ROBERT GOULD SHAW and the 54th MASSACHUSETTSOctober 10, 1837 – July 18, 1863 An American Officer Robert Gould Shaw was born an abolitionist blue-blood in Boston. The family lived off of an inheritance left by Robert’s merchant grandfather. Robert was named after his grandfather. Following the election of Abraham Lincoln and the secession of several Southern states Robert joined the 7th New York Infantry Regiment. Following the defense of Washington this regiment was disbaned. Robert then joined the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry as a second lieutenant. While with the 2nd Massachusetts he took part in the battles of Cedar, Winchester and Antietam. Shaw was promoted to major on March 31, 1863 and to colonel on April 17. Shaw was approached by his father while in camp in late 1862 to take command of a new All-Black Regiment. At first he declined the offer, however after careful consideration he then accepted it. In Shaws’s letters he clearrly states that he was dubious about a free black unit succeeding, but the dedication of his men deeply impressed him, and he grew to respect them as fine soldiers. On learning that black soldiers would receive less pay than white soldiers, he inspired his unit to conduct a boycott until this inequality was rectified. The enlisted men of the 54th and the 55th refused pay until Congress granted them the same pay as the White soldiers were paid. This was not granted by Congress until August 1864. The Regiment was dispatch to Charleston, South Carolina to battle the Confederates that were stationed there. On July 18, 1863 they and two other brigades of White troops assaulted the Confederates at Battery Wagner. As the united hesitated in the face of fierce Confederate Shaw sprang forth and mounted a paraped shouting “Forward, Fifty- Forward!” He was instantly shot down and died on the spot. The victorious Confederates buried him in a mass grave with many of his men. This was an intended as an insult. General Johnson Hagood, returned the bodies of the other Union officers who had died to the Union. He said of Shaw: “I buried him with his Niggers.” Efforts were made to recover Shaw’s body, which had been stripped and robbed prior to burial. Shaw’s father said that he was proud to know that his son was burred with his troops, befitting his role as a soldier and a crusader for social justice. In a letter that he wrote to the regimental surgeon Lincoln Stone he wrote: "We would not have his body removed from where it lies surrounded by his brave and devoted soldiers....We can imagine no holier place than that in which he lies, among his brave and devoted followers, nor wish for him better company. – what a body-guard he has!"
It is thought by most that the 54th was the first Black Regiment to be formed. That is recorded on the monument at New Bedford. However, that is not the case. The fact is that the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteers had the first victory by a Black regiment at Island Mound, Missouri before the 54th were formed. This victory was on October 29th, 1862.
Louisiana Native Guards, Corps d’Afrique 1st Kansas Colored Volunteers 1st South Carolina Black Volunteers 54th Massachusetts
It is widely believed that the 54th was the only Black regiment to strike for equal pay. However, in early June 1864 Private Sylvester Ray of the 2nd US Colored Cavalry was recommended for trial because he refused to accept pay inferior to that of the White soldiers. First Lieutenant Edwin Hughes of the 2nd U.S. Colored Cavalry, recorded Private Ray as stating.” None of us will sign again for seven dollars a month…”
Lee Black
Lee Blake New Bedford Historical Society www.nbhistoricalsociety.org Brown, Kenneth E ; “Recognition Denied: A history of the Black soldier in America’s Civil War” Both are available on WWW.Amazon.com |