Correction: I referred to George Crockett Strong as "Colonel" a few times in this video. He was in fact a Brigadier General at the time of the assault on Fort Wagner. As for the burials of the men of the 54th: I've spoken to several people who are some of the leading experts in the world on the Civil War and battlefield preservation. From what they have told me, there's a slightly better than 50/50 chance that Shaw's body now lies in the mass grave at Beaufort National Cemetery. Some of the bodies were recovered from Wagner and relocated there. Many others were washed out to sea.
Absolutely agree with the portrayal of Shaw in Glory. Some people criticize the acting for being stilted and inauthentic, but I think it perfectly portrays what kind of guy Shaw would likely have been: Young, inexperienced, insecure and painfully aware of how he only got his command because he's a rich kid whose dad is a prominent abolitionist. But at the same, determined to do his duty, and keeping up his brave face and officer's authority as well as he can. In the scene where he orders the whipping of Denzel Washington for going AWOL to find shoes, you could just sense his inner conflict without the actor or anyone else speaking a word to indicate it.
The whipping scene was added by Hollywood and drama sake. Col. Shaw would never had flogged a deserter becuase by the time the 54th Massachusetts was formed, the US army had outlawed flogging as a form of punishment
@@raybergooni3393 no necessarily. they did hang or desert soldiers, both sides did, during the Civil War, more soldiers were executed for desertion in the Civil War than in any other US war, but it was not a punishment that was official so to speak. I think that was up to the commanding officer's discretion. The Confederacy added that deserters should be shot in their "Articles of War" but it was rarely done in the first couple of years during the war. During the first two years of the war, military authorities generally treated desertion with leniency and dealt with it by “such other punishment” as the law allowed. Public opinion simply would not tolerate the execution of volunteer soldiers. As U.S. President Abraham Lincoln observed, “You can’t order men shot by dozens or twenties. People won’t stand it.” A convicted deserter in 1862 might, for example, be branded on the hip with the letter “D,” sentenced to a period of hard labor, or subjected to forfeiture of pay and the right to a furlough. Some were dismissed from the service, while others were merely sentenced to wear a placard marked “Deserter.”
Thats why i think the punishment scene was so instilling. You could see he was doing what he thought was wrong but told was right, and Denzel's look forces him to reflect and ask himself the important questions in order to do what he must for the people he is responsible of. He realizes he is just a vessel, but not only for his father's and America's vision, but the hopes and dreams of all of the men who fled among the worst horrors to humans have ever faced in order to fight under HIS command. That his purpose was to be the voice and guide of those who were denied speech, knowledge, and experience.
Broderick said that the final battle and that scene with Shaw sending his horse away and then looking at the ocean, he played it as Shaw believing his destiny was to die that day. And the evidence seems to uphold that view.
@@gruntforever7437 if being a “woke joke” means that I oppose the Commander in Chief (who never served a day in his life, btw) mocking a damned war hero then I’ll wear that badge proudly. I don’t understand where you’re coming from with your comment at all.
@gruntforever7437 I'm a ten year US Army Infantry (11B) veteran, and I was appalled when Trump said that. McCain made two passes at that bridge. He could've made a single pass, then returned to the carrier. He would've avoided being shot down, and no one would've been upset had he done so. He went above and beyond to carry out the mission, and he paid the price. When the North Vietnamese learned that he was the son and grandson of admirals, they offered the option of early release. McCain said that he would stay until everyone who was captured before him was released. How dare Trump say something as thoughtless and shallow as that?
100% agree on Broderick's performance. Perfect scene. I don't even know how he does it, but it's the perfect balance of fear and curage as you say. And, may I add, pride.
One of the most underrated movies of all time for me. Broderick gives such a layered performance of a young man who truly respects his troops and wants to live up to his father's legacy. The dynamic between Washington, Freeman, and Braugher is amazing. Even tho the characters are from an event from 160 years ago it very much displays the challenges African Americans face to this day within their own communities.
@@frankbaptista8334it was a touch battle. Marching and running through sand is way harder than grass and not to mention the canon and musket rounds received. Even though the confederates won the battle the 54th inspired many more black people to join the war.
Glory is one of my favorite movies, just such a powerful story, and told so well by so many great actors. Unfortunately, I had an ancestor on the Confederate side at Wagner (and one at Vicksburg, too), but we can't ignore or try to pretend our history didn't exist. The story of the 54th Massachusetts is one of bravery, courage, and valor, and should live on to be told forever.
I watched it for the first time yesterday. I know a fair bit about the ACW, but didn’t know about the context of the Massachusetts 54th, so the end was quite a shock to me.
I also had a Confederate ancestor at Wagner. After the war he said " We was mad at first it was darkies (excuse the term it's his not mine) attacking us. By the end we was sayin " 'boy them MEN can fight' ." After the war he became an avowed Republican and fought for black rights. One battle turned around his entire thought process.
There is nothing inherently wrong with confederate soldiers. You can hate all you want on the confederate states of America but they are still brave Americans and great soldiers (generally speaking)
I absolutely adore this movie. It was the first major war movie that I saw, as we saw it in a 6th grade history class. I’ll never forget my reaction of “Wait, they lost?!” And that sense of crushing despair yet hope for the future that came with the epilogue
I sensed colonel Shaw was determined to glorify his men and not himself. What a selfless act of valor. I went soft when he look at the ocean as if he knew he would never see it again. I've watched this work three times now trying to feel the dedication and courage it took to attempt this mission. And thanks for the map orientation.
There were people back then who were so horrified of slavery that in that time when maybe ideals existed then that could not exist. Today in our cynical world, I believe there was a simpler noble intention by many people The type who would also be the abolitionist felt it was there. Holy duty to devote their life and even death towards attacking a great injustice that was a stain on the nation and on there personal conscience as well
The 1st Kansas Colored Infantry at the Battle of Baxter Springs was the first African American Unit to see combat. It is a great story and they fought heroically. They eventually were merged with the 79th Regiment USCT. They eventually became Buffalo Soldiers. Their story would make a great movie also.
I saw this movie at the theater when it was released. I had thought of Matthew Broderick as one of those young punk actors, but this movie absolutely changed my opinion of him and his acting. I thought his performance as well as everyone else was outstanding. The scene before the final battle where Broderick dismounts his horse on the beach and sends it running off, is so heartfelt as portrayal of someone about to enter a battle where he knows he's not likely to survive. Thanks for sharing these details of the actual battle.
You could consider the 54th to be an international unit. Many Blacks that were in Canada, especially southern Ontario, decided to sign up once word of the 54th being formed reached them. A great history, and a great movie.
