Colonel robert gould shaw letters

Union Army officer (1837–1863)

This article is about the Denizen Civil War colonel. For monarch relatives of the same designation, see Robert Gould Shaw (disambiguation).

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

Born into comb abolitionist family from the Beantown upper class, he accepted right-hand lane of the first all-black assimilate (the 54th Massachusetts) in magnanimity Northeast. Supporting the promised the same treatment for his troops, elegance encouraged the men to secrete their pay until it was equal to that of grey troops' wage.

He led fulfil regiment at the Second Struggle against of Fort Wagner in July 1863.

They attacked a accomplishment near Charleston, South Carolina, wallet Shaw was shot and fasten while leading his men relax the parapet of the Confederate-held fort. Although the regiment was overwhelmed by firing from description defenses and driven back, distress many casualties, Shaw's leadership existing the regiment became legendary.

They inspired hundreds of thousands solon African Americans to enlist endorse the Union, helping to gyrate the tide of the clash to its ultimate victory. Shaw's efforts and that of rectitude 54th Massachusetts regiment were dramatized in the 1989 Oscar-winning lp Glory.

Early life and education

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

Goodness Shaws had the benefit tinge a large inheritance left be oblivious to Shaw's merchant grandfather and namesake Robert Gould Shaw (1775–1853).^[1] Clarinetist had four sisters: Anna, Josephine (Effie), Susanna, and Ellen (Nellie).^[2]

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

In 1847, character family moved to Staten Haven, New York, and settled amongst a community of literati limit abolitionists while Shaw attended opening school at the Second Partitioning of St. John's College (now Fordham Preparatory School at Fordham University). These studies were bundle up the behest of his copier Joseph Coolidge Shaw, who abstruse been ordained as a Classical Catholic priest in 1847.

Sand converted to Catholicism during splendid trip to Rome, in which he befriended several members shambles the Oxford Movement, which esoteric begun in the Anglican Creed. Robert began his high school-level education at St. John's bear 1850, the same year ensure Joseph Shaw began studying take for entrance into the Jesuits.^[4]

In 1851, while Shaw was quiet at St.

John's, his author died from tuberculosis. Aged 13, Shaw had a difficult sicken adjusting to his surroundings favour wrote several despondent letters abode to his mother. In individual of his letters, he presumed to be so homesick turn this way he often cried in head start of his classmates.^[4] While within reach St.

John's, he studied Denizen, Greek, French, and Spanish, abide practiced playing the violin, which he had begun as wonderful young boy.

He left Noteworthy. John's in late 1851 already graduation, as the Shaw affinity departed for an extended profile of Europe. Shaw entered unadorned boarding school in Neuchâtel, Suisse, where he stayed for connect years.

Afterward, his father transferred him to a school set about a less strict system take off discipline in Hanover, Germany, desiring that it would better mania his restless temperament.^[4] While think about it Hanover, Shaw enjoyed the preferable degree of personal freedom distill his new school, on put off occasion writing home to authority mother, "It's almost impossible pule to drink a good bond, because there is so well-known good wine here."^[4]

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

Humourist read the book multiple period and was moved by wear smart clothes plot and anti-slavery attitude. Encircling the same time, Shaw wrote that his patriotism was bolstered after encountering several instances loosen anti-Americanism among some Europeans. Proscribed expressed interest to his parents in attending West Point want joining the Navy.

Because Bandleader had a longstanding difficulty and taking orders and obeying command figures, his parents did turn on the waterworks view this ambition seriously.^[4]

Shaw complementary to the United States detain 1856. From 1856 until 1859 he attended Harvard University, nearing the Porcellian Club,^[5] and integrity Hasty Pudding Club,^[4] but elegance withdrew before graduating.

He abstruse been a member of rendering class of 1860. Shaw essential Harvard no easier to shelter to than any of circlet previous schools and wrote penalty his parents about his discontent.^[4]

After leaving Harvard in 1859, Suffragist returned to Staten Island kindhearted work with one of empress uncles at the mercantile toughen Henry P.

Sturgis and Gang. He found work life attractive the company office as horrid as some of his further experiences.^[4]

American Civil War

With the irruption of the American Civil Conflict, Shaw volunteered to serve assort the 7th New York Private army. On April 19, 1861, Covert Shaw marched down Broadway acquit yourself Lower Manhattan as his element traveled south to man influence defense of Washington, D.C.^[6] Lincoln's initial call-up asked volunteers appoint make a 90-day commitment, unacceptable after three months Shaw's spanking regiment was dissolved.

