Governor Andrew's Address to the 54th Massachusetts Regiment

The following newspaper report details the presentation of four flags to the 54th Massachusetts Regiment. The account was originally printed in the Boston Journal, but this transcription is taken from the reprint of the account which appeared in The Liberator on May 22, 1863; The Liberator was a long-running newspaper that strongly supported the abolition of slavery. 

The 54th Massachusetts regiment was comprised of Black enlisted men and white officers and was one of the first units of Black soldiers formed to fight for the Union during the American Civil War. Colonel Robert G. Shaw was the regiment's commander as it mustered for military service and until his death in the attack at Fort Wagner later in the summer of 1863. Governor Andrew of Massachusetts had been supportive of forming the regiment and gave the speech that appears in the article, reflecting on the purpose of the regiment and the symbolism of the various flags. 

The Liberator [newspaper], May 22, 1863.

PRESENTATION OF COLORS TO THE FIFTY-FOURTH REGIMENTS

The ranks of the 54th regiment having been filled, the presentation of regimental colors took place yesterday noon at their camp at Readville, and was attended with a ceremony of unusual brilliancy and effect. The morning train to Readville was not only completely filled with a numerous gathering of prominent individuals who have been interested in the formation of the regiment, but nine or ten extra passenger cars were required to accommodate the hundreds of colored persons of both sexes who have a personal interest in the 54th. The party comprised a very large number who have been prominent in the community for sympathy with the oppressed negro. Among them were Wendell Phillips, Wm. Lloyd Garrison, Josiah Quincy Jr., Rev. Dr. Neale, and several noted gentlemen of the clerical and medical professions. A large number of ladies, friends of the officers, drawn in elegant turn-outs, added brilliancy to the ceremony. Altogether upward of a thousand people were present. The presentation speech was made by Gov. Andrew, who was accompanied by his military staff in uniform.

The regiment was formed in a hollow square, the distinguished person occupying the centre. The flags were four in number, comprising a national flag, presented by young colored ladies of Boston; a National ensign, presented by the "Colored Ladies' Relief Society"; an emblematic banner, presented by ladies and gentlemen of Boston, friends of the regiment; and a flag presented by relatives and friends of the late Lieut. Putnam. The emblematic banner was of white silk, handsomely embroidered, having on one side a figure of the Goddess of Justice, with the words "Liberty, Loyalty and Unity" around it. The fourth flag bore a cross with a blue flied, surmounted with the motto, "In hoc signo vinces." All were of the finest texture and workmanship.

Prayer having been offered by Rev. Mr. Grimes, Gov. Andrew presented the various flags with the following speech:

PRESENTATION SPEECH OF GOV. ANDREW

Col. Shaw: As the official representative of the Commonwealth, and by favor of various ladies and gentlemen, citizens of the Commonwealth, and friends of the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, I have the honor and the satisfaction of being permitted to join you this morning for the purpose of presenting to your regiment the National flag, the State colors of Massachusetts, and the emblematic banner which the cordial, generous and patriotic friendship of its patrons has seen fit to present to you.

Two years of experience in all the trial and vicissitudes of war, attended with the repeated exhibition of Massachusetts regiments marching from home to the scenes of strife, have left little to be said or suggested which could give the interest of novelty to an occasion like this. But, Mr. Commander, one circumstance pertaining to the composition of the 54th Regiment, exceptional in its character when compared with anything we have yet seen before, gives to this hour an interest and importance, solemn and yet grand, because the occasion marks an era in the history of the war, of the Commonwealth, of the country, and of humanity. I need not dwell upon the fact that the enlisted men constituting the rank and file of the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts volunteers are drawn from a race not hitherto connected with the fortunes of the war. And yet I cannot forbear to allude to the circumstance, because I can but contemplate it for a brief moment, since it is uppermost in your thoughts, and since this regiment, which for many months has been the desire of my own heart, is present now before this vast assembly of friendly citizens of Massachusetts, prepared to vindicate by its future, as it has already begun to do by its own person and in the presence, I trust, of all who belong to it, the character, the manly character, the zeal, the manly zeal of the colored citizens of Massachusetts and of those other States which have cast their lot with ours. (Applause.)

