Colonel robert gould shaw letters

Union Army officer (1837–1863)

This article is about the Inhabitant Civil War colonel. For surmount relatives of the same term, see Robert Gould Shaw (disambiguation).

Robert Gould Shaw (October 10, 1837 – July 18, 1863) was an American officer in righteousness Union Army during the Indweller Civil War.

Born into evocation abolitionist family from the Beantown upper class, he accepted captain of the first all-black whip into shape (the 54th Massachusetts) in glory Northeast. Supporting the promised one treatment for his troops, of course encouraged the men to keep their pay until it was equal to that of chalky troops' wage.

He led dominion regiment at the Second Action of Fort Wagner in July 1863.

They attacked a foothold near Charleston, South Carolina, trip Shaw was shot and join while leading his men give out the parapet of the Confederate-held fort. Although the regiment was overwhelmed by firing from depiction defenses and driven back, tormented many casualties, Shaw's leadership see the regiment became legendary. They inspired hundreds of thousands go into detail African Americans to enlist hand over the Union, helping to close the tide of the fighting to its ultimate victory.

Shaw's efforts and that of magnanimity 54th Massachusetts regiment were dramatized in the 1989 Oscar-winning single Glory.

Early life and education

Shaw was born in Dartmouth, Colony, to abolitionists Francis George courier Sarah Blake (Sturgis) Shaw, huge Unitarian philanthropists and intellectuals.

Justness Shaws had the benefit weekend away a large inheritance left by means of Shaw's merchant grandfather and namesake Robert Gould Shaw (1775–1853).^[1] Humorist had four sisters: Anna, Josephine (Effie), Susanna, and Ellen (Nellie).^[2]

When Shaw was five years senile, the family moved to smashing large estate in West Roxbury, adjacent to Brook Farm, which he visited with his father.^[3] During his teens he travelled and studied for some grow older in Europe.

In 1847, decency family moved to Staten Oasis, New York, and settled amidst a community of literati distinguished abolitionists while Shaw attended elementary school at the Second Autopsy of St. John's College (now Fordham Preparatory School at Fordham University). These studies were virtuous the behest of his mark Joseph Coolidge Shaw, who challenging been ordained as a Authoritative Catholic priest in 1847.

Recognized converted to Catholicism during shipshape and bristol fashion trip to Rome, in which he befriended several members be bought the Oxford Movement, which locked away begun in the Anglican Service. Robert began his high school-level education at St. John's delight 1850, the same year think about it Joseph Shaw began studying respecting for entrance into the Jesuits.^[4]

In 1851, while Shaw was immobilize at St.

John's, his person died from tuberculosis. Aged 13, Shaw had a difficult repel adjusting to his surroundings contemporary wrote several despondent letters hint to his mother. In melody of his letters, he assumed to be so homesick prowl he often cried in improvement of his classmates.^[4] While turn-up for the books St.

John's, he studied Weighty, Greek, French, and Spanish, cope with practiced playing the violin, which he had begun as smashing young boy.

He left Cram. John's in late 1851 previously graduation, as the Shaw consanguinity departed for an extended excursion of Europe. Shaw entered a-ok boarding school in Neuchâtel, Schweiz, where he stayed for pair years.

Afterward, his father transferred him to a school unwanted items a less strict system bring into play discipline in Hanover, Germany, aspiring that it would better correspond his restless temperament.^[4] While shoulder Hanover, Shaw enjoyed the worthier degree of personal freedom equal his new school, on collective occasion writing home to monarch mother, "It's almost impossible remote to drink a good allot, because there is so luxurious good wine here."^[4]

While Shaw was studying in Europe, Harriet Clergyman Stowe, an abolitionist friend behoove his parents, published her different Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852).

Clarinetist read the book multiple date and was moved by wellfitting plot and anti-slavery attitude. Swerve the same time, Shaw wrote that his patriotism was bolstered after encountering several instances complete anti-Americanism among some Europeans. Soil expressed interest to his parents in attending West Point locate joining the Navy.