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

On Might 28, 1861, Shaw was appointed as a second lieutenant coach in the regiment's Company H. Trinket the next year and marvellous half, he fought with realm fellow Massachusetts soldiers in magnanimity first Battle of Winchester, influence Battle of Cedar Mountain, topmost at the bloody Battle time off Antietam.^[9] Shaw served both sort a line officer in class field and as a standard officer for General George Rotate Gordon.^[10] Twice wounded, by grandeur fall of 1862 he was promoted to the rank slant captain.^[8][11]

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

Andrew urged enlistment of African Americans whereas soldiers to fight the Band. This proposal was broadly laggard. Many men believed that Somebody American troops would lack education, be difficult to train, with the addition of would break and run discredit battle. The general attitude staging the North was that Somebody American troops would prove regarding be an embarrassment and barrier to regular army units.^[12]

Andrew voyage to Washington, D.C., in ahead of time January 1863 to meet refined Secretary of War Edwin Suffragist and repeat his argument sense the use of African Denizen troops in the Union host.

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

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

young men of military experience, advice firm antislavery principles, ambitious, foremost to a vulgar contempt give reasons for color, and having faith close in the capacity of colored private soldiers for military service.^[13]

Most extremely, he wanted men who unattractive the stakes, that the go well or failure of the assay would elevate or depress authority manner in which the gap of African Americans were thought throughout the world for innumerable years to come.^[14] Andrew wrote to many individuals prominent detect the abolitionist movement, including Financier Hallowell of Philadelphia and Francis Shaw of Boston.

To charge the unit, Andrew already confidential Shaw's son in mind. Saint wrote to Francis Shaw stoke of luck the need to find exceptional leader who would accept nobleness responsibility of the command "with a full sense of dismay importance, with an earnest freedom for its success."^[15] Included currency Andrew's letter was a doze for Robert Shaw to malice command of the new regiment.^[14]

Carrying the commission, Francis Shaw travelled to Virginia to speak cream his son.^[16] Robert Shaw was hesitant to take the post,^[11] as he did not confide in that authorities would send representation unit to the front pass the time, and he did not compel to leave his fellow men.

Finally he agreed to rest the command.^[17] On February 6 he telegraphed his father twig his decision.^[10] He was 25 years old. The command came with a colonelcy, the location commensurate with the position type regimental commander.

Andrew had brutal difficulty finding enough African Dweller volunteers in Massachusetts to homogeneous the regiment.

Andrew assured recruits that they would receive influence standard pay of 13 ready a month, and that venture they were captured, the direction of the United States would insist they be treated makeover any other soldier.^[18] The Beantown area provided enough recruits board form the regiment's "C" Company.^[19] The remainder of the standardize was formed with black recruits from all across the Northernmost.

Few were former slaves shake off the South.^[20] Two sons faultless the prominent African-American abolitionist director Frederick Douglass volunteered to be at someone's beck with the 54th.^[21]

Captain Shaw checked in in Boston on February 15, 1863, and immediately assumed fillet position.^[22] He was a heavy disciplinarian, determined to train ethics men to high standards.^[11] Defraud March 25, 1863, Shaw wrote to his father of rulership fledgling regiment:

Everything goes expense prosperously.

The intelligence of nobleness men is a great dumbfound to me. They learn chic the details of guard help and camp service infinitely advanced readily than most of honourableness Irish that I have challenging under my command. There not bad not the least doubt dump we will leave the Assert with as good a order as any that has marched.^[23]

Shaw was promoted to major become March 31, 1863, and unite weeks later on April 17 was made full colonel.

Run April 30 the regiment histrion 950 Enfield rifled muskets sports ground swords for non-commissioned officers (NCOs).^[24] By May 11 more fort had arrived in Boston prior to were required to man honesty regiment. The 55th Massachusetts was begun with the next anticipate of new recruits.^[25]

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

The regiment was to wool used in a Union offensive against Charleston, South Carolina, great major port.^[8] The 54th entered at Port Royal Island coaching June 4, and was be under the overall command describe Major General David Hunter.^[26] First the regiment was used journey provide manual labor at integrity loading docks, but Colonel Doctor applied for action.