"Following the Civil War, Darien, GA (the town burned in Glory) was rebuilt, with financial aid coming in small part from the family of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. He had been killed during the war but had written to his family of his shame in participating in the destruction of it." wiki
That scene in the movie happened pretty much as it did historically, even down to what the Colonel said to Shaw. Here’s a good article about it. www.masshist.org/beehiveblog/2017/10/the-pretty-little-place-was-burnt-to-the-ground-the-destruction-of-darien-georgia/
I love the story of the 54th and Glory is one of my favorite movies. I pretty much cry through the whole thing every time I watch it. It was amazing going to Boston Common to view the monument to the 54th.
Just a FYI, The medal of Honor was one of the first medals the Army designed and awarded to soldiers. It did not have the same meaning then as it does not. There were many medal recipients then, some for carrying the flag such as shown in the movie. A number of them were rescinded years later. Today, the Medal of Honor is rarely given and has much more deeper meaning and much harder to achieve. Most Medal of Honor recipients today are awarded even though they died in action. Very few living recipients today.
Some of what you commented on is halfway right. The Congressional Medal Of Honor was first created by the Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Wells, in 1861 to be awarded with approval legislation to US Navy and US Marines for extraordinary acts of heroism in combat. Later that year it was extended to the Army The original intent of the medal was to be awarded for extraordinary acts of courage and bravery, but problems arose when it came to recommendations of the medal. The Navy insisted that the person had to be recommended by his commanding officer and there had to be witnesses to the events. It was an extensive application process. The army's requirements for nominating a soldier for the medal were open to greater interpretation. This ambiguity led to the award being bestowed on individuals not regularly enrolled in the military, or for actions not in line with the "above and beyond the call of duty" spirit of the Medal of Honor. Additionally, soldiers could nominate themselves or others long after the Civil War ended, and for actions difficult to document with the passage of time. This led to about 1500 medal of honors awarded to soldiers and even civlians. In 1917 the War Department did an extensive review of the Civil War records and removed 900 medal of honor recipient from the record including all the non military recipients. The people currrntly listed as Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War committed acts of bravery and heroism and deserve the medal. And of course there are only a few remaining living recipients today. People who received them and get old and die ot they were awarded posthumously. There are 64 living recipients of the medal Since the Vietnam War there have been around 30 medal.of honors awarded and 17 to living recipients During WW2 and Korea for some stupid reason the higher up brass in the Pentagon were reluctant to award medals to enlisted personal. They were often downgraded to a lower medal than they were recommended for. Medal of Honors recommendation were given Navy Crosses for Navy amd Marine enlisted, Army enlisted received the Distinguished Service Cross, silver stars received bronze stars etc. My great uncle was nominated for a Congressional Medal Of Honor in Korea for actions in combat along side an officer. My great uncle received the Distinguished service cross while the officer received the Medal of Honor. My great uncle went on to be awarded another Distinguished Service Cross in Vietnam as well as 2 Silver Stars and a bronze star for actions in Veitnam. For standing 5 7 and skinny he was quite the bad ass The Medal of Honor was originally created for extreme acts of heroism in combat but as stated above, the army during the Civil was played loose with the requirements to recieve it, but it got straightened out in 1917
@@provost5752 yes they were defeated but it was a noble, manly attempt, and they marched into history that morning and we remember them today. In your case, in the year 2033 you will be found dead in a basement rented room with your face on the keyboard you'll have had an anuersym while shitposting.
Grew up in MD and we watched this in middle school history. Every single normally rambunctious kid was silent at the end. That movie really is awesome.
It's definitely late, but thanks for this video. My third great-grandfather and three siblings were members of the 54th. They were not at Fort Wagner, as they enlisted in the fall of 1863 out of Vermont, but they did see action at Honey Hills and Olustee later in the war. All four survived and returned to Vermont after the war.
One of my history professor’s at my university was in this movie. He was able to go with 13 of his African American students. I believe he is a captain in the final charge, and is near Cary Elwes.
Thank you! Broderick was a perfect cast for Shaw. This is one of the few movies that still gets me to get emotional when I watch it. Perfect casting for every actor! Mathew definitely delivered. Same as Washington, Freeman, but the unspoken is cary elwes! He did such a phenomenal job! I love this movie. Definitely in my top 3 out of 100. An amazing film.
I am so glad you are reacting to Glory, what an absolutely phenomenal film. When I first saw the Battle of Antietam scene it struck me for how insane the combat was during the Civil War
Thank you for doing the video. I met some of the descendants of this battle. It so sad that we live at a time we’re just simply talking about the contributions of black soldiers is considered a negative to some.
General Strong actually offered the 54th the change to lead the assault, and Colonel Shaw accepted. Shaw as we know died and Strong was mortally wounded in the assault. He spoke highly of the regiment before he died.
Great video and analysis. I'm from England but have always been interested in the Civil War and have visited many of the major battlefields. When my wife and I were on the boat going to visit Fort Sumter there was a terrific thunderstorm - it was a bit like being in a reenactment of the bombardment. When we got there the quide asked who was the President befor Lincoln. I was probably the only Englishman in a group of thirty or so and the only one to know the answer!
Honestly I kinda dig these movie reaction/analysis vids. @VloggingThroughHistory should make videos more on films or scenes within films as they relate to history. Great video.
My greatgrandfather was in the 3rd Brigade in the 97th PA. Apparently they received an order to attack, when an officer rode up and called it off because they feared the Confederate response if it failed. His company was one of the two that spent that night recovering the dead and wounded. Later, the 97th PA served under Grant at Cold Harbor, detached from the Army of the James. Fortunately for me, he was guarding a supply depot to the rear on the river, during Grant's disastrous failed attack. He spent that night moving to the front lines through the wounded and decimated units who were withdrawing. Fortunately Grant called off further attacks. He was also at Petersburg Mine. Hard to know, but he could probably have seen the carnage in the Crater itself. He served his three years and got out in 1864 about a week after Atlanta fell. So he probably knew the Union would win the war. Given the disease in the South and the disastrous battles, he was one lucky guy.
I saw this movie in high school, even though it's an easy day for a teacher I thank him for showing this to me when I was young. Ever since I saw the movie and heard the score I've been drawn back to it over a dozen times whether it be because of the music or because people want to try and re-write history during current events. Never forget why these men fought SOLELY for the North. This is one of the rare instances in history where the oppressed is given an opportunity to fight back and actually wins in the end. The ending is tragic but the events were a catalyst for a significant change within the Union Army ranks.