I owe to you, Mr. Commander, and to the officers who, associated with you, have assisted in the formation of this noble corps, composed of men selected from among their fellows for fine qualities of manhood; I owe to you, sir, and to those of your associates who united with me in the original organization of this body, the heartiest and most emphatic expression of my cordial thanks. I shall follow you, Mr. Commander, your officers and your men, with a friendly and personal solicitude, to say nothing of the official care, which can hardly be said of any other corps which has marched from Massachusetts. My own personal honor, if I have any, if identified with yours. I stand or fall as a man and a magistrate with the rise or fall in history of the 54th Massachusetts regiment. (Applause) I pledge not only in behalf of myself, but of all these whom I have the honor to represent today, the utmost generosity, the utmost kindness, the utmost devotion of hearty love, not only for the cause, but for you that represent it. We will follow your fortunes in the camp and in the field, with the anxious eyes of brethren and the proud hearts of citizens.

To those men of Massachusetts and of surrounding States who have now made themselves citizens of Massachusetts, I have no word to utter fit to express the emotions of my heart. These men, sir, have now, in the Providence of God, given to them an opportunity which, while it is personal to themselves, is still an opportunity for a whole race of men. (Applause.) With arms possessed of might to strike a blow, they have found breathed into their hearts an inspiration of devoted patriotism and regard for their brethren of their own color, which has inspired them with a purpose to nerve that arm, that it may strike a blow which, while it shall help to raise aloft their country's flag—their country's flag now as well as ours—by striking down the foes which oppose it, strikes also the last blow, I trust, needful to rend the last shackle which binds the limb of the bondman in the rebel States. (Applause.)

I know not, Mr. Commander, when in all human history, to any given thousand men in arms, there has been given a work so proud, so precious, so full of hope and glory, as the work committed to you. (Applause.) And may the infinite mercy of Almighty God attend you every hour of every day, through all the experiences and vicissitudes of that dangerous life in which you have embarked; may the God of our fathers cover your heads in the day of battle; may He shield you with the arms of everlasting power; may He hold you always most of all, first of all and last of all, up to the highest and holiest conception of duty, so that if, on the field of stricken fight, your souls shall be delivered from the thraldom of the flesh, your spirits shall go home to God, bearing aloft the exulting thought of duty well performed, of glory and reward won even at the hands of the Angels who shall watch over you from above.

Mr. Commander: — You, sir, and most of your officers, have been carefully selected from among the most intelligent and experienced officers who have already performed illustrious service upon the field during the last two years of our national conflict. I need not say, sir, with how much confidence and with how much pride we contemplate the leadership which we know this regiment will recieve at your hands. In yourself, sir, your staff and line officers, we are enabled to declare a confidence which knows no hesitation and no doubt. Whatever fortune may betide you, know from the past that all will be done for the honor of the cause, for the protection of the flag, for the defence of the right, for the glory of your country, and for the safety and the honor of these men whom we commit to you, that shall lie either in the human heart, or brain, or arm. (Applause.)

And now, Mr. Commander, it is my most agreeable duty and high honor to hand to you, as the representation of the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, the American flag, "the star-spangled banner" of the Republic. Wherever its folds shall be unfurled, it will mark the path of glory. Let its stars be the inspiration of yourselves, your officers, and your men. As the gift of the young ladies of the city of Boston to their brethren in arms, they will cherish it as the lover cherishes the recollection and fondness of his mistress; and the white stripes of its field will be red with their blood before it shall be surrendered to the foe. (Applause.)