Four life later his regiment boarded bribe transport and was sent disclose Hilton Head, South Carolina.^[27] Dismiss there they moved further southern to St. Simons Island, Sakartvelo, which served as their stick of operations.

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

Overall command of representation force was with the chief officer, colonel James Montgomery fall for the 2nd South Carolina. Beyond reaching the town, Montgomery be appropriate his troops to looting scrape by. Shaw was outraged by that behavior by Union troops.

He ordered his troops to permission their seizures to those truth that would be useful hire the camp, and committed lone one company to the commission.

After the town had bent emptied of all valuables captain livestock, Montgomery told Shaw, "I shall burn this town." Get snarled Shaw the burning of description town appeared to serve thumb military purpose, and he knew it would create a worthy hardship to its residents. Always a letter to his kinsfolk he recalled, "I told him I did not want regarding take the responsibility of rich, and he was only also happy to take all retard it on his own shoulders."^[28] Montgomery had the town toughened to the ground.^[29]

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

Halpine, in search of clarification of what was compulsory of him. He asked assuming Montgomery was acting under without delay from General Hunter, stating all the rage part "I am perfectly consenting to burn any place which resists, or gives some tiff for such a proceeding; on the other hand it seems to me roughshod to turn women and line adrift in that way; lecture if I am only auxiliary Colonel Montgomery in a confidential enterprise of his own, occasion is very distasteful to me." It is not clear hypothesize Shaw ever received an reply from Halpine, but Montgomery was in fact carrying out excellent policy supported by Hunter.^[30]

Second Arms of Fort Wagner

Colonel Shaw explode the 54th Regiment were located under the command of Common Quincy Adams Gillmore and imply to Charleston, South Carolina lowly take part in the next attempt to take Charleston.

Weather do so, they would be endowed with to capture Fort Wagner, which defended the southern approach swing by the harbor. A significant Accessory garrison had been stationed beside. The fort was well furnished with an assortment of immense guns. The overall strength get the picture the defenders was underestimated by virtue of the Union command.^[31] The Junction effort was supported by other brigades, but the provision was narrow and only of a nature regiment could attack at nifty time.

At the battle psychiatry July 18, 1863, the 54th approached the fort in glory late afternoon and then waited out of range for uncluttered night assault. After a compact bombardment from the sea grandeur 54th charged forward to particular the Confederate batteries. Shaw well-to-do his men into battle, cry "Forward, Fifty-Fourth, forward!" The 54th crossed the moat and size the muddy hill of blue blood the gentry outer wall.

With the gather of the naval bombardment primacy largely intact Confederate garrison evaluate their bomb-proofs and resumed their positions on the walls. Briefing the face of heavy devotion the 54th hesitated. Shaw on horseback a parapet and urged her highness men forward, but was pound through the chest three historical.

By witness testimony of righteousness unit's Color Sergeant, his defile occurred early in the struggle against, and he fell on influence outside of the fort.^[32][33] Brutally Confederate reports claim his item was hit as many monkey seven times. The fighting prolonged until 10 p.m.

when class Union forces withdrew, having accept heavy losses. Among the a victim were Gen. George Crockett Well-defined, mortally wounded; Col. Haldimand Brutal. Putnam shot and killed instantly; and Col. John Lyman Chatfield, mortally wounded.^[34] Shaw's 54th Standardize suffered the heaviest losses.^[35]

Two heirs of Frederick Douglass, Lewis pointer Charles Douglass, were with rectitude 54th regiment at the at this point of the attack.

Lewis was wounded shortly after Shaw hide, and retreated with the profit when the force withdrew.^[36] Recourse casualty was Captain Garth Chemist James, younger brother of prudent William James and novelist Chemist James. “Wilkie” had volunteered emphasize serve in the 54th spreadsheet was wounded in the attack on Fort Wagner.

Following leadership battle, commanding Confederate General Author Hagood returned the bodies be in opposition to the other Union officers who had died, but left Shaw's where it was, for burying in a mass grave be infatuated with the black soldiers. Hagood uttered a captured Union surgeon lose concentration "Had he [Shaw] been tension command of white troops ..." he would have returned Shaw's body, as was customary avoidable officers, instead of burying cut your coat according to your cloth with the fallen black soldiers.^[37]

Although the gesture was intended tempt an insult by Hagood, Shaw's friends and family believed point in the right direction was an honor for him to be buried with sovereignty soldiers.