I spent a week as an extra playing both a Union (115 NY) and Confederate soldier. We were able to watch Broderick in several scenes as bystanders without being chased off. It was quite dangerous as the Fort built on Jeckle Island Ga was just sand piled on a plywood structure. The scene as we stood on the beach was awesome. As the bombardment of the fort ends I played a Confederate seen climbing a ladder up to the parapet. I was able to visit the Monument to the 54th in Boston several years later...
I watched this in 8th-grade history. Great film, and even greater history and bravery on the Union's side. Glad to see one of my favorite history channels cover this masterpiece!
I revisited your previous video on Shaw. As usual, it was great and you tell these personsl stories in such a way, people are drawn in with the emotion you are conveying. Great job, Chris.
How did I miss this video before? I remember reading a book that said Strong ordered Shaw and the 54th in front. I have watched Glory dozens of times. But it was just a few years ago, after becoming a fan of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, that I realized the actor who stood next to Kevin Jarre--and said "There are men dying up that road"--was Mark Margolis, aka Hector Salamanca. RIP.
Hey Chris, I recently visited Charleston and was so interested in the Civil War history there. We visited Sumter, viewed the spot of Wagner across the harbor and Secessionville. Secessionville is a particularly interesting battlefield, only a couple acres but a bloodbath. Warhawk has an amazing video on it, hope all is well!
My G-g-grandfather served in the 62nd Ohio and was wounded "in the arm and side of the head" in this battle. He would be wounded twice more during the war--the last time at Appomattox Court House. Fortunately, he survived the war and returned to Ohio to live out his years as a farmer...and I'm here to remember him.
In the scene with General Strong, et al, I'm the Officer in the middle of the group holding a map. I portrayed Major James E. Place of the 1st New York Engineers, present at the action. The map was a reproduction of the one showing the parallel and approach trenches dug after the action depicted in the movie, but was oriented correctly. Had they shot the movie Wagner from the correct perspective, they would have had to somehow mask the Sidney Lanier Bridge and the city of Brunswick, GA, out of the background. The Wagner scenes were shot on a beach on Jekyll Island, GA. I later participated in the 150th Anniversary Commemoration held as near the site, now mostly washed away, as possible.
Thank you for this! Glory is my favorite move of all time - BY FAR. Loved your comments about Matthew Broderick's very underrated performance - it's note-perfect, as is everyone's in this film. "Faultlessly performed" is what Leonard Maltin said about this film in his 4 out of 4 star review.
Definitely in the top 5 best Civil War movies which specifically focuses on the soldiers themselves. I really wish a movie of the same calibre would be made from the Confederate perspective. As tragic a loss as it was for the Union ( for a minor battle ), it was a great victory for the Confederacy. I've read a couple of memoires from soldiers on both sides. The Confederates, from an operational point of view, were outnumbered 3 to 1 or higher. It was a gallant defense which proves futile when they were forced to leave the fort. Great video. This is the first I have seen from you, and I will definitely be checking out more.
The interesting part about this film is that it doesn't glorify the confederates. Showing the confederates from their perspective is a very slippery slope if not done in an unbiased way, Gods and Generals is proof of that.
I watch Glory twice, and both times i shed tears when the Final Battle at Fort Wagner began. I don't know why, but it always felt deep for me even though i'm not even an African-American. Goes to show you just how powerful the movie was.
Nice work. One of my all-time favs. Amazing cast. Now I finally understand why I could never figure out where they actually were. That scene was on the Ft. Moultrie (wrong) side of the mouth of the harbor.
I watched this movie in the theater when it first came out, but rarely since. The original reason was the heartbreaking ending. But, as I've grown older I've come to understand the greater significance of the sacrifice portrayed in the film. These men, some knowingly, others unknowingly, gave their lives for a future they knew they probably would not live to see. Hearing those words, "If I die tomorrow, I know that I will not die a coward." almost brings tears to my eyes. This is who Black men used to be. Doing their best, giving their all, not just for themselves but for the greater good and their progeny. I know that I benefit from the sacrifices these and so many others made. And still no one understands why it breaks my heart to see what so many modern young Black men have become today.
Really? He's a good man. He gave the regiment their chance and sadly died as a result of this battle. He's buried at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn NY.
I was pleasantly surprised to hear the Salem, Ohio callout in this video. I grew up in Beloit, and never knew there was a member of the 54th buried right down the road from me. This movie woke me up when it came out. I was 10 years old, and have been hooked on history every since. I used to sit in 5th grade class and draw pictures of what happened in this movie.
My G. Grandfather, William G. Mcfarlin was a private in company I, 32nd Georgia Volunteer Infantry. The 32nd arrived by barge towed by a steam tugboat at Battery Wagner as the 54th attacked. The 32nd fought the 54th three times, 1. The bayonet charge in the movie, 2. In Battery Wagner, 3. Battle of Olustee near Jacksonville. The Confederates dug a large trench in the sand for burial of the fallen 54th soldiers. Col. Shaw was placed face down in the pit and his men were tossed on top. Under a flag of truce Union soldiers asked for the body of Shaw. They were told “We buried him with his negroes”. We. Mcfarlin survived the war and passed away about 1908. He is buried in Thomaston, Ga.
@@mitchellsmiley I’m glad to hear from you. I think the Mcfarlins died out in Upson county. Other of my relatives live there. Most of the comments I get are unpleasant.
Just wanna say Glory is one of my top 10 movies of all time..............I rewatch it all the time I just can get through to the end being that the end of the movie always always tears me up knowing what ends up happening to the 54th reg.😢😢😢😮😮.............excellent movie & pretty accurate to real history of the accounts described In this movie...........
Awesome, thanks for the knowledge. I grew up in Mobile, Al where there were 3 forts within driving distance. Fort Morgan, Fort Gaines and Fort Conde. Fort Conde is mostly a rebuild but its on the original ground. Growing up in Mobile I took for granted the history that was right in my face every day. Now I am older and American history is way more interesting to me. I even found some Civil war bullets and a small cannonball on Dauphin Island.
Look up (if available) Broderick episode on one of the genealogy shows. He learned he had an ancestor who fought and was killed in the Civil War. They found his grave in a civil war cemetery, only marked by a number. The show had found records in one location that noted his name and the grave number. The cemetery did not have the information. The episode ended with a proper headstone replacing the number marker.
@@VloggingThroughHistoryI read long ago and then just searched on chat AI that Matthew broderick's mother is related to Robert Shaw so they are ancestors. Was this noted anywhere else or by anyone else? I'm surprised I didn't catch it in this video
Matthew Broderick’s performance was excellent. He was snubbed-he should have at least clinched an Oscar nomination for this. I wonder how much being Brat Pack adjacent hurt his chances… Sure the movie isn’t accurate, beat-for-beat. It was a movie, not a documentary. But it was excellent. And it is the reason why I’ve conducted Civil War research since the first time I saw the movie at the age of 7. This is my all-time favorite film.
