CDV Image of Governor Andrews, 54th Mass.

Original Civil War CDV image of Governor John A. Andrew, responsible for raising the 54th Massachusetts Infantry (Colored). Click photo and "Detailed Description".

CDV image of Massachusetts Governor John A. Andrew. It is the typical period size of approximately 2 ½” x 4”, having the corners trimmed which was common for the era for insertion into an album. On the back is the photographers mark “Joseph Ward, / 125 Washington Street / Boston”. 

In January 1863, Secretary of War Stanton finally gave Andrew authorization to form regiments that could "include persons of African descent”. The governor had long been an advocate of raising black regiments from the free black population. He felt the surest path to citizenship for black Americans was for them to be allowed to fight and die for their freedom and their country. Andrew chose the white officers for the new black regiment from wealthy families prominent in the abolition movement in his state. These families could also be counted on to help finance the enlistment and outfitting of the troops. He solicited the aid of Frederick Douglass and other well known black abolitionists in attracting the cream of the black population for the new regiment. Two of Douglass's sons joined the regiment. 

Given the considerable opposition in the North to the idea of making soldiers of blacks, the new regiment was seen as a good test of the fitness of black men as soldiers and citizens. Supporters of the regiments spared no expense in the effort to prove that blacks were equal to the test. The 54th Massachusetts would be the first black regiment recruited in the North. Col. Robert Gould Shaw, the 25 year old son of very wealthy abolitionist parents, was chosen to command. On May 28, the well equipped and drilled 54th paraded through the streets of Boston under the review of Andrew, and then boarded ships bound for the coast of South Carolina. Their first conflict with Confederate soldiers came on July 16, when the regiment repelled an attack on James Island. But on July 18 came the supreme test of the courage and valor of the black soldiers; they were chosen to lead the assault on Battery Wagner, a Confederate fort on Morris Island at Charleston. In addressing his soldiers before leading them in a charge across the beach, Colonel Shaw said, "I want you to prove yourselves. The eyes of thousands will look on what you do tonight." 

More than a 140 years after the war, the Fifty-fourth remains the most famous black regiment, due largely to the popularity of the movie "Glory", which recounts the story of the regiment prior to and including the attack on Battery Wagner. This rare image is in very nice condition and would make a nice addition to any Civil War collection.