NEW RELEASES FOR NOVEMBER 2019
THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
The 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
The 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that saw extensive service
in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The unit was the first African-American regiment organized in the northern states during the Civil War.
Authorized by the Emancipation proclamation, the regiment consisted of African-American enlisted men
commanded by white officers.
The regiment's first battlefield action took place in a skirmish with Confederate troops on James Island, South Carolina, on July 16. The regiment stopped a Confederate assault, losing 42 men in
the process.
The regiment gained recognition on July 18, 1863, when it spearheaded an assault on Fort Wagner near Charleston, South Carolina. 270 of the 600 men who charged Fort Wagner were "killed,
wounded or captured." 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 270 would be the highest total for the 54th in a single engagement during the war.
Although Union forces were not able to take and hold the fort (despite taking a portion of the walls in the initial assault), the 54th was widely acclaimed for its valor during the battle, and the event helped
encourage the further enlistment and mobilization of African-American troops, a key development that President Abraham Lincoln once noted as helping to secure the final victory.
Decades later, Sergeant William Harvey Carney was awarded the Medal of Honor for grabbing
the U.S. flag as the flag bearer fell, carrying the flag to the enemy ramparts and back, and singing
"Boys, the old flag never touched the ground!"
While other African Americans had since been granted the award by the time it was
presented to Carney, Carney's is the earliest action for which the Medal of Honor was awarded to an African American.
The service of the 54th Massachusetts, particularly their charge at Fort Wagner, soon became one of the most famous episodes of the war, interpreted through artwork, poetry and song. More recently, the 54th Massachusetts gained prominence through the award-winning film Glory.
54MASS-04
THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR 1861 - 1865
The 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
2 Wounded Infantry.
(3pcs)
The South Carolina Zouave Volunteers.
Hampton's Legion was an American Civil War military unit of the Confederate States of America, organized and partially financed by wealthy South Carolina planter Wade Hampton III. Initially composed of infantry, cavalry, and artillery battalions, elements of Hampton's Legion participated in virtually every major campaign in the Eastern Theater, from the first to the last battle.
A legion historically consisted of a single integrated command, with individual components including infantry, cavalry, and artillery. The concept of a multiple-branch unit was never a practical application for Civil War armies and, early in the war, the individual elements were assigned to other organizations.
The South Carolina Zouave Volunteers formed company H of the infantry battalion of Hampton’s Legion. They adopted a grey jacked trimmed with blue, yellow woolen pantaloons, white canvas gaiters, and a red fez, with dark blue tassels.
The South Carolina Zouave Volunteers were formed in 1861 at Columbia, South Carolina. They had intended to move immediately to join the Infantry Battalion of Hampton's Legion but at the time of the companies formation there was a measles outbreak in Columbia and they were detained.
After they were released from the temporary quarantine they were move to the Coastline between Charleston and Savannah by order of the Governor.
In July of 1862 the company finally joined the Legion in Virginia and was designated as Company H of the Infantry Battalion. In May of 1864 it was decided to mount the Infantry Battalion of the legion and a detachment, under Lieutenant Welch, was sent to Columbia to secure horses.
They surrendered with the Army of Northern Virginia on April 10th, 1865 at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia.
CSHZ-08
THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR 1861 - 1865
HAMPTON’S LEGION,
The South Carolina Zouave Volunteers.
2 INFANTRY ADVANCING.
(2 pcs)
THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
The 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
The 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that saw extensive service
in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The unit was the first African-American regiment organized in the northern states during the Civil War.
Authorized by the Emancipation proclamation, the regiment consisted of African-American enlisted men
commanded by white officers.
The regiment's first battlefield action took place in a skirmish with Confederate troops on James Island, South Carolina, on July 16. The regiment stopped a Confederate assault, losing 42 men in
the process.
The regiment gained recognition on July 18, 1863, when it spearheaded an assault on Fort Wagner near Charleston, South Carolina. 270 of the 600 men who charged Fort Wagner were "killed,
wounded or captured." 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 270 would be the highest total for the 54th in a single engagement during the war.
Although Union forces were not able to take and hold the fort (despite taking a portion of the walls in the initial assault), the 54th was widely acclaimed for its valor during the battle, and the event helped
encourage the further enlistment and mobilization of African-American troops, a key development that President Abraham Lincoln once noted as helping to secure the final victory.
Decades later, Sergeant William Harvey Carney was awarded the Medal of Honor for grabbing
the U.S. flag as the flag bearer fell, carrying the flag to the enemy ramparts and back, and singing
"Boys, the old flag never touched the ground!"
While other African Americans had since been granted the award by the time it was
presented to Carney, Carney's is the earliest action for which the Medal of Honor was awarded to an African American.
The service of the 54th Massachusetts, particularly their charge at Fort Wagner, soon became one of the most famous episodes of the war, interpreted through artwork, poetry and song. More recently, the 54th Massachusetts gained prominence through the award-winning film Glory.
54MASS-04
THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR 1861 - 1865
The 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
2 Wounded Infantry.
(3pcs)
The South Carolina Zouave Volunteers.
Hampton's Legion was an American Civil War military unit of the Confederate States of America, organized and partially financed by wealthy South Carolina planter Wade Hampton III. Initially composed of infantry, cavalry, and artillery battalions, elements of Hampton's Legion participated in virtually every major campaign in the Eastern Theater, from the first to the last battle.
A legion historically consisted of a single integrated command, with individual components including infantry, cavalry, and artillery. The concept of a multiple-branch unit was never a practical application for Civil War armies and, early in the war, the individual elements were assigned to other organizations.
The South Carolina Zouave Volunteers formed company H of the infantry battalion of Hampton’s Legion. They adopted a grey jacked trimmed with blue, yellow woolen pantaloons, white canvas gaiters, and a red fez, with dark blue tassels.
The South Carolina Zouave Volunteers were formed in 1861 at Columbia, South Carolina. They had intended to move immediately to join the Infantry Battalion of Hampton's Legion but at the time of the companies formation there was a measles outbreak in Columbia and they were detained.
After they were released from the temporary quarantine they were move to the Coastline between Charleston and Savannah by order of the Governor.
In July of 1862 the company finally joined the Legion in Virginia and was designated as Company H of the Infantry Battalion. In May of 1864 it was decided to mount the Infantry Battalion of the legion and a detachment, under Lieutenant Welch, was sent to Columbia to secure horses.
They surrendered with the Army of Northern Virginia on April 10th, 1865 at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia.
CSHZ-08
THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR 1861 - 1865
HAMPTON’S LEGION,
The South Carolina Zouave Volunteers.
2 INFANTRY ADVANCING.
(2 pcs)
