Assault on Fort Wagner: 152nd Anniversary

The 152nd anniversary of the Battle of Fort Wagner was commemorated on Friday, July 17th on Morris Island. A wreath was laid in a ceremony held annually by the descendants and supporters of the original 54th Massachusetts Infantry, a black regiment that fought with the Union forces against the Confederates. The unit's colonel, Robert Gould Shaw was killed in this battle (immortalized in the movie "Glory"), and after suffering heavy casualties in brutal hand to hand combat, they were driven back. In a solemn ceremony today, the bravery of those men was remembered.