Summary: Top illustration shows slaves escaping to a Union ship as buildings burn in the distance. Three bottom illustrations show an escaped slave in tattered clothing upon his crossing of Union lines, welts from being whipped upon his back, and in uniform after he had joined the Union Army. Text describes his escape as well as forms of brutal punishment suffered by slaves.
Contributor Names: McPherson & Oliver, photographer
Created / Published: New York : Harper's Weekly, July 4, 1863.
Subject Headings: - United States.--Army.--South Carolina Volunteers, 2nd (1863-1864)--Campaigns & battles--Union--South Carolina--Combahee River
- United States.--Army.--People--1860-1870
- African Americans--Military service--1860-1870
- African Americans--Punishment & torture--1860-1870
- Fugitive slaves--Louisiana--Baton Rouge--1860-1870
- Soldiers--Union--1860-1870
- Wounds & injuries--1860-1870
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Military personnel--Union
Notes: - Illus. in: Harper's weekly, v. VII, no. 340 (1863 July 4), p. 429.
- Title devised by Library staff.
- Engravings of escaped slave Gordon made from photographs by McPherson & Oliver.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: ds 05099 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ds.05099
First_South_Carolina_Volunteers_Near_Beaufort__1862-2.jpg
