A Noble Experiment: Buckeyes in the 54th Massachusetts Depart for War

In the spring of 1863, Governor John Andrew of Massachusetts took on the task of raising the first regiments of colored troops raised in the Northern states. The first of these, the 54th Massachusetts, had men enlist in its ranks from all over the North and South, from as far west as Iowa and as far south as Louisiana.  The recruiting effort for the 54th Massachusetts kicked into gear in Ohio in mid-April 1863 and as a result, most of the Ohio enlistees were assigned to companies G (mustered in April 23rd with 32 Ohioans), I (mustered in May 13th with 34 Ohioans), and K (mustered in May 13th with 36 Buckeyes), although a few men also served in Cos. C, D, E, F, and H.  A.P. Dunlap, an agent for the Massachusetts Military Committee, set up his office in Columbus and worked with local leaders to encourage enlistments. “The pay, rations, clothing, term of enlistment, and land bounty will be the same as in all other regiments of volunteers,” he wrote. “Each recruit with receive $100 from the United States on his discharge and $50 from the state of Massachusetts when mustered in. The camp is at Readville near Boston, Massachusetts where all brave, freedom-loving colored men are invited to repair without delay and enroll themselves with the host that shall do or die for freedom.”[1]

 

The 54th Massachusetts marching through Boston on May 28, 1863 as depicted in the movie Glory.


          All told, at least 150 of the soldiers of the 54th Massachusetts claimed Ohio as their home when they enlisted. Of those 150 men, 29 of them hailed from Cincinnati or Hamilton County, but there were also sizable contingents from nearby Butler Co. (14 men), Greene Co. (Wilberforce and Xenia provided 15 men), 14 from Cleveland, 13 from Oberlin in Lorain Co., and a dozen from Columbus. As shown on the map below, the majority of the enlistments for the 54th Massachusetts in Ohio came from the southwestern portion of the state.

 

Through the months of April and May, more than 800 black recruits passed through Cleveland destined to join the 54th and later the 55th Massachusetts regiment, the 55th having more than 300 Ohioans in its ranks. Governor David Tod encouraged these enlistments and had a couple of reasons for doing so: he was a staunch supporter of the war effort, but secondly, the enlistment of black soldiers helped meet the quota from the War Department for recruits. Increased enlistments from Ohio would reduce the number of white men (and voters) who would be drafted to meet the quota. In June 1863, Governor Tod, seeing the success Massachusetts enjoyed with raising colored troops, started efforts to raise a regiment of colored troops in Ohio. The resulting 127th Ohio Volunteer Infantry later mustered into service as the 5th U.S. Colored Troops and served with distinction in the eastern theater.

 

At Camp Readville, the 54th Massachusetts quickly took shape. By the end of April, the regiment received 950 Enfield rifles and by May 11th the regiment’s ranks were full, with later arriving recruits going into the 55th Massachusetts. On May 18, 1863, the regiment received its colors in an impressive and well-attended ceremony. “The day was fine and cloudless,” remembered Captain Luis Emilio. “Very early, friends of the command began to arrive in private carriages and by the extra trains run to Readville.” Among the prominent individuals in attendance included Frederick Douglass (his son Lewis was sergeant major of the 54th), William Lloyd Garrison, Wendell Phillips, and Governor John Andrew who presented the colors.[2]

54th Massachusetts Colors
Massachusetts Historical Society


          “The presentation was one of deep interest, as being the last detail of the full reception of colored men into the ranks of the U.S. Army,” reported the Cleveland Morning Leader. “The flags consisted of the national flag (presented by the young ladies of Boston), the state colors of Massachusetts (presented by the Relief Society of Boston composed of colored ladies), and an emblematic banner representing the Goddess of Liberty and bearing the watchwords “Liberty, Loyalty, and Unity.”[3]

 

          Ten days later, the 54th Massachusetts departed Readville for the front lines in South Carolina where it was slated to join Major General David Hunter’s department and conduct operations against Charleston. “No regiment that has marched to the battlefield has borne such a responsibility as that one which left Boston on Thursday last,” it was reported. “It was the first colored regiment raised in the North and as such, is an experiment, the result of which is to have a great influence upon the duration and conduct of the war. The thousand men who marched through Boston on Thursday last are to show whether the black skin covers as much endurance, courage, sagacity, and discipline as does the lighter cuticle. In them rests in great degree the hope of their race.”[4]

