So @netflix has the rights to "Glory", and this is an opportunity to talk about one of the most heroic, important units in US History:

The 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, one of the first Black units in US military history

In 1862, the first Black Regiment of the American Army was formed, the 1st Kansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment. These men were the first Black American Army unit to see combat, and at the Battle of Poison Spring, suffered over 50% casualties, the highest of any Kansas Regiment.

Following the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Lincoln after the Battle of Antietam, in 1863, Black men across the Union scrambled to join the Army. Black regiments began to form, but the first was the 54th Massachusetts, commanded by Robert Gould Shaw.

Shaw, the son of prominent Boston abolitionists, was a veteran of the war, having volunteered when the Southern traitors attacked Fort Sumpter. Shaw was selected to command the 54th, along with other white officers, as racist attitudes prevented Black men from being commissioned

There were many challenges faced by the 54th, including a refusal to pay Black men the same wages as white soldiers of equivalent rank. This incident led to a Regiment-wide boycott of their wages, including the white officers who were receiving their promised wages.

Racism pervaded the US, and many in the War Department still felt Black men could not be trusted in combat. COL Shaw petitioned for his men to receive a combat assignment, and finally his petitions were answered:

The 54th would be sent to storm Fort Wagner

Following the attack on Fort Sumpter, the Southern Traitors fortified Charleston, SC, in an attempt to keep the port out of American hands. Included in the defensive ring was Fort (Battery) Wagner, a sand and earth fort armed with 14 cannons and 1700 men. Wagner had to be seized.

On July 18, 1863, at 7 PM, the men of the 54th spearheaded a frontal charge on Fort Wagner. Crossing over 1600m of open sand, the men fought like lions, braving withering fire to seize the walls of the fort.

Of the 600 men who charged Wagner, 270 were killed or wounded.

Fort Wagner held out against the assault that night, at tremendous cost to both sides. The Traitor garrison would eventually withdraw in September under heavy American pressure.

The eventual collapse of Rebel resistance in Charleston was well on its way.

The Attack on Fort Wagner marks the first actions where a Black American received the Medal of Honor: Sergeant William Carney, who kept the Regimental Colors aloft despite heavy enemy fire.

He would not review his Medal until 1900, 37 years later. No doubt because of his race.

Amongst the casualties was COL Shaw himself, shot as he rallied his men over the parapet of the fort.

Military tradition dictated that the bodies of officers be returned to the opposing side for burial. The Traitor officer refused to return Shaw's body. He had an insult in mind.

Because Shaw had lead Black men in battle, Rebel General Hagood refused to return his body. He would bury Shaw in a mass grave with the Black soldiers who fell, an insult in his eyes.

I don't know, but I bet Shaw would be honored to be buried with his men who died valiantly.

After Wagner was seized, the dead of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, including COL Shaw, were disinterred from their mass grave.

They were buried, with proper military honors, in graves marked "Unknown", in the Beaufort National Cemetery.

Their legacy lives on forevermore.