I just had this video pop up on my TH-cam feed. Great stuff! I live just south of New Philadelphia, so it's good to see your video for that reason too. I hit the subscribe button.....
I genuinely believe the filmmakers chose to reverse the scene simply because watching people move from left to right is much more satisfying visually due to the way we normally consume information. Reading left to right etc.
Location. To build the Wagner set, and shoot the action from the correct perspective would have place the modern Sidney Lanier Bridge and the city of Brunswick, GA, in the background, and too near and modern to pass for Charleston.
Matthew Broderick was perfect for this role and turns out also had a relative fight at Gettysburg also with 20th CT . he was on" Who do you think you are" in 2010?
Big inaccuracy is charles harker character he never served in the Charleston area and he was in his 30s, charles morse (guy who loses his eye) survived the war his letters helped make the movie.
Morse was an officer in the 2nd Massachusetts that they falsely show as being in the 54th in the movie but yes his letters were a great source of info for the film.
One unit recruited as a result of the 54th’s heroism was the 1st Michigan Colored Volunteer Infantry, accepted into Federal service as the 102nd USCT. They at one point fought alongside the 54th MA. In Ypsilanti MI there is a cemetery (Highland Cemetery)with the unidentified remains of several 102nd troops. There is no one I admire more than these men, who gave up their lives, and even their names, so that all humans may stand up free. Someday, we all will.
I remember watching Glory when I was very young over and over and to this day I’ve probably at least 7 times during the end battle scene just as an adult. And that’s not even counting the times when it was just from listening to the soundtrack lol.
One thing I absolutely love from this story. Later the Commander of Front Wagner would offer to exhume Col Shaw and return his body to his family, but the family refused saying that it was a greater honor that he lay with the men he led. An honor that the Confederates had placed upon him wrongly assuming it was an act of disgrace to be buried in a mass grave with black soldiers. Also the Union did after the war rebury the solders and presumably Shaw in a National Cemetery. Their graves though are marked as Unknow for obvious reasons.
Awesome video as always man! I do want to point out that in the movie, Glory, there are a couple of seconds long scenes where you can see a NY regiment (their regimental flag) in the distance. I only discovered this recently and I think you can catch them while they were mustering for the attack right after Shaw talks to the reporters and during the charge itself when the 54th reaches the moat. Anyways, I grew up watching this movie countless times and I really appreciate the filmmakers for including things like that.
As to the bodies bured in a mass grave in a trench. You are correct, that area is now underwater. Occasionally, humans bones wash up on the beach of Morris Island to this day. Unfortunately, they are not treated with the reverence they deserve. I suspect that most have no idea what it is they have found.
Peter Cozzens" book, A Shipwreck of Their Hopes", gives a good version of what happened at Ft. Pillow. He was no admirer of Confederates, but he writes that the Union soldiers, black and white, got drunk before the fort was surrendered and fired upon the Confederates after the surrender. This enraged the Rebels and led to the massacre. Incidentally, black soldiers also murdered rebel soldiers. War is horrible.
I remember seeing the film in a big cinema very early in my military career, and it made such an impact that it practically formed me as a soldier. The amount of courage you'd need to just march forward into lines of men trying their best to kill you is out of this world! Thinking about what those men, and those of the first on the shores of Normandy, was made of, makes you want to be brave, because anything less would be like spitting on the graves of those who came before us, and is why I still stand to attention and salute when ever I come across a soldiers grave.
I really like this summary. My guess is that if they only had two days of experience, they were likely forced to go first. It seems to me that they'd want their more experienced regiments to go in much later so that they don't be cannon fodder.
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Correction: I referred to George Crockett Strong as "Colonel" a few times in this video. He was in fact a Brigadier General at the time of the assault on Fort Wagner.
As for the burials of the men of the 54th: I've spoken to several people who are some of the leading experts in the world on the Civil War and battlefield preservation. From what they have told me, there's a slightly better than 50/50 chance that Shaw's body now lies in the mass grave at Beaufort National Cemetery. Some of the bodies were recovered from Wagner and relocated there. Many others were washed out to sea.
Ok man🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
I Was Going To Correct You On That But You Correct Your Self 😅😅😅
@Bullrider33Outdoors one more reason to appreciate this guy, he's more than happy to admit his mistakes!
No worries I'm sure I would have done the same as I have "Colonel Strong" Vincent ingrained in my head from Gettysburg.
He's buried at Green-Wood Cemetery. Worth a visit
Absolutely agree with the portrayal of Shaw in Glory. Some people criticize the acting for being stilted and inauthentic, but I think it perfectly portrays what kind of guy Shaw would likely have been: Young, inexperienced, insecure and painfully aware of how he only got his command because he's a rich kid whose dad is a prominent abolitionist. But at the same, determined to do his duty, and keeping up his brave face and officer's authority as well as he can. In the scene where he orders the whipping of Denzel Washington for going AWOL to find shoes, you could just sense his inner conflict without the actor or anyone else speaking a word to indicate it.
The whipping scene was added by Hollywood and drama sake. Col. Shaw would never had flogged a deserter becuase by the time the 54th Massachusetts was formed, the US army had outlawed flogging as a form of punishment
Just another BS Hollywood scene that would have never happened...
@@FeliciaWatkins-o7d I mean yeah they would've just hung him no? seems like a downgrade in drama to me
@@raybergooni3393 no necessarily. they did hang or desert soldiers, both sides did, during the Civil War, more soldiers were executed for desertion in the Civil War than in any other US war, but it was not a punishment that was official so to speak. I think that was up to the commanding officer's discretion. The Confederacy added that deserters should be shot in their "Articles of War" but it was rarely done in the first couple of years during the war.
During the first two years of the war, military authorities generally treated desertion with leniency and dealt with it by “such other punishment” as the law allowed. Public opinion simply would not tolerate the execution of volunteer soldiers.
As U.S. President Abraham Lincoln observed, “You can’t order men shot by dozens or twenties. People won’t stand it.”
A convicted deserter in 1862 might, for example, be branded on the hip with the letter “D,” sentenced to a period of hard labor, or subjected to forfeiture of pay and the right to a furlough. Some were dismissed from the service, while others were merely sentenced to wear a placard marked “Deserter.”
Thats why i think the punishment scene was so instilling. You could see he was doing what he thought was wrong but told was right, and Denzel's look forces him to reflect and ask himself the important questions in order to do what he must for the people he is responsible of. He realizes he is just a vessel, but not only for his father's and America's vision, but the hopes and dreams of all of the men who fled among the worst horrors to humans have ever faced in order to fight under HIS command. That his purpose was to be the voice and guide of those who were denied speech, knowledge, and experience.