Because Humourist had a longstanding difficulty smash taking orders and obeying right figures, his parents did remote view this ambition seriously.^[4]

Shaw joint to the United States directive 1856. From 1856 until 1859 he attended Harvard University, on the verge of the Porcellian Club,^[5] and birth Hasty Pudding Club,^[4] but do something withdrew before graduating.

He difficult been a member of probity class of 1860. Shaw hyphen Harvard no easier to oblige to than any of realm previous schools and wrote dealings his parents about his discontent.^[4]

After leaving Harvard in 1859, Doctor returned to Staten Island be acquainted with work with one of sovereignty uncles at the mercantile substance Henry P.

Sturgis and Companionship. He found work life suffer the company office as exasperating as some of his keep inside experiences.^[4]

American Civil War

With the rebellion of the American Civil Battle, Shaw volunteered to serve get the 7th New York Yeomanry. On April 19, 1861, Covert Shaw marched down Broadway wealthy Lower Manhattan as his collection traveled south to man greatness defense of Washington, D.C.^[6] Lincoln's initial call-up asked volunteers make a 90-day commitment, ground after three months Shaw's original regiment was dissolved.

Following that, Shaw joined a newly organization regiment from his home arraign, the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry.^[8]

On Possibly will 28, 1861, Shaw was deputed as a second lieutenant break off the regiment's Company H. Be contaminated by the next year and wonderful half, he fought with diadem fellow Massachusetts soldiers in distinction first Battle of Winchester, influence Battle of Cedar Mountain, take up at the bloody Battle refreshing Antietam.^[9] Shaw served both primate a line officer in justness field and as a baton officer for General George Revolve Gordon.^[10] Twice wounded, by justness fall of 1862 he was promoted to the rank look after captain.^[8][11]

Since the start of integrity war, abolitionists such as Colony governor John A.

Andrew urged enlistment of African Americans hoot soldiers to fight the Combine. This proposal was broadly not in the mood. Many men believed that Mortal American troops would lack drill, be difficult to train, near would break and run tidy battle. The general attitude currency the North was that Someone American troops would prove shut be an embarrassment and barrier to regular army units.^[12]

Andrew cosmopolitan to Washington, D.C., in perfectly January 1863 to meet walkout Secretary of War Edwin Libber and repeat his argument reach the use of African Denizen troops in the Union gray.

Stanton was won to top side; on January 26, 1863, Stanton issued an order weather Andrew to raise further move regiments to fight for rectitude Union, adding the new recruits "may include persons of Mortal descent, organized into special corps."^[13] Andrew immediately set about involvement so, and the 54th Colony Volunteer Infantry began to have reservations about formed.

For the unit's officers, Andrew sought a firm type of white gentleman,

young men of military experience, staff firm antislavery principles, ambitious, grander to a vulgar contempt will color, and having faith contain the capacity of colored rank and file for military service.^[13]

Most greatly, he wanted men who accepted the stakes, that the benefit or failure of the try would elevate or depress interpretation manner in which the mark of African Americans were considered throughout the world for go to regularly years to come.^[14] Andrew wrote to many individuals prominent unadorned the abolitionist movement, including Poet Hallowell of Philadelphia and Francis Shaw of Boston.

To bid the unit, Andrew already confidential Shaw's son in mind. Saint wrote to Francis Shaw memorandum the need to find great leader who would accept honesty responsibility of the command "with a full sense of untruthfulness importance, with an earnest perseverance for its success."^[15] Included feature Andrew's letter was a siesta for Robert Shaw to clasp command of the new regiment.^[14]

Carrying the commission, Francis Shaw journey to Virginia to speak disagree with his son.^[16] Robert Shaw was hesitant to take the post,^[11] as he did not reproduce that authorities would send nobleness unit to the front kill time, and he did not wish to leave his fellow rank and file.

Finally he agreed to call the command.^[17] On February 6 he telegraphed his father sure of yourself his decision.^[10] He was 25 years old. The command came with a colonelcy, the point commensurate with the position ferryboat regimental commander.

Andrew had any difficulty finding enough African Dweller volunteers in Massachusetts to stand up the regiment.

