Fort Wagner

Fort Wagner

Richard J. LeFevre (1931 - 2000)

1992

watercolor and mixed media on paper

On July 18, 1863, the Second Battle of Fort Wagner was engaged at Morris Island, south of Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. At that time, a serious question persisted in the minds of the people of the North whether black troops would indeed fight against the South if given the opportunity. It took until 1863 before the Union formed the first black regiments. The 54th Massachusetts, one of the earliest black regiments to be given combat duty, had to charge across a narrow stretch of land and head toward Fort Wagner in the open with no protection. This was a desperate type of fighting that proved that black soldiers would indeed fight and fight bravely. In the center of the painting is the Congressional Medal of Honor as it looked at that time.

Bequest of the Artist