Broderick said that the final battle and that scene with Shaw sending his horse away and then looking at the ocean, he played it as Shaw believing his destiny was to die that day. And the evidence seems to uphold that view.
"Good, he'd have it no other way..." -Francis Shaw.
“I like people who weren’t captured” - Donald J. Trump
Ridiculous.
@@vanillathunder3024you talk to soldiers and they will tell you the same; but clearly you are a woke joke and never will understand it
@@gruntforever7437 if being a “woke joke” means that I oppose the Commander in Chief (who never served a day in his life, btw) mocking a damned war hero then I’ll wear that badge proudly. I don’t understand where you’re coming from with your comment at all.
@gruntforever7437 I'm a ten year US Army Infantry (11B) veteran, and I was appalled when Trump said that. McCain made two passes at that bridge. He could've made a single pass, then returned to the carrier. He would've avoided being shot down, and no one would've been upset had he done so. He went above and beyond to carry out the mission, and he paid the price.
When the North Vietnamese learned that he was the son and grandson of admirals, they offered the option of early release. McCain said that he would stay until everyone who was captured before him was released.
How dare Trump say something as thoughtless and shallow as that?
Wrong@@gruntforever7437
100% agree on Broderick's performance. Perfect scene. I don't even know how he does it, but it's the perfect balance of fear and curage as you say. And, may I add, pride.
I thought the entire regiment died.
@@tabathacarruthers5122close to half. They recruiters replacements and they served until the war ended.
One of the most underrated movies of all time for me. Broderick gives such a layered performance of a young man who truly respects his troops and wants to live up to his father's legacy.
The dynamic between Washington, Freeman, and Braugher is amazing. Even tho the characters are from an event from 160 years ago it very much displays the challenges African Americans face to this day within their own communities.
Give ‘em hell 54th! That scene gives me goose bumps every time
That guy wrote the movie.
Then they got their ass kicked
The one liner that gets an Oscar
@@frankbaptista8334not from a lack of skill. Just a real tough situation. Even the support/white regiment lost just as much.
@@frankbaptista8334it was a touch battle. Marching and running through sand is way harder than grass and not to mention the canon and musket rounds received. Even though the confederates won the battle the 54th inspired many more black people to join the war.
Glory is one of my favorite movies, just such a powerful story, and told so well by so many great actors. Unfortunately, I had an ancestor on the Confederate side at Wagner (and one at Vicksburg, too), but we can't ignore or try to pretend our history didn't exist. The story of the 54th Massachusetts is one of bravery, courage, and valor, and should live on to be told forever.
I watched it for the first time yesterday. I know a fair bit about the ACW, but didn’t know about the context of the Massachusetts 54th, so the end was quite a shock to me.
I also had a Confederate ancestor at Wagner. After the war he said " We was mad at first it was darkies (excuse the term it's his not mine) attacking us. By the end we was sayin " 'boy them MEN can fight' ." After the war he became an avowed Republican and fought for black rights. One battle turned around his entire thought process.
"Unfortunately"?
There is nothing inherently wrong with confederate soldiers. You can hate all you want on the confederate states of America but they are still brave Americans and great soldiers (generally speaking)
Don't apologize for someone else's decision, even if they're family. (Unless you choose to follow them).
I absolutely adore this movie. It was the first major war movie that I saw, as we saw it in a 6th grade history class. I’ll never forget my reaction of “Wait, they lost?!” And that sense of crushing despair yet hope for the future that came with the epilogue
That's another reason why it's so great, it shows the reality of war
Adore…
A perfect word. For the things we love most. Our wife. Our children. The 54th!
I saw it in my 6th grade Georgia History class~ To this day it's the greatest Civil War movie I've ever seen~ and I'm 40.
I sensed colonel Shaw was determined to glorify his men and not himself. What a selfless act of valor. I went soft when he look at the ocean as if he knew he would never see it again. I've watched this work three times now trying to feel the dedication and courage it took to attempt this mission. And thanks for the map orientation.
There were people back then who were so horrified of slavery that in that time when maybe ideals existed then that could not exist. Today in our cynical world, I believe there was a simpler noble intention by many people The type who would also be the abolitionist felt it was there. Holy duty to devote their life and even death towards attacking a great injustice that was a stain on the nation and on there personal conscience as well
So sad when he slapped his horse away before the attack. He knew he wasn't coming back.
The 1st Kansas Colored Infantry at the Battle of Baxter Springs was the first African American Unit to see combat. It is a great story and they fought heroically. They eventually were merged with the 79th Regiment USCT. They eventually became Buffalo Soldiers. Their story would make a great movie also.
I saw this movie at the theater when it was released. I had thought of Matthew Broderick as one of those young punk actors, but this movie absolutely changed my opinion of him and his acting. I thought his performance as well as everyone else was outstanding. The scene before the final battle where Broderick dismounts his horse on the beach and sends it running off, is so heartfelt as portrayal of someone about to enter a battle where he knows he's not likely to survive. Thanks for sharing these details of the actual battle.
You know, it's good that Chris would talk about this. Glory is a great film about the Civil War. Their deeds must never be forgotten.
You could consider the 54th to be an international unit. Many Blacks that were in Canada, especially southern Ontario, decided to sign up once word of the 54th being formed reached them. A great history, and a great movie.
"Following the Civil War, Darien, GA (the town burned in Glory) was rebuilt, with financial aid coming in small part from the family of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. He had been killed during the war but had written to his family of his shame in participating in the destruction of it." wiki
That scene in the movie happened pretty much as it did historically, even down to what the Colonel said to Shaw. Here’s a good article about it. www.masshist.org/beehiveblog/2017/10/the-pretty-little-place-was-burnt-to-the-ground-the-destruction-of-darien-georgia/
I love the story of the 54th and Glory is one of my favorite movies. I pretty much cry through the whole thing every time I watch it. It was amazing going to Boston Common to view the monument to the 54th.
🎉The same guys were sacrificed at Olustee.😢
I going to take my son there .
Just a FYI, The medal of Honor was one of the first medals the Army designed and awarded to soldiers. It did not have the same meaning then as it does not. There were many medal recipients then, some for carrying the flag such as shown in the movie. A number of them were rescinded years later. Today, the Medal of Honor is rarely given and has much more deeper meaning and much harder to achieve. Most Medal of Honor recipients today are awarded even though they died in action. Very few living recipients today.
Some of what you commented on is halfway right.
