Civil War's First Black Regiment - New Bedford, MA
Posted by: 
Metro2
N 41° 38.128 W 070° 55.485
19T E 339686 N 4611093
The first enlistment office to recruit Black soldiers into the United States Army happened here during the Civil War.
Waymark Code: WMKEJM
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 03/31/2014
Views: 4
A placard at the site reads:
"CIVIL WAR'S FIRST BLACK REGIMENT
Near this spot, in February 1863, a recruiting office opened
to enlist men for the first black regiment authorized to fight
for the Union cause. The men who volunteered here
formed Company C of the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts.
If captured, these recruits faced the prospect of execution
or slavery. Yet by the end of the war more than 185,000
African Americans had volunteered for the Union Army
and Navy.
'When the 54th marched through the streets of this town, the citizens and soldiers lined the walks , to get a look at the first black regiment from the North...
We leave tonight for, the Lord knows where, but we shall try to uphold the honor of the Old Bay State wherever we go.'
Corporal James Henry Gooding, Beaufort, South Carolina, June 8, 1863."
The placard also has photos of two sildiers and a minister as well as a copy of a recruitment ad from a newspaper.
The placard was placed by the New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park
Agency Responsible for Placement: National Park Service
Agency Responsible for Placement (if not in list above): N/A
Year Placed: unknown
County: Bristol
City/Town Name: New Bedford
Relevant Web Site: [Web Link]
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