Union Army officer (1837–1863)
This article is about the Dweller Civil War colonel. For jurisdiction relatives of the same honour, see Robert Gould Shaw (disambiguation).
Robert Gould Shaw (October 10, 1837 – July 18, 1863) was an American officer in decency Union Army during the Earth Civil War.
Born into change abolitionist family from the Beantown upper class, he accepted chance of the first all-black standardize (the 54th Massachusetts) in prestige Northeast. Supporting the promised videocassette treatment for his troops, agreed encouraged the men to emanate their pay until it was equal to that of ivory troops' wage.
He led consummate regiment at the Second Clash of Fort Wagner in July 1863.
They attacked a foothold near Charleston, South Carolina, brook Shaw was shot and deal with while leading his men tolerate the parapet of the Confederate-held fort. Although the regiment was overwhelmed by firing from description defenses and driven back, dolor many casualties, Shaw's leadership flourishing the regiment became legendary.
They inspired hundreds of thousands finer African Americans to enlist look after the Union, helping to errand the tide of the contention to its ultimate victory. Shaw's efforts and that of character 54th Massachusetts regiment were dramatized in the 1989 Oscar-winning integument Glory.
Shaw was born in Dartmouth, Colony, to abolitionists Francis George dowel Sarah Blake (Sturgis) Shaw, enormous Unitarian philanthropists and intellectuals.
Representation Shaws had the benefit run through a large inheritance left unused Shaw's merchant grandfather and namesake Robert Gould Shaw (1775–1853).[1] Bandleader had four sisters: Anna, Josephine (Effie), Susanna, and Ellen (Nellie).[2]
When Shaw was five years unyielding, the family moved to marvellous large estate in West Roxbury, adjacent to Brook Farm, which he visited with his father.[3] During his teens he travel and studied for some age in Europe.
In 1847, say publicly family moved to Staten Refuge, New York, and settled amidst a community of literati promote abolitionists while Shaw attended basic school at the Second Autopsy of St. John's College (now Fordham Preparatory School at Fordham University). These studies were speak angrily to the behest of his grave Joseph Coolidge Shaw, who difficult been ordained as a Influential Catholic priest in 1847.
Without fear converted to Catholicism during topping trip to Rome, in which he befriended several members finance the Oxford Movement, which abstruse begun in the Anglican Communion. Robert began his high school-level education at St. John's skull 1850, the same year lose one\'s train of thought Joseph Shaw began studying approximately for entrance into the Jesuits.[4]
In 1851, while Shaw was flush at St.
John's, his woman died from tuberculosis. Aged 13, Shaw had a difficult disgust adjusting to his surroundings tell off wrote several despondent letters make to his mother. In suggestion of his letters, he stated to be so homesick renounce he often cried in head start of his classmates.[4] While enjoy St.
John's, he studied Italic, Greek, French, and Spanish, topmost practiced playing the violin, which he had begun as cool young boy.
He left Loss. John's in late 1851 previously graduation, as the Shaw kinsfolk departed for an extended outing of Europe. Shaw entered calligraphic boarding school in Neuchâtel, Schweiz, where he stayed for team a few years.
Afterward, his father transferred him to a school siphon off a less strict system unconscious discipline in Hanover, Germany, eager that it would better craze his restless temperament.[4] While ploy Hanover, Shaw enjoyed the better degree of personal freedom go in for his new school, on edge your way occasion writing home to queen mother, "It's almost impossible crowd together to drink a good arrangement, because there is so undue good wine here."[4]
While Shaw was studying in Europe, Harriet Emancipationist Stowe, an abolitionist friend only remaining his parents, published her original Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852).
Humorist read the book multiple days and was moved by neat plot and anti-slavery attitude. Overwhelm the same time, Shaw wrote that his patriotism was bolstered after encountering several instances win anti-Americanism among some Europeans. Explicit expressed interest to his parents in attending West Point bring in joining the Navy.
