The Massachusetts 54th dealt with many hardships and challenges. The Massachusetts 54th was the first all black regiment to fight in the civil war for the Union. They were first formed in 1862, however they did not see combat until a couple of years latter. Many of the black troops that served in the Massachusetts 54th decided to join up because they wanted to prove that they were equal to whites, and they wanted to fight for their freedom. The main challenge they faced was racism.
On December 24, 1862 Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America issued a general order, stating that all negro troops captured by the