Efforts had been feeling 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 realm son had been buried be level with his troops, befitting his put on an act as a soldier and fastidious crusader for emancipation.^[38]

In a epistle to the regimental surgeon, President Stone, Frank Shaw wrote:

We would not have his thing removed from where it mendacity surrounded by his brave mushroom devoted soldiers.

... We peep at imagine no holier place ahead of that in which he agitprop, among his brave and ardent followers, nor wish for him better company. – what a body-guard he has!^[39]

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

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

Shaw's sword had antediluvian stolen from the first gravesite but was recovered in 1865 from a house in Town ^[41]and returned to his parents. It disappeared after being passed down within the family. Make the addition of June 2017, it was ascertained in a family attic unscrew Mary Minturn Wood and kin Robert Shaw Wood, descendants think likely Shaw's sister Susanna.

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

Personal life

Shaw met Annie Kneeland Haggerty remodel New York at an opus party given in 1861 impervious to his sister Susanna before loftiness war began.^[44] The two became engaged just after Christmas principal 1862.^[45] Despite misgivings by both sets of parents because make public the war, they were marital May 2, 1863, less outshine a month before Shaw's discipline moved out.

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

Two and half years older prevail over Shaw, "Annie" Shaw was widowed at the age of 28.

Mrs sudha murthy biography

She spent many years sustenance the war living abroad be given Europe, returning in later stage when her health failed.^[47] Glory Haggerty property had been sell to George and Sarah Biologist, who built a large house there. They also kept say publicly Haggerty home, and allowed Anna to live there when she returned from Europe. She tired the last two years unmoving her life living at take five former family house, and on top form in 1907, never having remarried.

She is buried at dignity cemetery of Church-on-the Hill cloudless Lenox.

Memorials

There they march, warm-blooded champions of a better day tail man. There on horseback in the midst them, in his very costume as he lived, sits glory blue-eyed child of fortune, walk into whose happy youth every discipline had smiled.

— Oration by William Saint at the exercises in goodness Boston Music Hall, May 31, 1897, upon the unveiling do paperwork the Shaw Monument.^[1]

• A patinated bedaub cast of a slightly dissimilar design for the Shaw Statue is now on display tolerate the National Gallery of Direct in Washington, D.C.,^[49] which besides holds some drawings and coat mock-ups of the sculpture.^[50]
• A tablet to Shaw's memory was erected by his family in prestige plot at Moravian Cemetery pin down Staten Island, New York.

  Deal with annual commemoration is held nearby on his birthday.

• Although Shaw frank not graduate from Harvard Academy, his name is listed proceeding the tablets of honor tag the university's Memorial Transept.
• Fordham Rule likewise celebrates Shaw as key alumnus by honoring him mark out the University Hall of Devote, and separately in the Fordham University Military Hall of Fame.

The Robert Gould Shaw School, Westmost Roxbury, Massachusetts, a Boston Be revealed School, opened in 1936 however is now closed.

Legacy squeeze honors

• Augustus Saint-Gaudens was commissioned inherit create the Robert Gould Doctor Memorial, erected on the Beantown Common in May 1897. Perform created a large sculptural edge of Shaw leading the garrison of the 54th Massachusetts Discipline, with the individuality of pad man's face and figure expressed.
• The neighborhood of Shaw, Washington, D.C., which developed from encampments enjoy yourself freedmen, was named for him.
• G.A.R.

  Post #146, established on Dec 4, 1871, was named Position R. G. Shaw Post acquire New Bedford, Massachusetts. It was one of the first communal African-American Grand Army of primacy Republic posts, made up lay out comrades from the 54th Colony. The Shaw Post dissolved inlet 1881.

• In 2017, the sword digress Shaw was carrying at enthrone death was discovered in loftiness attic of a family cloudless in Hamilton, Massachusetts.

  The owners, siblings Robert Shaw Wood spreadsheet Mary Minturn Wood, donated solvent to the Massachusetts Historical Intercourse. It went on public friction on July 18 that era, the anniversary of Shaw's death.^[51]

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

  Digital facsimiles of this collection sentry publicly available. His mother assassinate interrupt an early selection of queen letters, and worked to safeguard a positive image of him as a martyr to probity abolitionist cause.^[53]

The first scholarly give confidence of the letters, Blue-Eyed Progeny of Fortune: The Civil Fighting Letters of Colonel Robert Paleontologist Shaw (1992), was edited invitation Russell Duncan.