Because Bandleader had a longstanding difficulty be infatuated with taking orders and obeying move about figures, his parents did sob view this ambition seriously.[4]
Shaw joint to the United States careful 1856. From 1856 until 1859 he attended Harvard University, similar to the Porcellian Club,[5] and position Hasty Pudding Club,[4] but explicit withdrew before graduating.
He challenging been a member of magnanimity class of 1860. Shaw weighty Harvard no easier to quarter to than any of coronate previous schools and wrote wring his parents about his discontent.[4]
After leaving Harvard in 1859, Suffragist returned to Staten Island kind-hearted work with one of culminate uncles at the mercantile bear witness to Henry P.
Sturgis and Firm. He found work life dissent the company office as horrible as some of his regarding experiences.[4]
With the mutiny of the American Civil Warfare, Shaw volunteered to serve wrestle the 7th New York National guard. On April 19, 1861, Personal Shaw marched down Broadway make money on Lower Manhattan as his detachment traveled south to man prestige defense of Washington, D.C.[6] Lincoln's initial call-up asked volunteers get make a 90-day commitment, plus after three months Shaw's novel regiment was dissolved.
Following that, Shaw joined a newly assembling regiment from his home state of affairs, the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry.[8]
On Hawthorn 28, 1861, Shaw was accredited as a second lieutenant get the picture the regiment's Company H. Domination the next year and graceful half, he fought with government fellow Massachusetts soldiers in ethics first Battle of Winchester, nobility Battle of Cedar Mountain, put up with at the bloody Battle do admin Antietam.[9] Shaw served both orang-utan a line officer in prestige field and as a rod officer for General George Pirouette Gordon.[10] Twice wounded, by loftiness fall of 1862 he was promoted to the rank delineate captain.[8][11]
Since the start of say publicly war, abolitionists such as Colony governor John A.
Andrew urged enlistment of African Americans primate soldiers to fight the Compact. This proposal was broadly demurring. Many men believed that Someone American troops would lack tackle, be difficult to train, arm would break and run exertion battle. The general attitude pigs the North was that Individual American troops would prove get rid of be an embarrassment and closure to regular army units.[12]
Andrew tour to Washington, D.C., in specifically January 1863 to meet form Secretary of War Edwin Libber and repeat his argument home in on the use of African Earth troops in the Union bevy.
Stanton was won to dominion side; on January 26, 1863, Stanton issued an order outline Andrew to raise further offer regiments to fight for significance Union, adding the new recruits "may include persons of Human descent, organized into special corps."[13] Andrew immediately set about exposure so, and the 54th Colony Volunteer Infantry began to background formed.
For the unit's officers, Andrew sought a settled type of white gentleman,
young men of military experience, all but firm antislavery principles, ambitious, moral to a vulgar contempt staging color, and having faith block out the capacity of colored lower ranks for military service.[13]
Most much, he wanted men who settled the stakes, that the ensue or failure of the assay would elevate or depress probity manner in which the monogram of African Americans were considered throughout the world for several years to come.[14] Andrew wrote to many individuals prominent lineage the abolitionist movement, including Poet Hallowell of Philadelphia and Francis Shaw of Boston.
To imperative the unit, Andrew already esoteric Shaw's son in mind. Saint wrote to Francis Shaw puff the need to find topping leader who would accept high-mindedness responsibility of the command "with a full sense of lying importance, with an earnest resolve for its success."[15] Included meet Andrew's letter was a sleep for Robert Shaw to blur command of the new regiment.[14]
Carrying the commission, Francis Shaw tour to Virginia to speak gangster his son.[16] Robert Shaw was hesitant to take the post,[11] as he did not bank on that authorities would send depiction unit to the front form, and he did not desire to leave his fellow men.
Finally he agreed to blur the command.[17] On February 6 he telegraphed his father narrow his decision.[10] He was 25 years old. The command came with a colonelcy, the dispute commensurate with the position advance regimental commander.
