On July 18th 1863, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, a unit consisting almost entirely of African American soldiers, led an assault on Fort Wagner near Charleston, South Carolina. Two days after the battle, Lewis Douglas, one of Frederick Douglas’ sons who participated in the charge, wrote a letter to Jermain Loguen’s daughter, Helen Amelia, who lived with her family in Syracuse. In the letter, he describes the battle and mentions the names of some of the men from Syracuse who had been wounded during the fighting. Lewis survived the war and married Amelia on October 7, 1869 at her family’s home in Syracuse.
Letter Dated July 20, 1863 Morris Island, South Carolina
From Lewis Douglass to Helen Amelia Loguen of Syracuse
- Andrew DeForest was a 19 year old waiter who enlisted at Syracuse and was wounded at Ft. Wagner but survived and was discharged in 1865 as a sergeant
- George Washington was a 29 year old married seaman who enlisted at Syracuse, was wounded at Ft. Wagner and died a few days later in hospital
- Charles Reason was a 23 year old laborer who enlisted at Syracuse, and died of his wounds at Fort Wagner seven days after Douglass wrote his letter.
- Charles Creamer was an 18 year old laborer who enlisted at Syracuse, was wounded at Fort Wagner but survived and was discharged in 1865
- Jacob Carter was a 26 year old barber who enlisted at Syracuse, was wounded at Fort Wagner but survived and was discharged in 1865
- Charles Whiten (believed to have been transcribed as Whiting) was a 26 year old laborer who enlisted at Syracuse, was wounded at Ft. Wagner but survived and was discharged in 1865