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[CIVIL WAR]. Charleston Courier. 54th Massachusetts Regiment and the first exchange of Black soldiers with 16 names reported in a local Confederate newspaper. Charleston: Whittemore & Johnson, 31 March 1865. Vol. 1, No. 34. 4pp., folio (457 x 305 mm), spotting, old folds, few closed tears, two tiny punch holes in outer margin. “EXCHANGE OF COLORED SOLDIERS…THEY ARE THE FIRST COLORED SOLDIERS EXCHANGED DURING THE WAR”. The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment was one of the first official African American units in the United States military during the Civil War. The Regiment was led by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, a white officer who would later die during the assault of Fort Wagner. Despite facing heavy casualties during this battle, the soldiers of the 54th gained national recognition for their sacrifice and bravery. The 54th Massachusetts continued to serve in the Union Army for the remainder of the war, participating in various campaigns in the Southeast. The regiment faced discrimination and unequal pay compared to their white counterparts during their service, but their contributions were significant in challenging racial prejudices and paving the way for more African Americans to serve in the military. The story of the 54th Massachusetts was later popularized by the 1989 film Glory, which depicted the unit’s formation and its role in the Battle of Fort Wagner.