Faces of the 54th: Soldiers and Officers Database

These online, searchable data sets serve as a resource for finding soldiers and officers who served in the 54^th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment between February 1863 and August 1865. Data include the person’s age, enlistment and mustered out dates, place of enlistment, profession at enlistment, rank, and company. Over 1,500 men are listed in the data sets below.

Data sets have been divided according to whether an individual mustered in as an enlisted soldier or as a commissioned officer. Additional details will be added to the data sets as we continue to research and update information. Drawing from these data sets, the interactive map below showcases the national, even international, composition of the 54^th. As Massachusetts did not have a large enough Black population to fill the ranks of the 54^th, recruitment took place across the country as well as Canada and the West Indies. Please note, these points on the map indicate where the soldier enlisted, not their birthplace. Many formerly enslaved soldiers hid their origins and birthplaces from recruiters. Also note, some recruits who had fled enslavement to Canada or elsewhere enlisted once they returned to the United States.

If you're interested in seeing some of the faces behind the names, please visit the Massachusetts Historical Society's digital gallery on the 54^th Regiment.

 

54th Massachusetts Enlistments

This map shows the place of enlistment for members of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment. The map includes points in the United States, as well as a cluster of 2 points in the Caribbean and 2 points in Nova Scotia. Clusters of points are indicated by a circle with the number points in the center. The two largest clusters are in the Midwest (346) and Northeast (892). Two smaller clusters (7 & 6) are in the South, and one point in Kansas. Upon zooming in the clusters break into smaller clusters or individual points. Pop-ups for each point indicate a person, their company, their place of enlistment, and their date of enlistment.

 

Massachusetts Historical Society

Portraits of the 54th

 

Soldier and Officer Database

 

Enlisted Soldiers

This table includes the names of individuals who served as enlisted soldiers with the 54^th Massachusetts Regiment.

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Enlisted Soldiers

Company	Rank	Last Name	First Name	Middle Name	Age	Occupation	Place of Enlistment	Date of Enlistment	Reason They Left the 54th	Date They Left the 54th	Place of Death	Date of Death	Notes

Company	Rank	Last Name	First Name	Middle Name	Age	Occupation	Place of Enlistment	Date of Enlistment	Reason They Left the 54th	Date They Left the 54th	Place of Death	Date of Death	Notes
A	Private	Adams	Jacob	-	39	Laborer	Lenox, MA	February 18, 1863	Discharged: Expiration of Term	August 20, 1865	-	-	-
A	Private	Addison	David	-	25	Laborer	Sheffield, MA	February 15, 1863	Deserted	April 14, 1863	-	-	Deserted: Readville, MA
A	Private	Aikens	William	H	26	Laborer	Boston, MA	March 13, 1863	Discharged: Expiration of Term	August 20, 1865	-	-	Wounded: Fort Wagner
A	Private	Albert	Henry	-	42	Farmer	Boston, MA	March 13, 1863	Killed: Fort Wagner	July 18, 1863	Fort Wagner, SC	July 18, 1863	-
A	Private	Allen	James	-	26	Brakeman	Lafayette, IN	May 12, 1863	Died: Prison	December 20, 1864	Florence, SC	December 20, 1864	Captured: Fort Wagner Prisoner of War
A	Private	Bancroft	John	H	26	Shoemaker	Stoughton, MA	March 4, 1863	Died: Wounds	July 29, 1863	Beaufort, SC	July 29, 1863	Wounded: Fort Wagner Died: General Hospital
A	Private	Barton	Thomas	-	27	Seaman	Chatham Four Corners, NY	March 5, 1863	Deserted	April 23, 1863	-	-	Deserted: Readville, MA
A	First Sergeant	Benton	Andrew	-	28	Waiter	-	March 10, 1863	Missing: Fort Wagner	July 18, 1863	-	-	-
A	Private	Benton	Anthony	-	19	Laborer	Hudson, NY	March 5, 1863	Discharged: Expiration of Term	August 20, 1865	-	-	-
A	Private	Benton	Samuel	J	18	Waiter	New York, NY	March 11, 1863	Imprisoned: For Murder	December 4, 1865	-	-	Sentenced by General Court Martial to be hanged for murder of Corporal W. Wilson; commuted to 10 years imprisonment; remitted by order of War Department

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Commissioned Officers

This table includes the names of individuals who served as commissioned officers with the 54^th Massachusetts Regiment.

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Commissioned Officers

Company	Rank	Last Name	First Name	Middle Name	Age	Occupation	Place of Enlistment	Reason They Left the 54th	Date They Left the 54th	Place of Death	Date of Death	Notes

Company	Rank	Last Name	First Name	Middle Name	Age	Occupation	Place of Enlistment	Reason They Left the 54th	Date They Left the 54th	Place of Death	Date of Death	Notes
A	First Lieutenant	Conant	John	Hobart	22	Conductor	Brighton, MA	Discharged: Expiration of Term	August 20, 1865	Cambridge, MA	June 16, 1868	-
A	Captain	Grace	James	William	29	Merchant	New Bedford, MA	Discharged: Expiration of Term	August 20, 1865	SC	August 17, 1895	-
A	First Lieutenant	Knowles	Alfred	H	21	Plumber	Orleans, MA	Resigned	February 21, 1865	-	-	Wounded: Deveaux Neck, SC
A	Second Lieutenant	Rogers	Frederick	Eugene	20	Clerk	Chelsea, MA	Resigned	June 12, 1865	-	-	Wounded: Near Kingstree, SC
A, C	Captain	Homans	William	Henry Lee	26	Clerk	Malden, MA	Discharged: Expiration of Personal Services	March 30, 1865	Hyde Park, MA	August 19, 1893	Wounded: Fort Wagner
A, D, E	Captain	Emerson	Edward	Buckeley	17	Student	Pittsfield, MA	Discharged: Expiration of Personal Services	July 14, 1865	St. Paul, MN	February 16, 1889	Wounded: Honey Hill, SC
B	Captain	Appleton	Thomas	Larkin	21	Salesman	Brighton, MA	Discharged: Expiration of Term	August 20, 1865	Malden, MA	December 5, 1932	-
B	First Lieutenant	Cranch	George	William	18	Student	-	Discharged: Expiration of Term	August 20, 1865	Fishkill, NY	September 17, 1867	-
B	Colonel	Hallowell	Edward	Needles	20	Merchant	Medford, MA	Discharged: Expiration of Term	August 20, 1865	West Medford, MA	July 26, 1871	Wounded: Fort Wagner
B	Captain	Mann	Samuel	Willard	24	Tradesman	Boston, MA	Resigned	October 6, 1863	-	May 11, 1923	Wounded: Fort Wagner

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Sources

Emilio, Luis F., A Brave Black Regiment: History of The Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1863-1865, New York, NY: Da Capo Press, 1995.

“National Gallery of Art.” The 54th Massachusetts Regiment, n.d. https://www.nga.gov/collection/sculpture/fifty-fourth-regiment.html.