A promotion delayed
Recognizing the abilities of 1st Sgt. Stephen A. Swails, Col. E. N. Hallowell recommends in the letter, at left, that Swails be promoted to second lieutenant....
Accepting a long-overdue honor
William H. Carney acknowledges receipt of the Medal of Honor in this letter to the chief of the Records and Pensions Office. He finally received the medal in May...
Appeal to the President
In this letter, Cpl. James H. Gooding complained to President Abraham Lincoln about the unequal pay situation. He argued that the men of the 54th Massachusetts did...
Black officers for black soldiers
Frederick Douglass and his son Lewis, the former sergeant major of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, were among the 200 men who signed this petition to...
Election of Speaker Tip O’Neill
This House Journal entry notes the process by which Tip O’Neill was chosen Speaker of the House, the title given to the elected leader of the House of...
Equal pay or no pay at all
In this letter, Col. E. N. Hallowell—who took command of the 54th Massachusetts after Col. Robert G. Shaw was killed—declined the state’s offer to make up the...
Fall in!
This photograph, taken in 1898 in Greenville, South Carolina, captured troops from the 5th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Greenville was home to Camp Wetherill,...