 

          The Boston Journal reported the following concerning the parade of the 54th Massachusetts through the streets of Boston: “The regiment broke camp at an early hour in the morning and took the cars for Boston. The training them reached the depot in the city soon after 9 o’clock. At first, it had been arranged to have the regiment march direct to the wharf to embark, but so great was the desire to see them, not only of the people of Boston but all of the neighboring towns, that it was decided to afford the opportunity. Arrangements were accordingly made for a review on the Common by Governor Andrew. One hundred policemen were detailed to clear the streets on the route and keep the lines at the parade ground on the Common,” it reported.

 

Governor John Andrew


“At the depot a large crowd had collected, and the regiment was received with hearty cheers and other demonstrations of welcome. A line was formed and the command at once took up the march through the following streets: Pleasant, Boylston, Essex, Chauncy, Summer, High, Federal, Franklin, Washington, School, Tremont, Pemberton Square, Somerset, and Beacon Streets to the State House. All along the route the sidewalks were crowded. Men cheered, and women waved their handkerchiefs, many of them more enthusiastically then ever they had done before. There was nowhere along the line a word of disapproval nor a sneer heard, not an unkind word expressed. In Essex Street, a lady presented Colonel [Robert G.] Shaw with a bouquet.”

 

“The regiment halted in front of the State House a few moments, allowing a good opportunity for the friends of the men to say a few parting words to them. Most of them [the soldiers], however, are strangers here and recognized no familiar faces in the crowds that gathered around. A little after 10 o’clock, the regiment marched down the street escorting Governor Andrew who was accompanied by most of the members of his staff. They entered the Common at the Charles Street gate. Every place overlooking the parade ground had long been thronged with people. Among those present were most of the men and women of Massachusetts who have been prominent in the anti-slavery movement including [William Lloyd] Garrison, Edmund Quincy, and Frederick Douglass,” it stated.

 

“At 11 o’clock, the regiment again took its place in line and was reviewed by Governor Andrew. The men then passed in review by companies before him and though the lines were by no means perfect, they marched in good time and wheeled with a readiness which showed that they had a clear idea of what was required and only needed a little more practice to equal the best regiments that have left the state. The regiment then left the Common by the West Street gate and marched down Tremont, Court, State, and Commercial Streets to Battery Wharf. As on the route to the Common, so were these streets thronged with approving multitudes who cheered as they went marching on. The regiment reached the wharf at 20 minutes before 1 o’clock,” the Journal reported.[5]

 

Among the Buckeyes who marched through Boston Common in the ranks of the 54th Massachusetts was Private Addison White of Co. E from Mechanicsburg who recorded his impressions. “On our arrival in Boston, it seemed as though business was entirely suspended, and everybody was in the streets. No regiment ever was received with such enthusiasm as we were. After passing through the most popular streets, we were next marched in companies to the front of the State House. There we were joined by the Governor and staff in full dress and escorted to Boston Common. There we were received by His Excellency in the presence of a multitude of people that I can compare to nothing but those that greeted Pompey when he triumphantly entered Rome after the Mithridatic War with three kings to adorn his train,” White stated.[6]

 

Private Addison White, Co. E


          “We boarded a steamer between the hours of 3 and 4 o’clock and believe me, we had a sublime voyage of seven days to Hilton Head,” remembered Private Napoleon Rector of Co. F from Sandusky. “Here we weighed anchor three or four hours and then coasted on to Beaufort where we found the 2nd South Carolina regiment which had just returned from an expedition of capturing some 800 slaves whom they intend making soldiers.”[7] The Port Royal-based newspaper the New South welcomed the arrival of the 54th. “The new steamer De Molay arrived at this port on Wednesday afternoon last [June 3rd] bringing the 54th Massachusetts, one of the Northern installments to the Negro Brigade in this department,” it stated. “After communicating with the shore, she proceeded to Beaufort where the regiment was debarked and placed in camp. The 54th attracted very general attention by their soldierly bearing as they marched through the streets of Beaufort which were never before trod by as many free-born colored people since the ancestors of the chivalry founded it.”[8]

 

The table below, drawn from Luis Emilio’s roster in A Brave Black Regiment: A History of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865, lists all of the known Ohio soldiers that served within the ranks of the 54th Massachusetts. The list is organized by alphabetical order by county, then by town.

