The refusal of Massachusetts African-American troops to accept pay and bounties that were less than what was given to other regiments meant that many of the soldiers went without pay for almost eighteen months.
Governor Andrew pressured both the state and federal governments to equalize pay and other benefits for the black regiments.
- Engraving by F.T. Stuart from a photo by Black, used as the frontispiece in A History of Massachusetts in the Civil War, written by William Schouler
Despite assurances given to the newly enlisted soldiers of the 54th and 55th infantry regiments that they would receive the same pay, equipment, and bounties as other Massachusetts soldiers, United States paymasters were ordered to pay them three dollars less each month. The men refused to accept the lesser amount. In November 1863, the Massachusetts legislature, at the urging of Governor Andrew, appropriated enough money to make up the diff erence in the soldiers’ pay, but again the regiments refused to accept it. Governor Andrew pressured the federal government to end this discrimination, using Reverend Samuel Harrison of Pittsfield, a chaplain in the 54th Regiment, as a test case. After much wrangling, and a favorable opinion from the U.S. Attorney General, Congress passed legislation in July 1864 that authorized equal pay and benefits for African-American soldiers. The Massachusetts men were paid off in October allowing them to fi nally send money home to their families.
- Massachusetts Archives
After Colonel Shaw received notice from the Paymaster General in Washington that his men would be paid three dollars less than soldiers in other regiments, he wrote to Governor Andrew stating that he thought the soldiers of the 54th Infantry should be mustered out if they did not receive the full pay promised to them.
Massachusetts Archives
Letter of Robert Gould Shaw, July 2, 1863
After Colonel Shaw received notice from the Paymaster General in Washington that his men would be paid three dollars less than soldiers in other regiments, he wrote to Governor Andrew stating that he thought the soldiers of the 54th Infantry should be mustered out if they did not receive the full pay promised to them.
- Massachusetts Archives
Governor Andrew urged the General Court to pass this legislation and an accompanying resolve in November 1863, which stated, “while Massachusetts has undertaken to repair this injustice to a portion of her military contingent, she does so declaring that this duty belongs to the national government, and should be immediately assumed.”
Massachusetts Archives
Act making up the deficiencies in the monthly pay of the 54th and 55th Regiments
Governor Andrew urged the General Court to pass this legislation and an accompanying resolve in November 1863, which stated, “while Massachusetts has undertaken to repair this injustice to a portion of her military contingent, she does so declaring that this duty belongs to the national government, and should be immediately assumed.”
Many of those who marched in these regiments from this Commonwealth, have been worn out in service, or have fallen in battle on James Island, in the assault upon Fort Wagner, or in the aff air of Olustee, yielding up their lives for the defence [sic] of their native country, in which they had felt their share of oppression, but from which they never received justice.
– (Governor Andrew’s letter to President Lincoln, May 13, 1864)
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Samuel Harrison served as chaplain in the 54th Infantry for four months, but received a medical discharge for debility caused by worry over his family’s financial situation. Governor Andrew used Harrison’s case to advance the cause of equal pay
- Courtesy of Museum of African American History
- Massachusetts Archives
Major Sturgis traveled to South Carolina to pay the men the money appropriated by the Massachusetts legislature, but reported back to Governor Andrew that the soldiers would not accept the extra pay because they felt it would legitimize the discrimination of paying the black soldiers a lower rate.
Massachusetts Archives
Letter of Major James Sturgis, December 12, 1863
Major Sturgis traveled to South Carolina to pay the men the money appropriated by the Massachusetts legislature, but reported back to Governor Andrew that the soldiers would not accept the extra pay because they felt it would legitimize the discrimination of paying the black soldiers a lower rate.
- Massachusetts Archives
This letter, written by a private in the 55th Infantry Regiment, expressed the sentiment of the soldiers who refused the additional money raised by Massachusetts, saying that they would stay in the field for three years and still not accept the lower rate of pay.
- Massachusetts Archives Lett er conserved through the generosity of the Military Historical Society of Massachusetts
Letter of Andrew Sinclair, January 5, 1863
This letter, written by a private in the 55th Infantry Regiment, expressed the sentiment of the soldiers who refused the additional money raised by Massachusetts, saying that they would stay in the field for three years and still not accept the lower rate of pay.
- Massachusetts Archives Letter conserved through the generosity of the Military Historical Society of Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Archives
Governor Andrew’s letter to President Abraham Lincoln regarding the Harrison case was printed and widely distributed, to counter complaints of inact ivity on the subject. Th e issue of pay became increasingly important as the months passed and morale in the African-American regiments dropped.
Massachusetts Archives
Letter of Governor Andrew, May 13, 1864
Governor Andrew’s letter to President Abraham Lincoln regarding the Harrison case was printed and widely distributed, to counter complaints of inact ivity on the subject. The issue of pay became increasingly important as the months passed and morale in the African-American regiments dropped.