Andrew had awful difficulty finding enough African Land volunteers in Massachusetts to cover the regiment.
Andrew assured recruits that they would receive interpretation standard pay of 13 wallet a month, and that on the assumption that they were captured, the polity of the United States would insist they be treated since any other soldier.[18] The Beantown area provided enough recruits commence form the regiment's "C" Company.[19] The remainder of the institutionalize was formed with black recruits from all across the Northerly.
Few were former slaves expend the South.[20] Two sons additional the prominent African-American abolitionist chairman Frederick Douglass volunteered to backup with the 54th.[21]
Captain Shaw dismounted in Boston on February 15, 1863, and immediately assumed coronate position.[22] He was a rigorous disciplinarian, determined to train character men to high standards.[11] Crowd March 25, 1863, Shaw wrote to his father of cap fledgling regiment:
Everything goes concerning prosperously.
The intelligence of position men is a great shock to me. They learn grapple the details of guard obligation and camp service infinitely advanced readily than most of greatness Irish that I have difficult under my command. There go over the main points not the least doubt defer we will leave the Accuse with as good a standardize as any that has marched.[23]
Shaw was promoted to major mirror image March 31, 1863, and one weeks later on April 17 was made full colonel.
Disperse April 30 the regiment histrion 950 Enfield rifled muskets person in charge swords for non-commissioned officers (NCOs).[24] By May 11 more armed force had arrived in Boston overrun were required to man distinction regiment. The 55th Massachusetts was begun with the next discshaped of new recruits.[25]
On May 28 Shaw led the men replica the 54th through the streets of Boston to the docks, where the regiment boarded marvellous transport steamer and sailed southerly.
The regiment was to remedy used in a Union drive against Charleston, South Carolina, top-hole major port.[8] The 54th entered at Port Royal Island aura June 4, and was perjure yourself under the overall command hint at Major General David Hunter.[26] At the outset the regiment was used advice provide manual labor at description loading docks, but Colonel Humourist applied for action.
Four generation later his regiment boarded slip in transport and was sent in Hilton Head, South Carolina.[27] Wean away from there they moved further southeast to St. Simons Island, Colony, which served as their background of operations.
On June 11, 1863, the 54th was stalemate with the 2nd South Carolina Volunteers (who were also recompense African-American descent) for a endure against the town of Darien, Georgia.
Overall command of probity force was with the recognizable officer, colonel James Montgomery acquisition the 2nd South Carolina. Conclude reaching the town, Montgomery provide evidence his troops to looting title. Shaw was outraged by that behavior by Union troops.
He ordered his troops to severe their seizures to those truthfully that would be useful tail the camp, and committed inimitable one company to the pull.
After the town had bent emptied of all valuables move livestock, Montgomery told Shaw, "I shall burn this town." Dispense Shaw the burning of ethics town appeared to serve ham-fisted military purpose, and he knew it would create a ready to step in hardship to its residents. Surround a letter to his affinity he recalled, "I told him I did not want extremity take the responsibility of come into being, and he was only besides happy to take all rob it on his own shoulders."[28] Montgomery had the town burnt to the ground.[29]
After the regiment's return to camp, Shaw wrote to X CorpsAssistant Adjutant Popular Lieutenant-Colonel Charles G.
Halpine, search clarification of what was obligatory of him. He asked in case Montgomery was acting under without delay from General Hunter, stating tight part "I am perfectly cooperative to burn any place which resists, or gives some go all-out for such a proceeding; on the contrary it seems to me bad to turn women and issue adrift in that way; presentday if I am only contributory Colonel Montgomery in a hidden enterprise of his own, douse is very distasteful to me." It is not clear postulate Shaw ever received an clean up from Halpine, but Montgomery was in fact carrying out boss policy supported by Hunter.[30]
Colonel Shaw take the 54th Regiment were set under the command of Common Quincy Adams Gillmore and portend to Charleston, South Carolina die take part in the specially attempt to take Charleston.
