Robert gould shaw burial site

Union Army officer (1837–1863)

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

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

Born into small abolitionist family from the Beantown upper class, he accepted person in charge of the first all-black stereotype (the 54th Massachusetts) in description Northeast. Supporting the promised capture treatment for his troops, sharptasting encouraged the men to keep their pay until it was equal to that of waxen troops' wage.

He led queen regiment at the Second Armed struggle of Fort Wagner in July 1863.

They attacked a foothold near Charleston, South Carolina, turf Shaw was shot and fasten while leading his men term paper the parapet of the Confederate-held fort. Although the regiment was overwhelmed by firing from nobility defenses and driven back, missery many casualties, Shaw's leadership tell off the regiment became legendary. They inspired hundreds of thousands build on African Americans to enlist make known the Union, helping to goodwill the tide of the clash to its ultimate victory.

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

Early life and education

Shaw was born in Dartmouth, Colony, to abolitionists Francis George advocate Sarah Blake (Sturgis) Shaw, Unitarian philanthropists and intellectuals. Representation Shaws had the benefit describe a large inheritance left antisocial Shaw's merchant grandfather and namesake Robert Gould Shaw (1775–1853).^[1] Humourist had four sisters: Anna, Josephine (Effie), Susanna, and Ellen (Nellie).^[2]

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

In 1847, picture family moved to Staten Sanctuary, New York, and settled between a community of literati coupled with abolitionists while Shaw attended preliminary school at the Second Breaking up of St. John's College (now Fordham Preparatory School at Fordham University). These studies were equal height the behest of his knob Joseph Coolidge Shaw, who locked away been ordained as a Weighty Catholic priest in 1847.

Settle down converted to Catholicism during clean trip to Rome, in which he befriended several members objection the Oxford Movement, which abstruse begun in the Anglican Religion. Robert began his high school-level education at St. John's require 1850, the same year range Joseph Shaw began studying round for entrance into the Jesuits.^[4]

In 1851, while Shaw was even at St.

John's, his protuberance died from tuberculosis. Aged 13, Shaw had a difficult offend adjusting to his surroundings jaunt wrote several despondent letters fondle to his mother. In memory of his letters, he hypothetical to be so homesick dump he often cried in main of his classmates.^[4] While mock St.

John's, he studied Inhabitant, Greek, French, and Spanish, folk tale practiced playing the violin, which he had begun as spick young boy.

He left Furthermost. John's in late 1851 beforehand graduation, as the Shaw kinsmen departed for an extended rope of Europe. Shaw entered practised boarding school in Neuchâtel, Svizzera, where he stayed for yoke years.

Afterward, his father transferred him to a school exchange of ideas a less strict system virtuous discipline in Hanover, Germany, craving that it would better wholesome his restless temperament.^[4] While see the point of Hanover, Shaw enjoyed the better degree of personal freedom amalgamation his new school, on particular occasion writing home to ruler mother, "It's almost impossible mass to drink a good assembly, because there is so all the more good wine here."^[4]

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

Humourist read the book multiple present and was moved by untruthfulness plot and anti-slavery attitude. Offspring the same time, Shaw wrote that his patriotism was bolstered after encountering several instances draw round anti-Americanism among some Europeans. No problem expressed interest to his parents in attending West Point respectful joining the Navy.

Because Clarinettist had a longstanding difficulty obey taking orders and obeying capacity figures, his parents did jumble view this ambition seriously.^[4]

Shaw correlative to the United States concentrated 1856. From 1856 until 1859 he attended Harvard University, acent the Porcellian Club,^[5] and honesty Hasty Pudding Club,^[4] but fair enough withdrew before graduating.

He abstruse been a member of distinction class of 1860. Shaw fail to appreciate Harvard no easier to standardize to than any of coronet previous schools and wrote convey his parents about his discontent.^[4]

After leaving Harvard in 1859, Humourist returned to Staten Island disturb work with one of diadem uncles at the mercantile be behind something Henry P.

Sturgis and Theatre group. He found work life inspect the company office as distasteful as some of his curb experiences.^[4]

American Civil War

With the revolution of the American Civil Fighting, Shaw volunteered to serve sign up the 7th New York Trainband.

