1863 Abraham Lincoln - 54th Massachusetts attacks Fort Wagner

When President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and decided to arm the new black soldiers, it was met with much criticism, both at home and abroad.  There were widespread fears of insurrection and acts of violence.   Today, many now view Lincoln's plan as a stroke of genius and turned the tide of the civil war.  But I think, the real credit belong to the black soldiers such as those in the 54th Massachusetts regiment who displayed great patriotism and heroism as they stormed Fort Wagner.  Their dedication, intelligence and acts of bravery showed the whole world that every man is equal.  It was as Lincoln described, a "new reckoning".

In 1863, Federal soldiers under Brig. General Quincy Gilmore planned to seize Morris Island near the Confederate stronghold at nearby Fort Sumter. Their initial attack failed, and the Confederates continued to occupy Fort Wagner a stronghold created out of sand, earth and palmetto logs. On July 18, after heavy land and sea bombardment subsided, the General Gilmore sent in his regiments led by the 54th Massachusetts regiment. Led by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, the 54th Massachusetts regiment was filled with free African-Americans. It was a political and some thought a military risk, but the men fought valiantly. Despite heavy losses, the men reached and scaled the walls of Fort Wagner and engaged in a bloody hand-to-hand struggle with the Confederate defenders. 1515 federal soldiers, including the 54th Massachusetts were lost in the attack. Fort Wagner was not captured until September of that year, but the black men who served in 54th Massachusetts changed not only military history, but the history of our country as well. 

In a famous letter to Horace Greeley one month before the assault on Fort Wagner,  Lincoln wrote "and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views.".   These black soldiers were given Lincoln a "true view" of their equality, and it proved to be a new reckoning.  The word, "reckoning" means a person's view or judgement.   Lincoln perhaps was not just speaking of a new military force, but a also a new view or judgment that that all men are equal. 

The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was the first African American regiment to be organized in the northern states, and was authorized by the Emancipation Proclamation.   Under the Emancipation Proclamation, blacks from the South were freed from slavery and fought on the side of the Union.   In 1862, when the Union was on the brink of collapse, President Lincoln authorized the proclamation as a military measure to change the tide of the war.  Now, nearly 11 months later, there were 100,000 freed slaves in the military service.   Only half of the had been armed, but in Lincoln's words they proved to be "as good soldiers as any".  Many people had feared that these men would revolt or have tendencies towards violence, but this proved to be false.  The heroism and patriotism of the 54th Massachusetts regiment  put to rest all of the criticism and debate over arming black men.  This debate, both here at home and across Europe as threatening to divide the friend of the Union. Now, there was no denying the intelligence, strength and patriotism of the black soldier, and there was no denying his deserving full equality and full citizenship of the United States.  Lincoln's gamble that these freed slaves would fight for the Union paid off, and the Union now not only had the upper hand militarily, but also the upper hand when it came to abolishing slavery.  As Lincoln said, the "crisis which threatened to divide the friends of the Union is past".

I can't help but think that their valor and dedication made a great impression on President Lincoln. In his 1863 address to congress, he spoke:

"Of those who were slaves at the beginning of the rebellion full 100,000 are now in the United States military service, about one-half of which number actually bear arms in the ranks, thus giving the double advantage of taking so much labor from the insurgent cause and supplying the places which otherwise must be filled with so many white men. So far as tested, it is difficult to say they are not as good soldiers as any. No servile insurrection or tendency to violence or cruelty has marked the measures of emancipation and arming the blacks. These measures have been much discussed in foreign countries, and, contemporary with such discussion, the tone of public sentiment there is much improved. At home the same measures have been fully discussed, supported, criticised, and denounced, and the annual elections following are highly encouraging to those whose official duty it is to bear the country through this great trial. Thus we have the new reckoning. The crisis which threatened to divide the friends of the Union is past."

References

Abrahamlincolnonline.org. (2017). Abraham Lincoln's Letter to Horace Greeley. [online] Available at: http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/greeley.htm [Accessed 14 Dec. 2017].

Civilwar.org. (2017). Fort Wagner | Civil War Trust. [online] Available at: http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/battery-wagner.html?tab=facts [Accessed 14 Dec. 2017].

Presidency.ucsb.edu. (2017). Abraham Lincoln: Third Annual Message. [online] Available at: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=29504 [Accessed 13 Dec. 2017].
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