The Congressional Medal Of Honor was first created by the Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Wells, in 1861 to be awarded with approval legislation to US Navy and US Marines for extraordinary acts of heroism in combat. Later that year it was extended to the Army
The original intent of the medal was to be awarded for extraordinary acts of courage and bravery, but problems arose when it came to recommendations of the medal. The Navy insisted that the person had to be recommended by his commanding officer and there had to be witnesses to the events. It was an extensive application process.
The army's requirements for nominating a soldier for the medal were open to greater interpretation. This ambiguity led to the award being bestowed on individuals not regularly enrolled in the military, or for actions not in line with the "above and beyond the call of duty" spirit of the Medal of Honor. Additionally, soldiers could nominate themselves or others long after the Civil War ended, and for actions difficult to document with the passage of time. This led to about 1500 medal of honors awarded to soldiers and even civlians.
In 1917 the War Department did an extensive review of the Civil War records and removed 900 medal of honor recipient from the record including all the non military recipients. The people currrntly listed as Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War committed acts of bravery and heroism and deserve the medal.
And of course there are only a few remaining living recipients today. People who received them and get old and die ot they were awarded posthumously.
There are 64 living recipients of the medal
Since the Vietnam War there have been around 30 medal.of honors awarded and 17 to living recipients
During WW2 and Korea for some stupid reason the higher up brass in the Pentagon were reluctant to award medals to enlisted personal. They were often downgraded to a lower medal than they were recommended for. Medal of Honors recommendation were given Navy Crosses for Navy amd Marine enlisted, Army enlisted received the Distinguished Service Cross, silver stars received bronze stars etc.
My great uncle was nominated for a Congressional Medal Of Honor in Korea for actions in combat along side an officer. My great uncle received the Distinguished service cross while the officer received the Medal of Honor. My great uncle went on to be awarded another Distinguished Service Cross in Vietnam as well as 2 Silver Stars and a bronze star for actions in Veitnam. For standing 5 7 and skinny he was quite the bad ass
The Medal of Honor was originally created for extreme acts of heroism in combat but as stated above, the army during the Civil was played loose with the requirements to recieve it, but it got straightened out in 1917
“It did not have the same meaning then as it does not.” WHAT???
"Give 'em hell, 54th!"
By the screenwriter himself
@@stc3145how do you mean by the screenwriter himself? Was he also the actor who delivered that line?
They caught hell, didn't give it.
@@provost5752,
Sure.
Way to miss the point.
@@provost5752 yes they were defeated but it was a noble, manly attempt, and they marched into history that morning and we remember them today. In your case, in the year 2033 you will be found dead in a basement rented room with your face on the keyboard you'll have had an anuersym while shitposting.
Grew up in MD and we watched this in middle school history. Every single normally rambunctious kid was silent at the end. That movie really is awesome.
It's definitely late, but thanks for this video. My third great-grandfather and three siblings were members of the 54th. They were not at Fort Wagner, as they enlisted in the fall of 1863 out of Vermont, but they did see action at Honey Hills and Olustee later in the war. All four survived and returned to Vermont after the war.
One of my history professor’s at my university was in this movie. He was able to go with 13 of his African American students. I believe he is a captain in the final charge, and is near Cary Elwes.
Professor Gregory Urwin.
Thank you! Broderick was a perfect cast for Shaw. This is one of the few movies that still gets me to get emotional when I watch it. Perfect casting for every actor! Mathew definitely delivered. Same as Washington, Freeman, but the unspoken is cary elwes! He did such a phenomenal job! I love this movie. Definitely in my top 3 out of 100. An amazing film.
I believe I read somewhere that Matthew Broderick is actually a descendant of Robert Shaw himself
Participated in the filming of the Antietam scenes in Georgia. This was Broderick’s first film after Ferris Buller.
I am so glad you are reacting to Glory, what an absolutely phenomenal film. When I first saw the Battle of Antietam scene it struck me for how insane the combat was during the Civil War
Thank you for doing the video. I met some of the descendants of this battle. It so sad that we live at a time we’re just simply talking about the contributions of black soldiers is considered a negative to some.
Have been to the site many times. I believe the real location is under water now but it’s undeveloped & easy to get there with any small boat.
General Strong actually offered the 54th the change to lead the assault, and Colonel Shaw accepted. Shaw as we know died and Strong was mortally wounded in the assault. He spoke highly of the regiment before he died.
Great video and analysis. I'm from England but have always been interested in the Civil War and have visited many of the major battlefields. When my wife and I were on the boat going to visit Fort Sumter there was a terrific thunderstorm - it was a bit like being in a reenactment of the bombardment. When we got there the quide asked who was the President befor Lincoln. I was probably the only Englishman in a group of thirty or so and the only one to know the answer!
I’m a relative of Brev. Col. Haldimand Putnam. Thanks so much for this!
This is an awesome analysis. Great job man.
This is my favorite film about the Civil War. Probably the best film about the Civil War.
I want to see a movie about the Battle of Fort Fisher.
Honestly I kinda dig these movie reaction/analysis vids. @VloggingThroughHistory should make videos more on films or scenes within films as they relate to history. Great video.
My greatgrandfather was in the 3rd Brigade in the 97th PA. Apparently they received an order to attack, when an officer rode up and called it off because they feared the Confederate response if it failed. His company was one of the two that spent that night recovering the dead and wounded. Later, the 97th PA served under Grant at Cold Harbor, detached from the Army of the James. Fortunately for me, he was guarding a supply depot to the rear on the river, during Grant's disastrous failed attack. He spent that night moving to the front lines through the wounded and decimated units who were withdrawing. Fortunately Grant called off further attacks. He was also at Petersburg Mine. Hard to know, but he could probably have seen the carnage in the Crater itself. He served his three years and got out in 1864 about a week after Atlanta fell. So he probably knew the Union would win the war. Given the disease in the South and the disastrous battles, he was one lucky guy.
I saw this movie in high school, even though it's an easy day for a teacher I thank him for showing this to me when I was young. Ever since I saw the movie and heard the score I've been drawn back to it over a dozen times whether it be because of the music or because people want to try and re-write history during current events. Never forget why these men fought SOLELY for the North. This is one of the rare instances in history where the oppressed is given an opportunity to fight back and actually wins in the end. The ending is tragic but the events were a catalyst for a significant change within the Union Army ranks.
I spent a week as an extra playing both a Union (115 NY) and Confederate soldier. We were able to watch Broderick in several scenes as bystanders without being chased off. It was quite dangerous as the Fort built on Jeckle Island Ga was just sand piled on a plywood structure. The scene as we stood on the beach was awesome. As the bombardment of the fort ends I played a Confederate seen climbing a ladder up to the parapet. I was able to visit the Monument to the 54th in Boston several years later...
