54th Regiment Volunteers Educate New Bedford Students

A handful of Civil War reenactors were seen in downtown New Bedford Thursday, teaching students and others about life for a mid-19th century soldier, and New Bedford's contributions to the Civil War.

Joseph Zellner is the President of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, a company once made entirely of African-Americans, many from New Bedford. Zellner tells WBSM News he and his fellow volunteers demonstrate and inform to work towards what he calls a non-racial America.

Those in attendance at Thursday's presentations learned about the duties of Civil War soldiers and surgeons through the use of replica tools and weapons.

Zellner says it's the perfect time to learn about the 54th Regiment, since February is Black History Month, and the nation is in the midst of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War.