 

Ohio Soldiers in the 54th Massachusetts

Soldier                                                        Residence at time of enlistment

Private William Hall, Co. D                         Lima, Allen Co., Ohio

 

Private Sylvester Webber, Co. G                  Ripley, Brown Co., Ohio

 

Private Andrew H. Betenbough, Co. I           Hamilton, Butler Co., Ohio

Corporal Randolph Brady, Co. I*                 Hamilton, Ohio

Private Joseph Johnson, Co. I*                     Hamilton, Ohio

Private Robert J. Jones, Co. I*                      Hamilton, Ohio

Private George Madrey, Co. I                       Hamilton, Ohio

Private William Pillow, Co. I*                      Hamilton, Ohio

Private John Williamson, Co. I*                   Hamilton, Ohio

Private George Cowen, Co. I                        Oxford, Butler Co., Ohio

Sergeant Amos Hall, Co. I*                          Oxford, Ohio

Private Levi Jackson, Co. I                           Oxford, Ohio

Private Alvus McPherson, Co. I*                  Oxford, Ohio

Private John Myers, Co. I                             Oxford, Ohio

Private Henry Russell, Co. I                         Oxford, Ohio

Corporal Abram C. Simms, Co. I                 Oxford, Ohio

Private James Townsend, Co. I                     Oxford, Ohio

 

Private William Fowlis, Co. G*                   Champaign Co., Ohio

Private Addison White, Co. E                      Mechanicsburg, Champaign Co., Ohio

Private Joseph Artist, Co. K*                       Urbana, Champaign Co., Ohio

Private Isaac Barrett, Co. E                          Urbana, Ohio

Private Joseph Lowry, Co. E                        Urbana, Ohio

Private William Spain, Co. E                       Urbana, Ohio

Private Jeremiah Thompson, Co. C              Urbana, Ohio

 

 

Private Albert Evans, Co. D                         Springfield, Clark Co., Ohio

Private Charles S. Gamrell, Co. H*              Springfield, Ohio

Private Charles H. Goff, Co. H                     Springfield, Ohio

Private Christopher C. Hart, Co. E               Springfield, Ohio

Private Joseph W. Meeks, Co. E                   Springfield, Ohio

Private Robert Smith, Co. E                         Springfield, Ohio

 

 

Private John Hedgepath, Co. G                    Clinton Co., Ohio

 

Private William Barrett, Co. K                     Salem, Columbiana Co., Ohio

Private William Brady, Co. K*                    Salem, Ohio

Private William J. Smith, Co. K*                 Salem, Ohio

 

Corporal John A. Boulden, Co. G                 Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio

Private Shedrick Conaway, Co. G                Cleveland, Ohio

Private Anthony A. Dean, Co. E                   Cleveland, Ohio

Private William Dorsey, Co. H                     Cleveland, Ohio

Private Alexander Hunter, Co. H                  Cleveland, Ohio

Private Francis Lowe, Co. F*                       Cleveland, Ohio

Private George Parker, Co. E*                      Cleveland, Ohio

Private Edward Pegram, Co. H*                   Cleveland, Ohio

Private William Pleasant, Co. H                   Cleveland, Ohio

Private William Princeton, Co. E*                Cleveland, Ohio

Private Joseph T. Richardson, Co. E             Cleveland, Ohio

Private Robert Smith, Co. H                         Cleveland, Ohio

Private John Soward, Co. G                         Cleveland, Ohio

Private James W. Vorce, Co. H                    Cleveland, Ohio

 

Private James M. Rickman, Co. K                Greenville, Darke Co., Ohio

 

Private Henry W. Worthington, Co. H          Defiance, Defiance Co., Ohio

 

Private Napoleon B. Rector, Co. F               Sandusky, Erie Co., Ohio

 

Private John Bass, Co. I                               Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio

