"1st South Carolina Colored Regiment" Topic

I am probably wrong, but am assuming he men in red trousers depicted in Glory are supposed to be the 1st SCCR? I am planning to do a black brigade for my army and one regiment will be the 54th, and I'd like to do the guys with the red trousers for the other one. But is that depiction of their behavior and lack of duty accurate or would the 1st SCCR be as trained and effective as other Union regiments? This will help me determine how to base them. Thank you for the feed back,

Terry

Did the 1st SCCR fight in any significant actions? I believe the 54th served with another colored regiment at Olustee.

No, I think they're the 2d SCCR. The 1st, raised by Gen. Hunter, was disbanded when the War Department refused to pay an unauthorized unit. The 2nd was raised later, after a change in Federal policy.

The troops in Glory are indeed supposed to represent the 2nd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry – both they and the 1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry were transferred to the US Coloured Troops in 1864 (33rd and 34th regiments)

As I recall the 54th Massachusetts was in an all-black brigade with the 55th Massachusetts and the 102nd US Coloured Troops

That being said, I have a brigade with the 54th Massachusetts and the 2nd South Carolina – eventually I will paint up the 55th Massachusetts, but probably not for a while!

Don is correct. They are supposed to represent the 2nd South Carolina. As to your question about discipline, I would argue that they ought to be rated as any other trained but inexperienced regiment would be. Their depiction in the movie Glory is meant to set up a contrast with 54th MA. One of their officers, Thomas Higginson wrote a fantastic account of his service with the regiment called, "Army Life in a Black Regiment." (You can get it for free on Google books or a like website). As to the question Bill posed, no, the 2nd SC did not see in significant action during the war except for some fairly intense skirmishing around Jacksonville, FL. The USCT who served at Olustee were the 8th USCT, the 54th MA and the 35th USCT. The 54th's sister unit, the 55th MA was guarding the baggage during the battle. Hope that helps. Sorry to be so long winded but the USCT is one of my very few specialties!

BY

Ah, just great! Thank you all.

BY that is the info I was looking for, and will do them as a more regular unit. I just hated to miss the opportunity of the red trousers and the frock coat!

Fredrick, that will be my brigade as well – the 54th and I guess then the 2nd SCCR.

Thank you again!!!

Terry

All this discussion of Colored Troops and red trousers, and no colored photos!

Haven't any of your regiments seen any mischief?

The 2nd was probably treated very unfairly in the movie. The 2nd SC suffered more from a language and education barrier than from a lack of ability. Most spoke French or a broken combination of French, Creole and Southern English. Basically, they simply didn't understand the Yankee officer's commands. During the Assault by the 54th (and other white units) they were in the reserve brigade. As they saw the disaster unfold they begged their officers to let them go in and save the 54th. However, cooler minds prevailed as the loss of the reserve brigade would have meant the loss of the foothold on the Island. So, in the weeks after the failed assault the 2nd was noted for their cool determination to get even. They built the series of parallels and braved the constant rebel sniper fire that marked the siege of Wagner. Where the 54th failed, they eventually succeeded.