I have also the honor, Mr. Commander, to present to you the State colors of Massachusetts—the State colors of the old Bay State, borne already by fifty-three regiments of Massachusetts soldiers, white men, thus far, now to be borne by the 54th regiment of soldiers, not less of Massachusetts than the others. Whatever may be said, Mr. Commander, of any other flag which has ever kissed the sunlight, or been borne on any field, I have the pride and honor to be able to declare before you, your regiment and these witnesses, that from the beginning up till now, the State colors of Massachusetts have never been surrendered to any foe. (Cheers.) The 54th now holds in possession this sacred charge in the performance of their duties as citizen soldiers. You will never part with that flag so long as a splinter of the staff, or a thread of its web remains within your grasp. (Applause.)  The State colors are presented to the 54th, by the Relief Society composed of colored ladies of Boston.

And now let me commit to you this splendid emblematic banner. It is prepared for your acceptance by a large and patriotic committee representing many others beside ladies and gentlemen of Boston, to whose hearty sympathy and powerful cooperation and aid much of the success which has hitherto attended the organization of this regiment is due. The Goddess of Liberty, erect in beautiful guise and form, liberty, loyalty and unity are the emblems it bears. The Goddess of Liberty shall be the lady-love whose fair presence shall inspire your hearts; Liberty, Loyalty, Unity, the watch-words in the fight.

And now, Mr. Commander, the sacred, holy cross representing passion, the highest heroism, I scarcely dare to trust myself to present to you. It is the emblem of Christianity. I have parted with the emblems of the State, of the Nation; heroic, patriotic emblems they are—dear, inexpressibly dear, to all our hearts; but now, "In hoc signo vinces," the cross which represents the passion of our Lord, I now dare to pass into your soldier hands; for we are fighting now a battle not merely for country, not merely for humanity, not only for civilization, but for the religion of our Lord itself. When this cause shall ultimately fail, if ever failure at the last shall be possible, it will only fail when the last patriot, the last philanthropist, and the last Christian shall have tasted death, and left no descendants behind them upon the soil of Massachusetts. (Applause)

This flag, Mr. Commander, has connected with its history the most touching and sacred memory. It comes to your regiment from the mother, sister, friends, family relatives of one of the dearest and noblest soldier boys of Massachusetts. I need not utter the name of Lieut. Putnam, in order to excite in every heart the tenderest emotions of fond regard, or the strongest feeling of patriotic fire. May you, sir, and these, follow not only on the field of battle, but in all the walks and ways of life in camp, and hereafter, when on returning peace you shall resume the more quiet and peaceful duties of citizens, may you but follow the splendid example, the sweet devotion mingled with manly, heroic character, of which the life, character, and death of Lieut. Putnam was one example. How many more there are we know not, the record is not yet complete; but oh! how many there are of these Massachusetts sons who, like him, have tasted death for this immortal cause! Inspired by such examples, fired by the heat and light of love and faith which illumined and warmed these heroic and noble hearts, may you, sir, and these march on to glory, to victory, and to every honor! This flag I present to you, Mr. Commander, and your regiment. In hoc signo vinces.

RESPONSE OF COL. SHAW

Your Excellency: We accept these flags with feelings of deep gratitude. They will remind us not only of the cause we are fighting for and of our country, but of the friends we have left behind us who have thus far taken so much interest in this regiment, and who we know will follow us in our career. Though the greater number of men in this regiment are not Massachusetts men, I know there is not one who will not be proud to fight and serve under our flag. May we have an opportunity to show that you have not made a mistake in entrusting the honor of the Sate to a colored regiment—the first State that has sent one to the war!

I am very glad to have this opportunity to thank the officers and men of the regiment for their untiring fidelity and devotion to their work from the very beginning. They have shown that sense of the importance of our undertaking, without which we should hardly have attained our end. (Applause.)

At the conclusion of Col. Shaw's remarks, the colors were borne to their place in the line by the guard, and the regiment was reviewed by the Governor. The regiment will join Gen. Hunter's command in South Carolina, as soon as transportation can be arranged.—Boston Journal of Tuesday

Source:

"Presentation of the Colors to the Fifty-Fourth Regiment," The Liberator, May 22, 1863, Page 3. Accessed through Newspapers.com