Comments on: Glory and Tarheels http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/2009/07/18/glory-and-tarheels/ The Order of Civil War Obsessively Compulsed - Informed Amateurs Blog the American Civil War Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:01:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Will Hickox http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/2009/07/18/glory-and-tarheels/comment-page-1/#comment-5286 Will Hickox Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:00:06 +0000 http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/?p=6974#comment-5286 We must also not forget the majority of USCT regiments, who were stuck in garrisons and saw little or no combat, but were every bit as courageous and dedicated as the 54th. If I remember correctly, the 14th Rhode Island Heavy Artillery was left to rot in the defenses of New Orleans for most of their enlistment, yet suffered more deaths than any other Union regiment--over 800 died of disease. And how many remember them? We must also not forget the majority of USCT regiments, who were stuck in garrisons and saw little or no combat, but were every bit as courageous and dedicated as the 54th. If I remember correctly, the 14th Rhode Island Heavy Artillery was left to rot in the defenses of New Orleans for most of their enlistment, yet suffered more deaths than any other Union regiment–over 800 died of disease. And how many remember them?

]]> By: Will Hickox http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/2009/07/18/glory-and-tarheels/comment-page-1/#comment-5285 Will Hickox Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:53:42 +0000 http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/?p=6974#comment-5285 As we all know, popular culture favors a single dramatic episode as opposed to the full story, which requires patient study and is often anticlimactic. Witness the 54th after Wagner, the long, hard slog in Europe after D-Day, Iwo Jima after the flag-raising...the list goes on. As we all know, popular culture favors a single dramatic episode as opposed to the full story, which requires patient study and is often anticlimactic. Witness the 54th after Wagner, the long, hard slog in Europe after D-Day, Iwo Jima after the flag-raising…the list goes on.

]]> By: admin http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/2009/07/18/glory-and-tarheels/comment-page-1/#comment-5283 admin Tue, 21 Jul 2009 01:13:35 +0000 http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/?p=6974#comment-5283 Will, Thanks for the clarification. With that said, I didn't think your earlier comments were critical of Fred at all. You make a good point about the popularity of the 54th in comparison to many USCT and other African-American regiments. I think the story of the USCT regiments at New Market Heights during the Petersburg Campaign is a great example of what you're saying. Brett Will,

Thanks for the clarification. With that said, I didn’t think your earlier comments were critical of Fred at all. You make a good point about the popularity of the 54th in comparison to many USCT and other African-American regiments. I think the story of the USCT regiments at New Market Heights during the Petersburg Campaign is a great example of what you’re saying.

Brett

]]> By: Will Hickox http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/2009/07/18/glory-and-tarheels/comment-page-1/#comment-5280 Will Hickox Mon, 20 Jul 2009 03:09:29 +0000 http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/?p=6974#comment-5280 I think I should add that I did not intend my above remarks to be critical of Fred Ray, just the state of CW studies in general. I think I should add that I did not intend my above remarks to be critical of Fred Ray, just the state of CW studies in general.

]]> By: Will Hickox http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/2009/07/18/glory-and-tarheels/comment-page-1/#comment-5279 Will Hickox Mon, 20 Jul 2009 03:07:10 +0000 http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/?p=6974#comment-5279 It's unfortunate, but hardly surprising, that the gallantry of the 54th Massachusetts has totally eclipsed the sacrifice of the other Union troops who made the doomed assault. Whenever mention is made of Ft. Wagner we must hear about the 54th and Col. Shaw "as depicted in the film 'Glory'" as if there is any history enthusiast who hasn't already heard of the film. Similarly, the not-so-glamorous service of the 54th after Wagner is also usually ignored. It’s unfortunate, but hardly surprising, that the gallantry of the 54th Massachusetts has totally eclipsed the sacrifice of the other Union troops who made the doomed assault. Whenever mention is made of Ft. Wagner we must hear about the 54th and Col. Shaw “as depicted in the film ‘Glory’” as if there is any history enthusiast who hasn’t already heard of the film. Similarly, the not-so-glamorous service of the 54th after Wagner is also usually ignored.

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