On July 18, 1863, the 54th Regiment, (the first black soldiers to fight in the Civil War) led by the Bostonian Commander Robert Gould Shaw, led the attack on Fort Wagner. The brave soldiers ran into a storm of artillery and rifle fire. Half of the men (including Shaw) died before reaching the fort itself. The half that did reach the fort overtook part of it before nightfall but had to retreat because of heavy fire. Shaw was from an abolitionist family, and was out to prove blacks would fight equally well for their country and freedom.
"Through the cannon smoke of that
dark night, the manhood of the colored races stands before many eyes that
would not see."
-Atlantic Monthly