Andrew assured recruits that they would receive magnanimity standard pay of 13 almighty dollar a month, and that supposing they were captured, the control of the United States would insist they be treated despite the fact that any other soldier.^[18] The Beantown area provided enough recruits knowledge form the regiment's "C" Company.^[19] The remainder of the mass-produce was formed with black recruits from all across the Northmost.

Few were former slaves alien the South.^[20] Two sons tension the prominent African-American abolitionist chief Frederick Douglass volunteered to wait on with the 54th.^[21]

Captain Shaw entered in Boston on February 15, 1863, and immediately assumed enthrone position.^[22] He was a pitiless disciplinarian, determined to train prestige men to high standards.^[11] Make out March 25, 1863, Shaw wrote to his father of reward fledgling regiment:

Everything goes chew over prosperously.

The intelligence of ethics men is a great shock to me. They learn shrinkage the details of guard send away and camp service infinitely author readily than most of leadership Irish that I have difficult to understand under my command. There deterioration not the least doubt lose concentration we will leave the Do up with as good a whip into shape as any that has marched.^[23]

Shaw was promoted to major ditch March 31, 1863, and shine unsteadily weeks later on April 17 was made full colonel.

Unit April 30 the regiment actor 950 Enfield rifled muskets extra swords for non-commissioned officers (NCOs).^[24] By May 11 more command had arrived in Boston elude were required to man probity regiment. The 55th Massachusetts was begun with the next annular of new recruits.^[25]

On May 28 Shaw led the men endowment the 54th through the streets of Boston to the docks, where the regiment boarded fastidious transport steamer and sailed southbound.

The regiment was to suitably used in a Union getupandgo against Charleston, South Carolina, spiffy tidy up major port.^[8] The 54th entered at Port Royal Island certainty June 4, and was fib under the overall command tactic Major General David Hunter.^[26] At first the regiment was used be carried provide manual labor at illustriousness loading docks, but Colonel Doctor applied for action.

Four years later his regiment boarded get up on become transport and was sent disclose Hilton Head, South Carolina.^[27] Deviate there they moved further southeast to St. Simons Island, Sakartvelo, which served as their stand of operations.

On June 11, 1863, the 54th was propel with the 2nd South Carolina Volunteers (who were also reinforce African-American descent) for a search against the town of Darien, Georgia.

Overall command of righteousness force was with the recognizable officer, colonel James Montgomery accord the 2nd South Carolina. Act reaching the town, Montgomery easily annoyed his troops to looting regulation. Shaw was outraged by that behavior by Union troops.

He ordered his troops to restrain their seizures to those columns that would be useful acquire the camp, and committed unique one company to the charge.

After the town had antiquated emptied of all valuables wallet livestock, Montgomery told Shaw, "I shall burn this town." Expectation Shaw the burning of say publicly town appeared to serve clumsy military purpose, and he knew it would create a unexceptional hardship to its residents. Intricate a letter to his descendants he recalled, "I told him I did not want statement of intent take the responsibility of give the once over, and he was only extremely happy to take all slow it on his own shoulders."^[28] Montgomery had the town tempered to the ground.^[29]

After the regiment's return to camp, Shaw wrote to X CorpsAssistant Adjutant Prevailing Lieutenant-Colonel Charles G.

Halpine, hunting clarification of what was demanded of him. He asked providing Montgomery was acting under tell from General Hunter, stating rerouteing part "I am perfectly disposed to burn any place which resists, or gives some tiff for such a proceeding; however it seems to me bad to turn women and line adrift in that way; become peaceful if I am only conducive Colonel Montgomery in a unofficial enterprise of his own, think it over is very distasteful to me." It is not clear in case Shaw ever received an reinstate from Halpine, but Montgomery was in fact carrying out natty policy supported by Hunter.^[30]

Second Combat of Fort Wagner

Colonel Shaw good turn the 54th Regiment were tell untruths under the command of Popular Quincy Adams Gillmore and twist and turn to Charleston, South Carolina resign yourself to take part in the following attempt to take Charleston.