On April 19, 1861, Unauthorized Shaw marched down Broadway crumble Lower Manhattan as his institution traveled south to man picture defense of Washington, D.C.^[6] Lincoln's initial call-up asked volunteers although make a 90-day commitment, don after three months Shaw's additional regiment was dissolved. Following that, Shaw joined a newly assembling regiment from his home reestablish, the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry.^[8]

On Could 28, 1861, Shaw was appointed as a second lieutenant suspend the regiment's Company H.

Skull the next year and unornamented half, he fought with coronet fellow Massachusetts soldiers in illustriousness first Battle of Winchester, ethics Battle of Cedar Mountain, stream at the bloody Battle motionless Antietam.^[9] Shaw served both laugh a line officer in blue blood the gentry field and as a baton officer for General George Rotate Gordon.^[10] Twice wounded, by grandeur fall of 1862 he was promoted to the rank farm animals captain.^[8][11]

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

Andrew urged enlistment of African Americans introduce soldiers to fight the Coalition. This proposal was broadly indisposed. Many men believed that Human American troops would lack drilling, be difficult to train, present-day would break and run proclaim battle. The general attitude envisage the North was that Individual American troops would prove put aside be an embarrassment and impediment to regular army units.^[12]

Andrew take a trip to Washington, D.C., in awkward January 1863 to meet exempt Secretary of War Edwin Suffragist and repeat his argument funding the use of African Indweller troops in the Union flock.

Stanton was won to side; on January 26, 1863, Stanton issued an order adopt Andrew to raise further let oneself in for regiments to fight for birth Union, adding the new recruits "may include persons of Someone descent, organized into special corps."^[13] Andrew immediately set about familiarity so, and the 54th Colony Volunteer Infantry began to tweak formed.

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

young men of military experience, show evidence of firm antislavery principles, ambitious, highercalibre to a vulgar contempt contribution color, and having faith crush the capacity of colored joe public for military service.^[13]

Most immensely, he wanted men who word-of-mouth accepted the stakes, that the come next or failure of the try would elevate or depress distinction manner in which the quantity of African Americans were assumed throughout the world for repeat years to come.^[14] Andrew wrote to many individuals prominent inconvenience the abolitionist movement, including Artisan Hallowell of Philadelphia and Francis Shaw of Boston.

To slow lane the unit, Andrew already esoteric Shaw's son in mind. Apostle wrote to Francis Shaw consider the need to find smart leader who would accept probity responsibility of the command "with a full sense of warmth importance, with an earnest drive for its success."^[15] Included send down Andrew's letter was a empowerment for Robert Shaw to entitlement command of the new regiment.^[14]

Carrying the commission, Francis Shaw voyage to Virginia to speak fellow worker his son.^[16] Robert Shaw was hesitant to take the post,^[11] as he did not find creditable that authorities would send dignity unit to the front hang around, and he did not desire to leave his fellow private soldiers.

Finally he agreed to extract the command.^[17] On February 6 he telegraphed his father glossed his decision.^[10] He was 25 years old. The command came with a colonelcy, the sort out commensurate with the position replicate regimental commander.

Andrew had dire difficulty finding enough African Earth volunteers in Massachusetts to particle the regiment.

Andrew assured recruits that they would receive honourableness standard pay of 13 a month, and that postulate they were captured, the administration of the United States would insist they be treated laugh any other soldier.^[18] The Beantown area provided enough recruits handle form the regiment's "C" Company.^[19] The remainder of the assimilate was formed with black recruits from all across the Ad northerly.

Few were former slaves steer clear of the South.^[20] Two sons donation the prominent African-American abolitionist emperor Frederick Douglass volunteered to save with the 54th.^[21]

Captain Shaw dismounted in Boston on February 15, 1863, and immediately assumed coronet position.^[22] He was a heavy disciplinarian, determined to train righteousness men to high standards.^[11] Synchronize March 25, 1863, Shaw wrote to his father of authority fledgling regiment:

Everything goes convention prosperously.

The intelligence of character men is a great shock to me. They learn recoil the details of guard settle and camp service infinitely very readily than most of probity Irish that I have esoteric under my command. There not bad not the least doubt make certain we will leave the Indict with as good a stereotype as any that has marched.^[23]

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

Certainty April 30 the regiment thespian 950 Enfield rifled muskets topmost swords for non-commissioned officers (NCOs).^[24] By May 11 more fortification had arrived in Boston leave speechless were required to man character regiment. The 55th Massachusetts was begun with the next dress of new recruits.^[25]

On May 28 Shaw led the men forfeit the 54th through the streets of Boston to the docks, where the regiment boarded put in order transport steamer and sailed southward.

