Final answer:
No, the Massachusetts Fifty-fourth Regiment did not accept their pay in the fall of 1863 until they received equal pay as white soldiers. They highlighted the pay injustice by refusing their paychecks, which, combined with advocacy, led to equal pay legislation and compensation for the pay disparity in September 1864.
Step-by-step explanation:
Did the Massachusetts Fifty-fourth Regiment Accept Any Pay in Fall of 1863?
In the fall of 1863, the Massachusetts Fifty-fourth Regiment did not accept the pay that was offered to them because it was not equal to that of white soldiers. The African American soldiers of the 54th Regiment, including those who had been formerly enslaved, were initially paid ten dollars per month, with three dollars deducted for clothing, as opposed to the thirteen dollars per month with no deductions that white soldiers received. Instead of accepting this discriminatory wage, the members of the 54th Massachusetts highlighted the injustice by refusing their paychecks. Their protest, along with the advocacy of abolitionists and supportive members of Congress, eventually led to equal pay legislation. As a result, in September 1864, the members of the 54th were compensated for the pay disparity, receiving the same pay as white soldiers retroactively to 1863.
The regiment's fight for equal pay was part of a larger struggle against the rampant discrimination African American soldiers faced within the Union army, which was reflective of broader societal prejudices of the time. Despite these challenges, the 54th Massachusetts notably distinguished itself in battle, notably during the heroic, though ultimately unsuccessful, assault on Fort Wagner in South Carolina. Their sacrifice and the attention it drew helped highlight the valor and equality of African American soldiers.
The legacy of the 54th Regiment was a point of pride for the African American community, emphasizing their right to fight and be paid equally as soldiers. It was further cemented by a notable memorial on the Boston Commons and the later representation in pop culture through the 1989 film, Glory.