Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Regiment

The Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Regiment, immortalized in the movie "Glory", had about a dozen men from Salem serving in the regiment, or in the 55th

another of the first all-black infantries to fight in the Civil War. They were laborers, stone workers, barbers and tinsmiths, according to the records from

the Salem Maritime National Historic Site. There is a soldier's lot at Harmony Grove cemetery, where many are buried, as well as Luis F. Emilio, the highest ranked

officer left standing after the attack at the 2nd Battle of Fort Wagner. He wrote a book about the regiment called "A Brave Black Regiment."

Some of the others who were in the regiment were George Coburn, Charles Cassell, James Fountain, Jacob Chase and Latania Steward.

See Also

History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865 Luis Emilio, 1894

A Brave Black Regiment: history of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Luis Emilio, 1969

Vertical File in Salem Collection- Veterans

"Fabled black regiment has roots here" Salem News, Jan. 19, 2009, p. 1

"Park Service aims to retrace city's longtime black history" Salem News, Sept. 5, 1998, p. A1