Often overshadowed by the 54th, the 55th Massachusetts Infantry had an illustrious record of service equal to its predecessor.
Fort Wagner was finally captured in September 1863. Later, it was occupied by both the 54th and 55th Massachusetts Infantry regiments.
- Courtesy of Massachusetts Historical Society
So many men had been recruited for the 54th Massachusetts that a second regiment of African American soldiers was organized. By the end of June 1863, the 55th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was ready for service, and was sent to South Carolina. The regiment was employed in constructing fortifications in Charlest on Harbor during the summer and fall of 1863. The 55th fought bravely in several battles, and lost over 200 men in combat. At the end of the war, the 55th was employed in policing the South Carolina countryside before returning to Boston in September 1865.
- Massachusetts Archives
Th is newspaper clipping describes the presentation of fl ags to the 55th Massachusetts Infantry before it left for the front. Aft er the war, the fl ags donated by the African-American women of Ohio were given to Governor Andrew. Th e national and state fl ags were returned to the Massachusetts State House, where they are kept to this day.
Massachusetts Archives
Detail of “Presentation of Colors to the Fifty-fifth Regiment” This newspaper clipping describes the presentation of flags to the 55th Massachusetts Infantry before it left for the front. After the war, the flags donated by the African-American women of Ohio were given to Governor Andrew. The national and state flags were returned to the Massachusetts State House, where they are kept to this day.
This return lists the numbers of men enlisted in the 55th Regiment and gives their places of birth. More than half the states in the Union were represented in the regiment, along with Canada and Africa.
- Massachusetts Archives Document conserved through the generosity of the Military Historical Society of Massachusetts.