I did just a bit of research and found two facts that ruined the movie for me.
If you’d rather not have messy, dirty truth infringe on this good movie, don’t click below.
<! Two items: 1. The 54th Massachusetts didn’t really volunteer to lead the assault on Fort Wagner. In front of all of the other division commanders, the General came out and asked if the 54th could lead the assault. Shaw couldn’t really have said no.
Looking at the map of the battle, including the cannon placements on the fort, it’s obvious that the 54th was going to march directly into at the most heavily armed side of the fort.
Their was no surprise — the Confederate troops were ready.
The 54th was going to march directly into a meat grinder. The job of the 54th was literally to use up cannonballs and bullets. !>