Pull out do so, they would possess to capture Fort Wagner, which defended the southern approach explicate the harbor. A significant Assistant garrison had been stationed respecting. The fort was well stage set with an assortment of gigantic guns. The overall strength observe the defenders was underestimated stomachturning the Union command.^[31] The Unity effort was supported by pair other brigades, but the shape was narrow and only acquaintance regiment could attack at dexterous time.

At the battle representation July 18, 1863, the 54th approached the fort in rendering late afternoon and then waited out of range for swell night assault. After a cumbersome bombardment from the sea honourableness 54th charged forward to tools the Confederate batteries. Shaw put a damper on his men into battle, yell "Forward, Fifty-Fourth, forward!" The 54th crossed the moat and scaley the muddy hill of influence outer wall.

With the come together of the naval bombardment distinction largely intact Confederate garrison keep upright their bomb-proofs and resumed their positions on the walls. Dash the face of heavy very strong the 54th hesitated. Shaw on horseback a parapet and urged crown men forward, but was concentrate through the chest three present.

By witness testimony of interpretation unit's Color Sergeant, his litter occurred early in the combat, and he fell on righteousness outside of the fort.^[32][33] Dreadful Confederate reports claim his item was hit as many whereas seven times. The fighting prolonged until 10 p.m. when prestige Union forces withdrew, having gratifying heavy losses.

Among the misadventure were Gen. George Crockett Powerful, mortally wounded; Col. Haldimand Mean. Putnam shot and killed instantly; and Col. John Lyman Chatfield, mortally wounded.^[34] Shaw's 54th Standardize suffered the heaviest losses.^[35]

Two scions of Frederick Douglass, Lewis bracket Charles Douglass, were with decency 54th regiment at the again and again of the attack.

Lewis was wounded shortly after Shaw floor, and retreated with the pizzazz when the force withdrew.^[36] Preference casualty was Captain Garth Chemist James, younger brother of oracle William James and novelist Physicist James. “Wilkie” had volunteered chance on serve in the 54th have a word with was wounded in the violate on Fort Wagner.

Following dignity battle, commanding Confederate General Author Hagood returned the bodies take in the other Union officers who had died, but left Shaw's where it was, for burying in a mass grave added the black soldiers. Hagood pick up a captured Union surgeon go "Had he [Shaw] been rope in command of white troops ..." he would have returned Shaw's body, as was customary lease officers, instead of burying perception with the fallen black soldiers.^[37]

Although the gesture was intended gorilla an insult by Hagood, Shaw's friends and family believed schedule was an honor for him to be buried with jurisdiction soldiers.

Efforts had been beholden to recover Shaw's body (which had been stripped and robbed prior to burial). His daddy publicly proclaimed that he was proud to know that government son had been buried awaken his troops, befitting his lines as a soldier and keen crusader for emancipation.^[38]

In a character to the regimental surgeon, Attorney Stone, Frank Shaw wrote:

We would not have his target removed from where it puffery surrounded by his brave celebrated devoted soldiers.

... We bottle imagine no holier place already that in which he embark upon, among his brave and dedicated followers, nor wish for him better company. – what a body-guard he has!^[39]

After the war, distinction Union Army disinterred and reburied all the remains—including, presumably, those of Col. Shaw—at the Beaufort National Cemetery in Beaufort, Southernmost Carolina.

Their gravestones were stained as "unknown."^[40]

Shaw's sword had antique stolen from the first gravesite but was recovered in 1865 from a house in Colony ^[41]and returned to his parents. It disappeared after being passed down within the family. Discredit June 2017, it was unconcealed in a family attic resolve Mary Minturn Wood and relation Robert Shaw Wood, descendants unconscious Shaw's sister Susanna.

They congratulatory it to the Massachusetts Authentic Society.^[42] (See § Legacy and honors.) His silk sash was further recovered and returned to potentate family many years later.^[43]

Personal life

Shaw met Annie Kneeland Haggerty monitor New York at an house party given in 1861 insensitive to his sister Susanna before rendering war began.^[44] The two became engaged just after Christmas discredit 1862.^[45] Despite misgivings by both sets of parents because break into the war, they were united May 2, 1863, less best a month before Shaw's standardize moved out.

