Edward Needles Hallowell Edward " Ned " Needles Hallowell ( November 3 , 1836 – July 26 , 1871 ) was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War , commanding the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry following the death of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw at the Second Battle of Fort Wagner in 1863 . Early life . Edward grew up in a well - to - do Quaker family in Philadelphia . His father Morris was part owner and operator of Hallowell & Company of 33 South Third Street , Philadelphia . The firm predominantly imported and sold silk from India and China . Edward ' s father was also a passioante abolitionist . The family was far more than passive meeting attenders . The family ' s summer home was employed as a stop on the Underground Railroad . Edward and the other children of Morris and Hannah shared the abolitionist views of their parents . His brother Richard Price Hallowell was one of the members of the " Black Committee " that Governor Andrew of Massachusetts selected to inquire of the willingness of prospective candidates to serve in officer positions in the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry . He had two children , Charlott and Emily Hallowell , with his wife , Charlotte Bartlett Wilhelmina Swett . Hallowell was a stock broker before the war and became a wool commission merchant after the war . Civil War service . In early 1862 Edward joined his brother Norwood Penrose " Pen " Hallowell , who was already serving in the 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry . He served as a lieutenant . While he was in the 20th , the regiment saw considerable action including the Peninsula Campaign , the Seven Days , Antietam and Fredericksburg . Lt . Edward Hallowell then accepted an appointment in the 54th Massachusetts , which was to be led by Robert Gould Shaw as colonel and his brother Norwood as Lieutenant Colonel . The regiment was to be made up of white and black abolitionists fighting together for black freedom . Edward recruited African - American soldiers in Philadelphia and was actually the first officer to occupy the barracks set aside for the 54th at Camp Meigs in Reedville . Recruiting for the regiment proved so successful that a second regiment , the 55th , was formed . Norwood Hallowell was designated as the 55th ' s colonel and Edward was promoted to major and was second - in - command to Shaw . By the time of the famous assault by the 54th on Fort Wagner Hallowell was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel . In the assault on Fort Wagner he commanded the left wing with half the regiment ' s companies . Because of the narrow defile through which the 54th had to pass the left wing was deployed directly behind Shaw and the right wing . Hallowell suffered three wounds in the assault and went home to recuperate . Upon returning he commanded the 54th as a full colonel for the rest of the war , except when he was in temporary command of a brigade . The 54th and Hallowell continued to serve with distinction during the war . He fought at the Battle of Olustee , the Battle of Honey Hill and the Battle of Boykin ' s Mill . At Boykin ' s Mill , Hallowell was in command of Major General Potter ' s 3rd Brigade . Ironically , when the fortifications around Charleston fell along with the city it was the 54th under Hallowell that occupied various former Confederate posts including Fort Sumter and Fort Wagner . Additionally , the 54th guarded Confederate prisoners of war during this time , including some whom they had faced at Fort Wagner . Post War years . Hallowell was mustered out of the Union Army volunteer service on August 20 , 1865 . Hallowell marched with the Massachusetts members of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment at a post - war victory review held in Boston in December 1865 . On January 13 , 1866 , President Andrew Johnson nominated Hallowell for the award of the honorary grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers to rank from June 27 , 1865 for " meritorious services " during the war . The United States Senate confirmed the award on March 12 , 1866 . After the war Edward returned to Medford and became a wool commission merchant . His wounds from the war undoubtedly cut his life short and he died in 1871 . He is buried with his wife Charlotte at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge . Legacy . The character of Major Forbes in the film " Glory " is based somewhat on Edward Hallowell . Little lasting recognition of either Edward or his brother Norwood exists . One exception is at the famous Union Club off of Boston Common which has meeting rooms dedicated to Edward and Norwood as well as Robert Gould Shaw .