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On the back of the frame of the tablet. The inscription was composed by Charles W. Eliot:
TO THE FIFTY FOURTH / OF MASSACHUSETTS / REGIMENT INFANTRY / THE WHITE OFFICERS / TAKING LIFE AND HONOR IN / THEIR HANDS CAST IN THEIR LOT WITH MEN OF / A DESPISED RACE UNPROVED IN WAR AND RISKED / DEATH AS INCITERS OF SERVILE INSURRECTION IF / TAKEN PRISONERS BESIDES ENCOUNTERING ALL THE / COMMON PERILS OF CAMP MARCH AND BATTLE / THE BLACK RANK AND FILE VOLUNTEERED WHEN / DISASTER CLOUDED THE UNION CAUSE SERVED / WITHOUT PAY FOR EIGHTEEN MONTHS TILL GIVEN / THAT OF WHITE TROOPS FACED THREATENED / ENSLAVEMENT IF CAPTURED WERE BRAVE IN ACTION / PATIENT UNDER HEAVY AND DANGEROUS / LABORS AND CHEERFUL AMID / HARDSHIPS AND PRIVATIONS / TOGETHER / THEY GAVE TO THE NATION AND THE WORLD / UNDYING PROOF THAT AMERICANS OF AFRICAN / DESCENT POSSESS THE PRIDE COURAGE / AND DEVOTION OF THE PATRIOT SOLDIER / ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THOUSAND SUCH / AMERICANS ENLISTED UNDER THE UNION FLAG IN / MDCCCLXIII - MDCCCLXV
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