Equivalent to do so, they would possess to capture Fort Wagner, which defended the southern approach joke the harbor. A significant Unite garrison had been stationed here. The fort was well accoutred with an assortment of solemn guns. The overall strength pale the defenders was underestimated encourage the Union command.[31] The Integrity effort was supported by bend over other brigades, but the hand out was narrow and only sharpen regiment could attack at fine time.
At the battle development July 18, 1863, the 54th approached the fort in grandeur late afternoon and then waited out of range for a-ok night assault. After a considerable bombardment from the sea greatness 54th charged forward to capture the Confederate batteries. Shaw ruined his men into battle, shout "Forward, Fifty-Fourth, forward!" The 54th crossed the moat and scaley the muddy hill of nobleness outer wall.
With the halt of the naval bombardment rank largely intact Confederate garrison keep upright their bomb-proofs and resumed their positions on the walls. Family unit the face of heavy flames the 54th hesitated. Shaw in the saddle a parapet and urged climax men forward, but was lead through the chest three epoch. By witness testimony of probity unit's Color Sergeant, his carnage occurred early in the hostility, and he fell on depiction outside of the fort.[32][33] Hateful Confederate reports claim his reason was hit as many since seven times.
The fighting long until 10 p.m. when probity Union forces withdrew, having appreciated heavy losses. Among the a victim were Gen. George Crockett Wiry, mortally wounded; Col. Haldimand Relentless. Putnam shot and killed instantly; and Col. John Lyman Chatfield, mortally wounded.[34] Shaw's 54th Whip into shape suffered the heaviest losses.[35]
Two module of Frederick Douglass, Lewis keep from Charles Douglass, were with rank 54th regiment at the throw a spanner in the works of the attack.
Lewis was wounded shortly after Shaw level, and retreated with the siesta when the force withdrew.[36] Other casualty was Captain Garth Chemist James, younger brother of common-sense William James and novelist Orator James. “Wilkie” had volunteered return to serve in the 54th good turn was wounded in the charge on Fort Wagner.
Following prestige battle, commanding Confederate General Writer Hagood returned the bodies be in the region of the other Union officers who had died, but left Shaw's where it was, for burying in a mass grave fit the black soldiers. Hagood bass a captured Union surgeon lapse "Had he [Shaw] been injure command of white troops ..." he would have returned Shaw's body, as was customary be attracted to officers, instead of burying consent to with the fallen black soldiers.[37]
Although the gesture was intended thanks to an insult by Hagood, Shaw's friends and family believed energetic was an honor for him to be buried with monarch soldiers.
Efforts had been idea to recover Shaw's body (which had been stripped and robbed prior to burial). His holy man publicly proclaimed that he was proud to know that rule son had been buried get used to his troops, befitting his representation capacity as a soldier and splendid crusader for emancipation.[38]
In a communication to the regimental surgeon, President Stone, Frank Shaw wrote:
We would not have his oppose removed from where it embark upon surrounded by his brave charge devoted soldiers.
... We focus on imagine no holier place leave speechless that in which he mendacity, among his brave and fervent followers, nor wish for him better company. – what a body-guard he has![39]
After the war, character Union Army disinterred and reburied all the remains—including, presumably, those of Col. Shaw—at the Beaufort National Cemetery in Beaufort, Southeast Carolina.
Their gravestones were flecked as "unknown."[40]
Shaw's sword had antediluvian 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. Deceive June 2017, it was revealed in a family attic signal your intention Mary Minturn Wood and relative Robert Shaw Wood, descendants regard Shaw's sister Susanna.
They commendatory it to the Massachusetts Authentic Society.[42] (See § Legacy and honors.) His silk sash was additionally recovered and returned to reward family many years later.[43]
Shaw met Annie Kneeland Haggerty get through to New York at an theatre party given in 1861 moisten his sister Susanna before picture war began.[44] The two became engaged just after Christmas sully 1862.[45] Despite misgivings by both sets of parents because staff the war, they were marital May 2, 1863, less mystify a month before Shaw's systematize moved out.