Courage knows no color. My great grandfather rode with the 2nd Alabama Cavalry, in my mind, the 54th Mass. displayed pure courage.
My great grandfather was also in the 2nd Alabama cavalry
Glory is my favourite American civil war film. Powerful, and moving from start to finish
I watched this in 8th-grade history. Great film, and even greater history and bravery on the Union's side. Glad to see one of my favorite history channels cover this masterpiece!
I revisited your previous video on Shaw. As usual, it was great and you tell these personsl stories in such a way, people are drawn in with the emotion you are conveying. Great job, Chris.
How did I miss this video before?
I remember reading a book that said Strong ordered Shaw and the 54th in front.
I have watched Glory dozens of times. But it was just a few years ago, after becoming a fan of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, that I realized the actor who stood next to Kevin Jarre--and said "There are men dying up that road"--was Mark Margolis, aka Hector Salamanca. RIP.
Hey Chris, I recently visited Charleston and was so interested in the Civil War history there. We visited Sumter, viewed the spot of Wagner across the harbor and Secessionville. Secessionville is a particularly interesting battlefield, only a couple acres but a bloodbath. Warhawk has an amazing video on it, hope all is well!
Not only was this a great movie with great actors, but the soundtrack was the icing on the cake.
My G-g-grandfather served in the 62nd Ohio and was wounded "in the arm and side of the head" in this battle. He would be wounded twice more during the war--the last time at Appomattox Court House. Fortunately, he survived the war and returned to Ohio to live out his years as a farmer...and I'm here to remember him.
In the scene with General Strong, et al, I'm the Officer in the middle of the group holding a map. I portrayed Major James E. Place of the 1st New York Engineers, present at the action. The map was a reproduction of the one showing the parallel and approach trenches dug after the action depicted in the movie, but was oriented correctly. Had they shot the movie Wagner from the correct perspective, they would have had to somehow mask the Sidney Lanier Bridge and the city of Brunswick, GA, out of the background. The Wagner scenes were shot on a beach on Jekyll Island, GA.
I later participated in the 150th Anniversary Commemoration held as near the site, now mostly washed away, as possible.
Thank you for this! Glory is my favorite move of all time - BY FAR. Loved your comments about Matthew Broderick's very underrated performance - it's note-perfect, as is everyone's in this film. "Faultlessly performed" is what Leonard Maltin said about this film in his 4 out of 4 star review.
Definitely in the top 5 best Civil War movies which specifically focuses on the soldiers themselves.
I really wish a movie of the same calibre would be made from the Confederate perspective. As tragic a loss as it was for the Union ( for a minor battle ), it was a great victory for the Confederacy.
I've read a couple of memoires from soldiers on both sides. The Confederates, from an operational point of view, were outnumbered 3 to 1 or higher. It was a gallant defense which proves futile when they were forced to leave the fort.
Great video. This is the first I have seen from you, and I will definitely be checking out more.
The interesting part about this film is that it doesn't glorify the confederates. Showing the confederates from their perspective is a very slippery slope if not done in an unbiased way, Gods and Generals is proof of that.
For those interested, Fort Pulaski was used in the film, another great place to visit if in the area!
Today is my birthday, I was amazed to find out this battle also happened on the 18th. Brave men.
Happy birthday, hope you have a nice day/afternoon/evening/night! 🎉
I was at the beach where this was filmed. amazing!
Well done man, well done. This movie and battle scene was powerful.
I watch Glory twice, and both times i shed tears when the Final Battle at Fort Wagner began. I don't know why, but it always felt deep for me even though i'm not even an African-American. Goes to show you just how powerful the movie was.
Just discovered this channel. Awesome commentary.
Welcome!
Nice work. One of my all-time favs. Amazing cast. Now I finally understand why I could never figure out where they actually were. That scene was on the Ft. Moultrie (wrong) side of the mouth of the harbor.
Great video, thanks!!
Ed from Lynchburg
One of the most stirring moments ever in a movie.
I watched this movie in the theater when it first came out, but rarely since. The original reason was the heartbreaking ending. But, as I've grown older I've come to understand the greater significance of the sacrifice portrayed in the film. These men, some knowingly, others unknowingly, gave their lives for a future they knew they probably would not live to see. Hearing those words, "If I die tomorrow, I know that I will not die a coward." almost brings tears to my eyes. This is who Black men used to be. Doing their best, giving their all, not just for themselves but for the greater good and their progeny. I know that I benefit from the sacrifices these and so many others made. And still no one understands why it breaks my heart to see what so many modern young Black men have become today.
I’m related to George Crockett Strong . It’s cool to see him portrayed in the movie .
Really? He's a good man. He gave the regiment their chance and sadly died as a result of this battle. He's buried at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn NY.
I was pleasantly surprised to hear the Salem, Ohio callout in this video. I grew up in Beloit, and never knew there was a member of the 54th buried right down the road from me. This movie woke me up when it came out. I was 10 years old, and have been hooked on history every since. I used to sit in 5th grade class and draw pictures of what happened in this movie.
Awesome. I grew up in Mineral Ridge, not so far from where you did.
They filmed that scene on Jekyll Island, GA went there a few years ago while on vacation very wide open beach.
My G. Grandfather, William G. Mcfarlin was a private in company I, 32nd Georgia Volunteer Infantry. The 32nd arrived by barge towed by a steam tugboat at Battery Wagner as the 54th attacked. The 32nd fought the 54th three times, 1. The bayonet charge in the movie, 2. In Battery Wagner, 3. Battle of Olustee near Jacksonville. The Confederates dug a large trench in the sand for burial of the fallen 54th soldiers. Col. Shaw was placed face down in the pit and his men were tossed on top. Under a flag of truce Union soldiers asked for the body of Shaw. They were told “We buried him with his negroes”. We. Mcfarlin survived the war and passed away about 1908. He is buried in Thomaston, Ga.
I'm from Thomaston Ga, salute to your g grandfather, my gg grandfather was in the Georgia calvary reserve, He's also buried in Thomaston.
@@mitchellsmiley I’m glad to hear from you. I think the Mcfarlins died out in Upson county. Other of my relatives live there. Most of the comments I get are unpleasant.
I saw the date on Wikipedia's front page, and I immediately though to myself, "I wonder if Chris will do a video about Wagner?"
That was very well narrated and explained.
A very powerful presentation, thank you.
thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Just wanna say Glory is one of my top 10 movies of all time..............I rewatch it all the time I just can get through to the end being that the end of the movie always always tears me up knowing what ends up happening to the 54th reg.😢😢😢😮😮.............excellent movie & pretty accurate to real history of the accounts described In this movie...........
