African Americana

Sixth plate ambrotype portrait of a seated Confederate soldier in uniform. (Image deterioration to edges, some spotting, some loss to lacquer; unsealed.) Housed in a half case. Pencil inscription on case behind image reads, "1864 Kinston NC January 30th A. J[?] Wade." 

Aretos I. Wade (middle initial recorded as "J." on some documents) enlisted as a private on 21 April 1862 and mustered into Company B of the 51st North Carolina Infantry Regiment the same day. He was promoted to corporal a year later on 9 April 1863, and was wounded at Fort Wagner on 18 July. He returned to his regiment in September, and was wounded again (place not stated) in May of 1864. He was promoted to sergeant in August. 

Memorialized by the 1989 film, Glory, the Second Battle of Fort Wagner was, in part, significant due to the heroism displayed by the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, the first unit of African American soldiers raised during the Civil War. Their gallantry proved to many the ability of African Americans to fight in a "white man's war," and with marked valor. Led by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, the regiment led the Union attack on Fort Wagner at dusk on 18 July. Attacking from the west, the 54th took cannon and small arms fire, eventually fighting their way to the parapet, where Colonel Shaw was killed. The regiment was eventually pushed back after fierce engagement in hand-to-hand combat, and the battle resulted in a Confederate victory.

The 51st North Carolina Infantry Regiment's Colonel Hector McKethan reported a total of 68 casualties in the battle, including 52 wounded and 16 killed. He also noted "Capt. W.R. Bell, Company B, was among the first to get his men in position when the order was given. He and his entire company fought well. The conduct of many of the non-commissioned officers and men attracted my attention." (Letter to Captain W. T. Taliaferro dated 20 July 1863 - not included in this lot).