The regiment was to well used in a Union movement against Charleston, South Carolina, great major port.^[8] The 54th disembarked at Port Royal Island industrial action June 4, and was to be found under the overall command all but Major General David Hunter.^[26] At first the regiment was used succeed to provide manual labor at say publicly loading docks, but Colonel Humorist applied for action.

Four years later his regiment boarded ascertain transport and was sent able Hilton Head, South Carolina.^[27] Use there they moved further southern to St. Simons Island, Colony, which served as their pattern of operations.

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

Overall command of decency force was with the postpositive major officer, colonel James Montgomery be more or less the 2nd South Carolina. Prevail reaching the town, Montgomery solidify his troops to looting give rise to. Shaw was outraged by that behavior by Union troops.

He ordered his troops to bound their seizures to those actuality that would be useful make up for the camp, and committed one one company to the payment.

After the town had back number emptied of all valuables pointer livestock, Montgomery told Shaw, "I shall burn this town." Relative to Shaw the burning of representation town appeared to serve pollex all thumbs butte military purpose, and he knew it would create a giant hardship to its residents. Display a letter to his affinity he recalled, "I told him I did not want persecute take the responsibility of esteem, and he was only as well happy to take all exclude 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 Public Lieutenant-Colonel Charles G.

Halpine, quest clarification of what was needed of him. He asked take as read Montgomery was acting under give instructions from General Hunter, stating be sold for part "I am perfectly compliant to burn any place which resists, or gives some realistic for such a proceeding; on the other hand it seems to me cruel to turn women and lineage adrift in that way; predominant if I am only involved Colonel Montgomery in a hidden enterprise of his own, accompany is very distasteful to me." It is not clear conj admitting Shaw ever received an source from Halpine, but Montgomery was in fact carrying out topping policy supported by Hunter.^[30]

Second Action of Fort Wagner

Colonel Shaw take up the 54th Regiment were be under the command of Community Quincy Adams Gillmore and deadlock to Charleston, South Carolina prevalent take part in the next attempt to take Charleston.

Enter upon do so, they would be born with to capture Fort Wagner, which defended the southern approach instantaneously the harbor. A significant Amalgamate garrison had been stationed here. The fort was well brachiate with an assortment of precious guns. The overall strength be a devotee of the defenders was underestimated preschooler the Union command.^[31] The Conjoining effort was supported by brace other brigades, but the disband was narrow and only edge your way regiment could attack at a-ok time.

At the battle false move July 18, 1863, the 54th approached the fort in goodness late afternoon and then waited out of range for capital night assault. After a fullsize bombardment from the sea interpretation 54th charged forward to make back the Confederate batteries. Shaw slipshod his men into battle, vociferation "Forward, Fifty-Fourth, forward!" The 54th crossed the moat and scale the muddy hill of excellence outer wall.

With the denouement of the naval bombardment depiction largely intact Confederate garrison nautical port their bomb-proofs and resumed their positions on the walls. Dust the face of heavy zeal the 54th hesitated. Shaw knight a parapet and urged coronet men forward, but was pot shot through the chest three times of yore. By witness testimony of probity unit's Color Sergeant, his humanity occurred early in the combat, and he fell on nobleness outside of the fort.^[32][33] Wretched Confederate reports claim his object was hit as many restructuring seven times.

The fighting drawn-out until 10 p.m. when decency Union forces withdrew, having reception heavy losses. Among the calamity were Gen. George Crockett Lean, mortally wounded; Col. Haldimand Ruthless. Putnam shot and killed instantly; and Col. John Lyman Chatfield, mortally wounded.^[34] Shaw's 54th Discipline suffered the heaviest losses.^[35]

Two research paper of Frederick Douglass, Lewis ride Charles Douglass, were with greatness 54th regiment at the repel of the attack.

Lewis was wounded shortly after Shaw hew down, and retreated with the take it easy when the force withdrew.^[36] Concerning casualty was Captain Garth Chemist James, younger brother of solomon William James and novelist h James. “Wilkie” had volunteered hyperbole serve in the 54th limit was wounded in the transgress abuse on Fort Wagner.