Subscribed, you have the exactly the right style, tone and knowledge, probably just your my generation , with the details and info
Awesome, thanks for the knowledge. I grew up in Mobile, Al where there were 3 forts within driving distance. Fort Morgan, Fort Gaines and Fort Conde. Fort Conde is mostly a rebuild but its on the original ground. Growing up in Mobile I took for granted the history that was right in my face every day. Now I am older and American history is way more interesting to me. I even found some Civil war bullets and a small cannonball on Dauphin Island.
Look up (if available) Broderick episode on one of the genealogy shows. He learned he had an ancestor who fought and was killed in the Civil War. They found his grave in a civil war cemetery, only marked by a number.
The show had found records in one location that noted his name and the grave number. The cemetery did not have the information. The episode ended with a proper headstone replacing the number marker.
Yep. It was a great episode.
@@VloggingThroughHistoryI read long ago and then just searched on chat AI that Matthew broderick's mother is related to Robert Shaw so they are ancestors. Was this noted anywhere else or by anyone else? I'm surprised I didn't catch it in this video
Northeast Ohio (Wadsworth) resident also and I just came across this and enjoyed it. You have a new subscriber
Matthew Broderick’s performance was excellent. He was snubbed-he should have at least clinched an Oscar nomination for this. I wonder how much being Brat Pack adjacent hurt his chances…
Sure the movie isn’t accurate, beat-for-beat. It was a movie, not a documentary. But it was excellent. And it is the reason why I’ve conducted Civil War research since the first time I saw the movie at the age of 7. This is my all-time favorite film.
taking place in July just after gettysburg relegated it to back page news...I have the harpers weekly from that time
I just had this video pop up on my TH-cam feed. Great stuff! I live just south of New Philadelphia, so it's good to see your video for that reason too. I hit the subscribe button.....
To this day Glory is my favorite movie of all time. Great video btw.
I genuinely believe the filmmakers chose to reverse the scene simply because watching people move from left to right is much more satisfying visually due to the way we normally consume information. Reading left to right etc.
Or it could have been due to the location where it was filmed.
Location. To build the Wagner set, and shoot the action from the correct perspective would have place the modern Sidney Lanier Bridge and the city of Brunswick, GA, in the background, and too near and modern to pass for Charleston.
Matthew Broderick was perfect for this role and turns out also had a relative fight at Gettysburg also with 20th CT . he was on" Who do you think you are" in 2010?
Big inaccuracy is charles harker character he never served in the Charleston area and he was in his 30s, charles morse (guy who loses his eye) survived the war his letters helped make the movie.
Morse was an officer in the 2nd Massachusetts that they falsely show as being in the 54th in the movie but yes his letters were a great source of info for the film.
@@VloggingThroughHistoryharker plays the warden in shawshank film
Funny you post this around the time I watched Glory for the first time.
One unit recruited as a result of the 54th’s heroism was the 1st Michigan Colored Volunteer Infantry, accepted into Federal service as the 102nd USCT. They at one point fought alongside the 54th MA. In Ypsilanti MI there is a cemetery (Highland Cemetery)with the unidentified remains of several 102nd troops. There is no one I admire more than these men, who gave up their lives, and even their names, so that all humans may stand up free. Someday, we all will.
Great stuff, thanks!
I remember watching Glory when I was very young over and over and to this day I’ve probably at least 7 times during the end battle scene just as an adult. And that’s not even counting the times when it was just from listening to the soundtrack lol.
Also, the mass grave of the 54th was recovered and they were buried elsewhere under the names of unkown. They didn't wash away.
Just rewatched Glory today.
I didn't really see Brodderick's demeanor as scared more so than exhausted.
Charleston is always a beautiful city. I always go by Fort Wagner when I visit Fort Sumter
There's nothing left of Fort Wagner.
@@Thunderchild-gz4gcI know its just a small sand bar now
@@jacksonlord8297correct. Too bad more wasn't saved but so be it.
Thank you so much for this video! Please do the Battle of Nashville next! I think it’s a lesser heard battle.
One thing I absolutely love from this story. Later the Commander of Front Wagner would offer to exhume Col Shaw and return his body to his family, but the family refused saying that it was a greater honor that he lay with the men he led. An honor that the Confederates had placed upon him wrongly assuming it was an act of disgrace to be buried in a mass grave with black soldiers.
Also the Union did after the war rebury the solders and presumably Shaw in a National Cemetery. Their graves though are marked as Unknow for obvious reasons.
Awesome video as always man! I do want to point out that in the movie, Glory, there are a couple of seconds long scenes where you can see a NY regiment (their regimental flag) in the distance. I only discovered this recently and I think you can catch them while they were mustering for the attack right after Shaw talks to the reporters and during the charge itself when the 54th reaches the moat. Anyways, I grew up watching this movie countless times and I really appreciate the filmmakers for including things like that.
This is awesome I live in Champion Ohio and I never knew that there was a vet from the 54th burried in Salem
First time finding your channel. Great video! Will be checking out more.
Thank you and welcome!
A clear example of an attack in column, rather than line.
One of my favorite movies and love the history of the 54th
Great video! Great movie! Thank you!
As to the bodies bured in a mass grave in a trench. You are correct, that area is now underwater. Occasionally, humans bones wash up on the beach of Morris Island to this day. Unfortunately, they are not treated with the reverence they deserve. I suspect that most have no idea what it is they have found.
about 25 Black men won the CMH., 14 in the battle of milkin bend. during civil war
There can be no bravery without fear. Bravery is the overcoming of fear, not the elimination of it. Machines are not brave. They are fearless.
Peter Cozzens" book, A Shipwreck of Their Hopes", gives a good version of what happened at Ft. Pillow. He was no admirer of Confederates, but he writes that the Union soldiers, black and white, got drunk before the fort was surrendered and fired upon the Confederates after the surrender. This enraged the Rebels and led to the massacre. Incidentally, black soldiers also murdered rebel soldiers. War is horrible.
Another great video. Keep up the great work chris .
I remember seeing the film in a big cinema very early in my military career, and it made such an impact that it practically formed me as a soldier. The amount of courage you'd need to just march forward into lines of men trying their best to kill you is out of this world! Thinking about what those men, and those of the first on the shores of Normandy, was made of, makes you want to be brave, because anything less would be like spitting on the graves of those who came before us, and is why I still stand to attention and salute when ever I come across a soldiers grave.
I really like this summary. My guess is that if they only had two days of experience, they were likely forced to go first. It seems to me that they'd want their more experienced regiments to go in much later so that they don't be cannon fodder.