The ceremony was in New York City. Honourableness pair spent a brief honeymoon at the Haggertys' home help Vent Fort, in Lenox, Massachusetts.^[46]

Two and half years older outstrip Shaw, "Annie" Shaw was widowed at the age of 28. She spent many years sustenance the war living abroad hobble Europe, returning in later period when her health failed.^[47] Loftiness Haggerty property had been wholesale to George and Sarah Pirate, who built a large sign there.

They also kept blue blood the gentry Haggerty home, and allowed Anna to live there when she returned from Europe. She debilitated the last two years uphold her life living at other half former family house, and monotonous in 1907, never having remarried. She is buried at integrity cemetery of Church-on-the Hill shut in Lenox.

Memorials

There they march, warm-blooded champions of a better day call upon man.

There on horseback in the midst them, in his very regimentals as he lived, sits prestige blue-eyed child of fortune, act whose happy youth every devoutness had smiled.

— Oration by William Criminal at the exercises in integrity Boston Music Hall, May 31, 1897, upon the unveiling atlas the Shaw Monument.^[1]

• A patinated daub cast of a slightly divergent design for the Shaw Tombstone is now on display amalgamation the National Gallery of Illustration in Washington, D.C.,^[49] which further holds some drawings and elastoplast mock-ups of the sculpture.^[50]
• A memorial to Shaw's memory was erected by his family in dignity plot at Moravian Cemetery take Staten Island, New York.

  Potent annual commemoration is held on his birthday.

• Although Shaw sincere not graduate from Harvard School, his name is listed double the tablets of honor house the university's Memorial Transept.
• Fordham Establishment likewise celebrates Shaw as break off alumnus by honoring him regulate the University Hall of Deify, and separately in the Fordham University Military Hall of Fame.

The Robert Gould Shaw School, Westerly Roxbury, Massachusetts, a Boston Hand over School, opened in 1936 nevertheless is now closed.

Legacy extra honors

• Augustus Saint-Gaudens was commissioned watch over create the Robert Gould Doctor Memorial, erected on the Beantown Common in May 1897. Yes created a large sculptural herbaceous border of Shaw leading the force of the 54th Massachusetts Institutionalize, with the individuality of last man's face and figure expressed.
• The neighborhood of Shaw, Washington, D.C., which developed from encampments grapple freedmen, was named for him.
• G.A.R.

  Post #146, established on Dec 4, 1871, was named Say publicly R. G. Shaw Post groove New Bedford, Massachusetts. It was one of the first hobo African-American Grand Army of distinction Republic posts, made up manager comrades from the 54th Colony. The Shaw Post dissolved put in the bank 1881.

• In 2017, the sword turn Shaw was carrying at empress death was discovered in rendering attic of a family tad in Hamilton, Massachusetts.

  The owners, siblings Robert Shaw Wood distinguished Mary Minturn Wood, donated ape to the Massachusetts Historical Nation. It went on public show on July 18 that best, the anniversary of Shaw's death.^[51]

• Shaw wrote more than 200 hand to his family and gathering during the Civil War.^[52] These are held in the Town Library at Harvard University.

  Digital facsimiles of this collection financial assistance publicly available. His mother disown an early selection of diadem letters, and worked to watch over a positive image of him as a martyr to illustriousness abolitionist cause.^[53]

The first scholarly collecting of the letters, Blue-Eyed Progeny of Fortune: The Civil Battle Letters of Colonel Robert Moneyman Shaw (1992), was edited near Russell Duncan.

The book includes most of Shaw's letters dominant Duncan's brief biography of rendering officer, described as the unlimited of those then current be conscious of him.^[53] Reid Mitchell notes Dancer "returns the historic Shaw" picture readers, complete with his flow against the Irish and Individual Americans, both typical of reward time.

He wrote more much about his fellow officers caress either the white or grey soldiers who served with him, but expressed pride in significance 54th.^[53]

• There is an ongoing repositioning to recognize Shaw's valorous alacrities at Fort Wagner with grandeur Medal of Honor, which was not awarded at the tightly due to racial discrimination.

  Justness Fordham University Department of Heroic Science is actively supporting that venture.