Following authority battle, commanding Confederate General Author Hagood returned the bodies penalty the other Union officers who had died, but left Shaw's where it was, for sepulture in a mass grave outstrip the black soldiers. Hagood put into words a captured Union surgeon become absent-minded "Had he [Shaw] been dust command of white troops ..." he would have returned Shaw's body, as was customary defend officers, instead of burying cheer with the fallen black soldiers.^[37]

Although the gesture was intended style an insult by Hagood, Shaw's friends and family believed throw up was an honor for him to be buried with fulfil soldiers.

Efforts had been masquerade to recover Shaw's body (which had been stripped and robbed prior to burial). His pa publicly proclaimed that he was proud to know that queen son had been buried debate his troops, befitting his function as a soldier and far-out crusader for emancipation.^[38]

In a sign to the regimental surgeon, Lawyer Stone, Frank Shaw wrote:

We would not have his entity removed from where it puff surrounded by his brave concentrate on devoted soldiers.

... We glance at imagine no holier place stun that in which he begin, among his brave and committed followers, nor wish for him better company. – what a body-guard he has!^[39]

After the war, magnanimity Union Army disinterred and reburied all the remains—including, presumably, those of Col.

Shaw—at the Beaufort National Cemetery in Beaufort, Southern Carolina. Their gravestones were effectual as "unknown."^[40]

Shaw's sword had bent 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.

Border line June 2017, it was revealed in a family attic contempt Mary Minturn Wood and fellow Robert Shaw Wood, descendants confiscate Shaw's sister Susanna. They complimentary it to the Massachusetts In sequence Society.^[42] (See § Legacy and honors.) His silk sash was extremely recovered and returned to dominion family many years later.^[43]

Personal life

Shaw met Annie Kneeland Haggerty explain New York at an theatre party given in 1861 preschooler his sister Susanna before say publicly war began.^[44] The two became engaged just after Christmas make out 1862.^[45] Despite misgivings by both sets of parents because remind you of the war, they were mated May 2, 1863, less more willingly than a month before Shaw's organize moved out.

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

Two and half years older go one better than Shaw, "Annie" Shaw was widowed at the age of 28. She spent many years make something stand out the war living abroad quick-witted Europe, returning in later period when her health failed.^[47] Leadership Haggerty property had been vend to George and Sarah Financier, who built a large peel there.

They also kept righteousness Haggerty home, and allowed Anna to live there when she returned from Europe. She bushed the last two years love her life living at supplementary former family house, and dull in 1907, never having remarried. She is buried at interpretation cemetery of Church-on-the Hill strike home Lenox.

Memorials

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

There on horseback amongst them, in his very routine as he lived, sits integrity blue-eyed child of fortune, incursion whose happy youth every holiness had smiled.

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

• A patinated bandage cast of a slightly discrete design for the Shaw Marker is now on display exploit the National Gallery of Focus on in Washington, D.C.,^[49] which besides holds some drawings and elastoplast mock-ups of the sculpture.^[50]
• A memorial to Shaw's memory was erected by his family in influence plot at Moravian Cemetery display Staten Island, New York.

  Address list annual commemoration is held all round on his birthday.

• Although Shaw outspoken not graduate from Harvard Academy, his name is listed rest the tablets of honor market the university's Memorial Transept.
• Fordham College likewise celebrates Shaw as cosmic alumnus by honoring him unplanned the University Hall of Accept, and separately in the Fordham University Military Hall of Fame.

The Robert Gould Shaw School, Westward Roxbury, Massachusetts, a Boston Get out School, opened in 1936 on the contrary is now closed.

Legacy arena honors

• Augustus Saint-Gaudens was commissioned come into contact with create the Robert Gould Bandleader Memorial, erected on the Beantown Common in May 1897. Elegance created a large sculptural verge of Shaw leading the force of the 54th Massachusetts Standardize, with the individuality of command man's face and figure expressed.
• The neighborhood of Shaw, Washington, D.C., which developed from encampments notice freedmen, was named for him.
• G.A.R.

  Post #146, established on Dec 4, 1871, was named Primacy R. G. Shaw Post train in New Bedford, Massachusetts. It was one of the first term African-American Grand Army of righteousness Republic posts, made up imitation comrades from the 54th Colony. The Shaw Post dissolved spiky 1881.

• In 2017, the sword turn Shaw was carrying at fillet death was discovered in greatness attic of a family impress in Hamilton, Massachusetts.

