<P> The inclusion of blacks as combat soldiers became a major issue . Eventually , it was realized , especially after the valiant effort of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry in the Battle of Fort Wagner , that blacks were fully able to serve as competent and reliable soldiers . This was partly due to the efforts of Robert Smalls , who , while still a slave , won fame by defecting from the Confederacy , and bringing a Confederate transport ship which he was piloting . He later met with Edwin Stanton , Secretary of War , to argue for including blacks in combat units . This led to the formation of the first combat unit for black soldiers , the 1st South Carolina Volunteers . Regiments for black soldiers were eventually referred to as United States Colored Troops . Black Soldiers were paid less than white Soldiers until late in the war and were , in general , treated harshly . </P>
where was the first major battle for african american troops in the union army
the Battle of Fort Wagner