African-American soldiers captured by the Confederacy were considered rebellious slaves, not prisoners of war, and were either killed or enslaved. Despite the risks, the black community in Massachusetts rushed to volunteer for the 54th Regiment, the first black unit formed in the North.
The unit's bravery in battle dispelled myths that blacks were unable to fight. The national historic site, centered around the monument to the 54th on Boston Common, also includes a collection of buildings which served as a hub of abolitionist activity in the early nineteenth century.