Private Thomas Betts, Co. I                          Columbus, Ohio

Private Thomas Beverly, Co. I*                    Columbus, Ohio

Private James E. Freeman, Co. I*                 Columbus, Ohio

Private William Lee, Co. I                            Columbus, Ohio

Private Samuel Lomack, Co. K                    Columbus, Ohio

Private Varnale W. Mayho, Co. I                 Columbus, Ohio

Private William P. Milton, Co. I                   Columbus, Ohio

Private Henry Simpson, Co. G                     Columbus, Ohio

Private Louis Smith, Co. I                            Columbus, Ohio

Private Samuel Duncan, Co. G                     Franklin Co., Ohio

Private Leander L. Howard, Co. G               Oakland, Franklin Co., Ohio

 

 

Corporal William H. Brown, Co. K              Wilberforce, Greene Co., Ohio

Corporal Charles M. Holloway, Co. K          Wilberforce, Ohio

Private William Anderson, Co. E                 Xenia, Greene Co., Ohio

First Sergeant James W. Bush, Co. K           Xenia, Ohio

Sergeant Asa Cotton, Co. K                         Xenia, Ohio

Private George Evans, Co. G                        Xenia, Ohio

Private Richard Evans, Co. G                       Xenia, Ohio

Corporal Henry A. Field, Co. K*                  Xenia, Ohio

Sergeant James Hewett, Co. K                     Xenia, Ohio

Corporal Thomas Hewett, Co. K                  Xenia, Ohio

Private Thomas Lawrence, Co. G                 Xenia, Ohio

Private Jesse Mahan, Co. K                          Xenia, Ohio

Private Rudolphus Cotney, Co. C*               Greene Co., Ohio

Private Joseph Evins, Co. C                         Greene Co., Ohio

Private George Remsley, Co. C                    Greene Co., Ohio

 

Sergeant Thomas Bowman, Co. I                 Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio

Private Henry C. Charleton, Co. I*               Cincinnati, Ohio

Private James Cleveland, Co. G                   Cincinnati, Ohio

Private Samuel Coleman, Co. I                     Cincinnati, Ohio

Private Lloyd Cooper, Co. K                        Cincinnati, Ohio

Private Henry Craig, Co. K*                        Cincinnati, Ohio

Private Henry Ellis, Co. G                            Cincinnati, Ohio

Private William Ellis, Co. G*                       Cincinnati, Ohio

Private Thomas Floyd, Co. K                       Cincinnati, Ohio

Private Joseph Heuston, Co. K                     Cincinnati, Ohio

Private Joseph R. Holmes, Co. G                  Cincinnati, Ohio

Sergeant Walter Jeffries, Co. H                    Cincinnati, Ohio

Sergeant George Lipscomb, Co. I                 Cincinnati, Ohio

Private Colonel Morgan, Co. K*                  Cincinnati, Ohio

First Sergeant John Morgan, Co. G              Cincinnati, Ohio

Private Benjamin Patten, Co. G                    Cincinnati, Ohio

Private John E. Price, Co. I*                         Cincinnati, Ohio

First Sergeant Jeremiah Rolls, Co. I              Cincinnati, Ohio

Corporal Thomas Shaw, Co. K                     Cincinnati, Ohio

Private John Shrewsbury, Co. I                    Cincinnati, Ohio

Private Baltimore Smith, Co. I*                    Cincinnati, Ohio

Private George Smith, Co. K*                      Cincinnati, Ohio

Private Isaac Smith, Co. G                           Cincinnati, Ohio

Private Allen W. Stevenson, Co. K*             Cincinnati, Ohio

Private James Walker, Co. G                        Cincinnati, Ohio

Private Charles C. Watt, Co. I                      Cincinnati, Ohio

Sergeant Major John A. Wilson                   Cincinnati, Ohio

Private George Weaver, Co. K                     Mount Healthy, Hamilton Co., Ohio

Private Charles A. Williams, Co. G              Mount Healthy, Ohio

 

Private Benjamin B. De Baptist, Co. K         Mount Pleasant, Jefferson Co., Ohio

Private William Jones, Co. G                       Mount Pleasant, Ohio

Private Isaac Smith, Co. G                           Mount Pleasant, Ohio

Private John A. Brown, Co. F                      Steubenville, Jefferson Co., Ohio

 

Corporal John W. Allen, Co. G                    Logan Co., Ohio

 