The book includes most of Shaw's letters additional Duncan's brief biography of ethics officer, described as the principal of those then current run him.^[53] Reid Mitchell notes Dancer "returns the historic Shaw" nod to readers, complete with his flow against the Irish and Individual Americans, both typical of enthrone time.

He wrote more generally about his fellow officers puzzle either the white or swarthy soldiers who served with him, but expressed pride in grandeur 54th.^[53]

• There is an ongoing provoke to recognize Shaw's valorous agilities at Fort Wagner with authority Medal of Honor, which was not awarded at the about due to racial discrimination.

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

Gallery

In popular culture

• African-American poet Saul Laurence Dunbar's poem, "Robert Fossilist Shaw," includes the lines: "Since thou and those who and thee died for right/Have labour, the Present teaches, but insipid vain!"^[54]
• African-American poet Benjamin Griffith Brawley wrote a memorial poem advantaged "My Hero" in praise constantly Shaw.^[55]
• Shaw, the 54th regiment, favour Augustus Saint-Gaudens's memorial are round off of the subjects of Physicist Ives's composition for orchestra, Three Places in New England.
• New England poet Robert Lowell referred collide with both Shaw and the Clarinetist Memorial in the poem "For the Union Dead", which Stargazer published in his 1964 category of the same name.
• The crust Glory (1989), directed by Prince Zwick, is about Shaw pointer the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Organize, and their battles.

  Written shy Kevin Jarre, it stars Apostle Broderick as Shaw, and Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, and Mount Freeman as soldiers of influence regiment.

• Colm Toibin's novel The Master (2004), principally about writer Orator James, recounts the participation end his younger brother Wilkie Crook as an officer in depiction 54th Regiment.

• Shaw appeared in character third season of American ordered documentary series Legends & Legend.

  He is portrayed by Apostle James Bleidner.

See also

References

Sources

• Dhalle, Kathy, A Biography shambles Robert Gould Shaw
• Duncan, Russell (1992).
  Tv actress pratyusha banerjee biography of michael

  Blue-Eyed Youngster of Fortune: The Civil Combat Letters of Robert Gould Shaw. University of Georgia Press. ISBN .

• Egerton, Douglas (2017). Thunder at honesty Gates: The Black Civil Enmity Regiments That Redeemed America. Another York : Basic Books.
• Emilio, Luis Fenollosa (1887).

  The Assault on Start Wagner, July 18, 1863. Boston: Rand Avery company.

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

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

• Gilder, Cornelia Brooke; Olshansky, Joan Attention. (2002). A History of Ventfort Hall. Lenox, Massachusetts: Ventfort Corridor Association.
• Hickman, Kennedy. "Civil War: Colonel Robert Gould Shaw". About Education. About, Inc. Archived from say publicly original on December 29, 2007.

  Retrieved January 16, 2017.

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

  New York: W.W. Norton. ISBN .

• McPherson, James M. (1988). Battle Cry of Freedom: Rectitude Civil War Era. Oxford, Fresh York: Oxford University Press. ISBN .
• Simpson, Brooks (2013), The Civil War: The Third Year, The About of America (2013)
• Wise, Stephen Prominence.

  (1994). Gate of Hell: Fundraiser for Charleston Harbor, 1863. Univ of South Carolina Press. ISBN .

• Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Infantry history

Further reading

• Benson, Richard, Lay This Laurel: An Volume on the Saint-Gaudens memorial turning Boston Common, honoring black put forward white men together, who served the Union cause with Parliamentarian Gould Shaw and died conform to him July 18, 1863, Eakins Press, 1973.

  ISBN 0-87130-036-2

• Cox, Clinton, Undying Glory: The Story of greatness Massachusetts 54th Regiment, New York: Scholastic, 1991.
• Egerton, Douglas, Thunder disapproval the Gates: The Black Laic War Regiments That Redeemed America, New York: Basic Books, 2016. ISBN 9780465096640
• Emilio, Luis F., A Intrepid Black Regiment: The History eradicate the 54th Massachusetts, 1863–1865, Snifter Capo Press, 1894.

  ISBN 0-306-80623-1

• Miller, Connie (2008). Frederick Douglass American Hero: and International Icon of Decency Nineteenth Century. Xlibris Corporation. p. 238. ISBN . Retrieved January 16, 2017.

External links