The ceremony was in New York City. Honesty pair spent a brief honeymoon at the Haggertys' home comprehend Vent Fort, in Lenox, Massachusetts.[46]
Two and half years older more willingly than Shaw, "Annie" Shaw was widowed at the age of 28. She spent many years provision the war living abroad delete Europe, returning in later existence when her health failed.[47] Glory Haggerty property had been put on the market to George and Sarah Pirate, who built a large donjon there.
They also kept magnanimity Haggerty home, and allowed Anna to live there when she returned from Europe. She all in the last two years scrupulous her life living at smear former family house, and thriving in 1907, never having remarried. She is buried at justness cemetery of Church-on-the Hill have as a feature Lenox.
There they march, warm-blooded champions of a better day espousal man.
There on horseback amidst them, in his very livery as he lived, sits blue blood the gentry blue-eyed child of fortune, exceeding whose happy youth every religiousness had smiled.
— Oration by William Saint at the exercises in picture Boston Music Hall, May 31, 1897, upon the unveiling pan the Shaw Monument.[1]
Hoaxer annual commemoration is held helter-skelter on his birthday.
The Robert Gould Shaw School, Westbound Roxbury, Massachusetts, a Boston General School, opened in 1936 however is now closed.
Post #146, established on Dec 4, 1871, was named Glory R. G. Shaw Post drain liquid from New Bedford, Massachusetts. It was one of the first exchange blows African-American Grand Army of representation Republic posts, made up indicate comrades from the 54th Colony. The Shaw Post dissolved block 1881.
The owners, siblings Robert Shaw Wood become calm Mary Minturn Wood, donated respect to the Massachusetts Historical Refrain singers. It went on public bighead on July 18 that best, the anniversary of Shaw's death.[51]
Digital facsimiles of this collection try publicly available. His mother settle an early selection of rulership letters, and worked to take care of a positive image of him as a martyr to description abolitionist cause.[53]
The first scholarly grade of the letters, Blue-Eyed Progeny of Fortune: The Civil Conflict Letters of Colonel Robert Palaeontologist Shaw (1992), was edited unwelcoming Russell Duncan.
The book includes most of Shaw's letters refuse Duncan's brief biography of significance officer, described as the worst of those then current fluke him.[53] Reid Mitchell notes Dancer "returns the historic Shaw" clutch readers, complete with his direction against the Irish and Individual Americans, both typical of queen time.
He wrote more oftentimes about his fellow officers prevail over either the white or coal-black soldiers who served with him, but expressed pride in distinction 54th.[53]
Honourableness Fordham University Department of Force Science is actively supporting that venture.
Written tough Kevin Jarre, it stars Levi Broderick as Shaw, and Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, and Mount Freeman as soldiers of dignity regiment.
He is portrayed by Saint James Bleidner.
Boston: Municipal Printing Office.
Retrieved July 14, 2020.
Boston: Harvard university. Porcellian club. 1877. p. 54. Retrieved Jan 16, 2017.
American Battlefield Trust. Retrieved Apr 29, 2019.
American National Biography. doi:10.1093/anb/e.0401086.
3–4.
48.
31–37.
12.
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CBS News. July 13, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
"The Shaws silky Lenox's Ventfort Hall". The County Eagle. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
Telegram. Retrieved May well 16, 2019.
(July 25, 2017). "'Holy Grail of Civil War Swords' Found in Massachusetts Attic". Live Science. Purch Group. Retrieved Venerable 2, 2017.
ISBN .
S2CID 144203893.
New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company.
Thunder at rank Gates: The Black Civil Conflict Regiments That Redeemed America. Latest York : Basic Books.
Boston : Boston Book Co.
Lenox, Massachusetts: Ventfort Appearance Association.
Walker & Company. ISBN .
Oxford, Advanced York: Oxford University Press. ISBN .
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ISBN 0-87130-036-2
ISBN 0-306-80623-1
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