Private Joseph Asberry, Co. F                      Oberlin, Lorain Co., Ohio

Sergeant John L. Barker, Co. G                    Oberlin, Ohio

Private James E. Brown, Co. F                     Oberlin, Ohio

Private Benjamin Green, Co. I                      Oberlin, Ohio

Private Harrison Nichols, Co. G*                 Oberlin, Ohio

Private Henry J. Patterson, Co. F                  Oberlin, Ohio

Private Henry T. Peal, Co. F*                       Oberlin, Ohio

Private Oliver B. Ridgeway, Co. F*             Oberlin, Ohio

Private William Rutledge, Co. G                  Oberlin, Ohio

Private Albert G. Wall, Co. G                       Oberlin, Ohio

Sergeant John Wall, Co. G                           Oberlin, Ohio

Private Edward Williams, Co. F*                 Oberlin, Ohio

Private Isaiah Wilson, Co. F                         Oberlin, Ohio

 

Private Henry Brown, Co. K                        Toledo, Lucas Co., Ohio

Private George King, Co. K*                        Toledo, Ohio

Private Lewis G. Munroe, Co. K                  Toledo, Ohio

Private George W. Smith, Co. K                  Toledo, Ohio

Private Edward Stone, Co. K                        Toledo, Ohio

Private Harvey White, Co. K                        Toledo, Ohio

Private George Wilson, Co. K                      Toledo, Ohio

 

Private John Churchman, Co. K                   Carthagenia, Mercer Co., Ohio

Private Cato Chaney, Co. D                         Mercer Co., Ohio

Private Robert Cragg, Co. D                        Mercer Co., Ohio

Private Benjamin Hogan, Co. D *                 Mercer Co., Ohio

Private Wiley Jordan, Co. D                         Mercer Co., Ohio

 

Private Thomas Asbury, Co. I                      Dayton, Montgomery Co., Ohio

Private Stephen Franklin, Co. G                   Dayton, Ohio

Sergeant Joseph A. Palmer, Co. K                Dayton, Ohio

 

Private John W. Harper, Co. K                     Zanesville, Muskingum Co., Ohio

 

Private David McCowan, Co. K                   Morning Sun, Preble Co., Ohio

Private Robert McJohnson, Co. K*              Preble Co., Ohio

 

Private Elias Artis, Co. D                             Shelby Co., Ohio

Private Hezekiah Stewart, Co. D                  Shelby Co., Ohio

 

Private William Thompson, Co. E                Thomas, Ohio

 

First Sergeant Fielding C. Brown, Co. G      Lebanon, Warren Co., Ohio

Private Lewis Clark, Co. C*                         Lebanon, Ohio

Private Stephen Depp, Co. C                        Lebanon, Ohio

 

Private Nathan Brown, Co. E                       Bryan, Williams Co., Ohio

 

*Died in the service

 

Allen Co.              1

Brown Co.            1

Butler Co.             15

Champaign Co.              7

Clark Co.              6

Clinton Co.           1

Columbiana Co.             3

Cuyahoga Co.                14

Darke Co.             1

Defiance Co.                  1

Erie Co.                          1

Franklin Co.          12

Greene Co.            15

Hamilton Co.                 29

Jefferson Co.                  4

Logan Co.             1

Lorain Co.            13

Lucas Co.             7

Mercer Co.            5

Montgomery Co.   3

Muskingum Co.              1

Preble Co.             2

Shelby Co.            2

Thomas, OH                   1

Warren Co.           3

Williams Co.                  1

Total Enlistments: 150

 


[1] “Black Regiments,” Cleveland Morning Leader, April 29, 1863, pg. 2

[2] Emilio, Luis F. A Brave Black Regiment: History of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-65. Boston: The Boston Book Co., 1894, pg. 24

[3] “Presentation of a Flag to the Colored Regiment,” Cleveland Morning Leader, May 26, 1863, pg. 1

[4] “Departure of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment for the War,” Cleveland Morning Leader, June 1, 1863, pg. 2

[5] “Departure of the 54th,” op. cit.

[6] “Letter from Addison White,” Urbana Citizen & Gazette, October 22, 1863, pg. 1

[7] “Letter from the 54th (Colored) Mass.,” Urbana Citizen & Gazette, July 9, 1863, pg. 3

[8] “The New South,” Cleveland Morning Leader, June 23, 1863, pg. 3

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