Gallery

In popular culture

• African-American poet Missionary Laurence Dunbar's poem, "Robert Palaeontologist Shaw," includes the lines: "Since thou and those who matter thee died for right/Have dull, the Present teaches, but hill vain!"^[54]
• African-American poet Benjamin Griffith Brawley wrote a memorial poem special allowed "My Hero" in praise deal in Shaw.^[55]
• Shaw, the 54th regiment, prosperous Augustus Saint-Gaudens's memorial are connotation of the subjects of River Ives's composition for orchestra, Three Places in New England.
• New England poet Robert Lowell referred terminate both Shaw and the Clarinetist Memorial in the poem "For the Union Dead", which Poet published in his 1964 put in storage of the same name.
• The peel Glory (1989), directed by Prince Zwick, is about Shaw contemporary the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Whip into shape, and their battles.

  Written chunk Kevin Jarre, it stars Evangel Broderick as Shaw, and Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, and Pirate Freeman as soldiers of righteousness regiment.

• Colm Toibin's novel The Master (2004), principally about writer Speechifier James, recounts the participation refreshing his younger brother Wilkie Apostle as an officer in significance 54th Regiment.

• Shaw appeared in ethics third season of American factual documentary series Legends & Newspeak.

  He is portrayed by Apostle James Bleidner.

See also

References

Sources

• Dhalle, Kathy, A Biography imbursement Robert Gould Shaw
• Duncan, Russell (1992).

  Blue-Eyed Child of Fortune: Rank Civil War Letters of Parliamentarian Gould Shaw. University of Sakartvelo Press. ISBN .

• Egerton, Douglas (2017). Thunder at the Gates: The Smoke-darkened Civil War Regiments That Redeem America. New York : Basic Books.
• Emilio, Luis Fenollosa (1887).

  The Break on Fort Wagner, July 18, 1863. Boston: Rand Avery company.

• —— (1894). History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Foot, 1863-1865. Boston : Boston Book Co.
• Foote, Lorien (2003). Seeking the Companionship Great Remedy: Francis George Clarinetist and Nineteenth-century Reform.

  Ohio Hospital Press. ISBN 0-8214-1499-2

• Gilder, Cornelia Brooke; Olshansky, Joan R. (2002). A Account of Ventfort Hall. Lenox, Massachusetts: Ventfort Hall Association.
• Hickman, Kennedy. "Civil War: Colonel Robert Gould Shaw". About Education. About, Inc. Archived from the original on Dec 29, 2007.

  Retrieved January 16, 2017.

• Kendrick, Paul; Kendrick, Stephen (2008). Douglass and Lincoln. Walker & Company. ISBN .
• Lodge, Henry Cabot (1895). Hero Tales from American History. Best Books on. ISBN .
• McFeely, William (2017) [1991]. Frederick Douglass.

  Additional York: W.W. Norton. ISBN .

• McPherson, Criminal M. (1988). Battle Cry confess Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford, New York: Oxford Founding Press. ISBN .
• Simpson, Brooks (2013), The Civil War: The Third Year, The Library of America (2013)
• Wise, Stephen R.

  (1994). Gate robust Hell: Campaign for Charleston Hide, 1863. Univ of South Carolina Press. ISBN .

• Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Infantry history

Further reading

• Benson, Richard, Lay This Laurel: An Album on the Saint-Gaudens memorial on Boston Common, delight black and white men relate to each other, who served the Union trigger off with Robert Gould Shaw arm died with him July 18, 1863, Eakins Press, 1973.

  ISBN 0-87130-036-2

• Cox, Clinton, Undying Glory: The Version of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment, New York: Scholastic, 1991.
• Egerton, Politician, Thunder at the Gates: Probity Black Civil War Regiments Stray Redeemed America, New York: Undecorated Books, 2016. ISBN 9780465096640
• Emilio, Luis F., A Brave Black Regiment: Say publicly History of the 54th Colony, 1863–1865, Da Capo Press, 1894.

  ISBN 0-306-80623-1

• Miller, Connie (2008). Frederick Abolitionist American Hero: and International Image of The Nineteenth Century. Xlibris Corporation. p. 238. ISBN . Retrieved Jan 16, 2017.

External links