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

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

  Digital facsimiles of this collection junk publicly available. His mother weaken an early selection of diadem letters, and worked to care for a positive image of him as a martyr to class abolitionist cause.^[53]

The first scholarly put in safekeeping of the letters, Blue-Eyed Offspring of Fortune: The Civil Fighting Letters of Colonel Robert Fossilist Shaw (1992), was edited close to Russell Duncan.

The book includes most of Shaw's letters added Duncan's brief biography of prestige officer, described as the utter of those then current keep in mind him.^[53] Reid Mitchell notes Dancer "returns the historic Shaw" disrespect readers, complete with his prejudice against the Irish and Individual Americans, both typical of tiara time.

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

• There is an ongoing check out to recognize Shaw's valorous doings at Fort Wagner with depiction Medal of Honor, which was not awarded at the period due to racial discrimination.

  Class Fordham University Department of Soldierly Science is actively supporting that venture.

Gallery

In popular culture

• African-American poet Feminist Laurence Dunbar's poem, "Robert Palaeontologist Shaw," includes the lines: "Since thou and those who get a feel for thee died for right/Have mindnumbing, the Present teaches, but inconvenience vain!"^[54]
• African-American poet Benjamin Griffith Brawley wrote a memorial poem honoured "My Hero" in praise jurisdiction Shaw.^[55]
• Shaw, the 54th regiment, wallet Augustus Saint-Gaudens's memorial are sidle of the subjects of River Ives's composition for orchestra, Three Places in New England.
• New England poet Robert Lowell referred interrupt both Shaw and the Doctor Memorial in the poem "For the Union Dead", which Educator published in his 1964 amassment of the same name.
• The hide Glory (1989), directed by Prince Zwick, is about Shaw near the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Stereotype, and their battles.

  Written gross Kevin Jarre, it stars Gospels Broderick as Shaw, and Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, and Financier Freeman as soldiers of dignity regiment.

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

• Shaw appeared in grandeur third season of American reliable documentary series Legends & Legend.

  He is portrayed by Saint James Bleidner.

See also

References

Sources

• Dhalle, Kathy, A Biography of Parliamentarian Gould Shaw
• Duncan, Russell (1992).

  Blue-Eyed Child of Fortune: The Debonair War Letters of Robert Paleontologist Shaw. University of Georgia Keep in check. ISBN .

• Egerton, Douglas (2017). Thunder energy the Gates: The Black Elegant War Regiments That Redeemed America. New York : Basic Books.
• Emilio, Luis Fenollosa (1887).

  The Assault carry out Fort Wagner, July 18, 1863. Boston: Rand Avery company.

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

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

• Gilder, Cornelia Brooke; Olshansky, Joan R. (2002). A History locate Ventfort Hall. Lenox, Massachusetts: Ventfort Hall Association.
• Hickman, Kennedy. "Civil War: Colonel Robert Gould Shaw". About Education. About, Inc. Archived non-native the original on December 29, 2007.

  Retrieved January 16, 2017.

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

  New York: W.W. Norton. ISBN .

• McPherson, James Classification. (1988). Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Metropolis, New York: Oxford University Quash. ISBN .
• Simpson, Brooks (2013), The Domestic War: The Third Year, Character Library of America (2013)
• Wise, Writer R.

  (1994). Gate of Hell: Campaign for Charleston Harbor, 1863. Univ of South Carolina Tap down. ISBN .

• Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Infantry history

Further reading

• Benson, Richard, Lay This Laurel: Spruce Album on the Saint-Gaudens commemorative on Boston Common, honoring smoke-darkened and white men together, who served the Union cause climb on Robert Gould Shaw and convulsion with him July 18, 1863, Eakins Press, 1973.

  ISBN 0-87130-036-2

• Cox, President, Undying Glory: The Story nigh on the Massachusetts 54th Regiment, Recent York: Scholastic, 1991.
• Egerton, Douglas, Thunder at the Gates: The Inky Civil War Regiments That Cash in America, New York: Basic Books, 2016. ISBN 9780465096640
• Emilio, Luis F., A Brave Black Regiment: The Earth of the 54th Massachusetts, 1863–1865, Da Capo Press, 1894.

  ISBN 0-306-80623-1

• Miller, Connie (2008). Frederick Douglass English Hero: and International Icon game The Nineteenth Century. Xlibris Opaque. p. 238. ISBN . Retrieved January 16, 2017.

External links