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Colonel Gould Shaw

Colonel Gould Shaw. Early Life. Robert Gould Shaw was born on October 10 th , 1837 in Boston, Massachusetts Studied in Europe as a teen A ttended St. John’s College Attended Harvard for 3 years but dropped out before he got his degree

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Colonel Gould Shaw

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  1. Colonel Gould Shaw

  2. Early Life • Robert Gould Shaw was born on October 10th, 1837 in Boston, Massachusetts • Studied in Europe as a teen • Attended St. John’s College • Attended Harvard for 3 years but dropped out before he got his degree • As he looked for where he belonged, he worked for his uncle’s business in New York

  3. Gould Shaw and the Army • In 1861, Gould Shaw had a calling to join the Union Army • First, he joined the 7th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment • He served to defend Washington D.C. for 30 days but soon after, the regiment “dissolved”

  4. Gould Shaw and the Army • May 1861 Gould Shaw joined the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry as a second lieutenant • He served for two years and ranked as a captain • Fought in The First Battle of Winchester, The Battles of Cedar Mountain, and Antietam • Last, he took command of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment

  5. 54th Massachusetts Regiment • In March 1863, Gould Shaw was asked to take command of an All-Black regiment • At first he was hesitant but eventually accepted • At first he was doubtful of his men but his respect for them grew quickly • He knew that they could fight as well as whites and was anxious to prove it • When he found out that blacks would get paid less than whites, Gould Shaw boycotted the wages until this changed • He was promoted Major on March 31, 1863 and Colonel the following April 17th

  6. Family Life • In the winter of 1862, Robert sent a letter to Annie, his ‘sweetheart,’ asking if she would marry him • They planned a wedding for the following spring • On May 2nd, 1863, Robert Gould Shaw married Anna “Annie” Kneeland Haggerty in New York City

  7. Gould Shaw sets out for South Carolina • On May 28, 1863 Gould Shaw led the 54th regiment through a parade in Boston on their way to the docks to leave for South Carolina • After only being in South Carolina week, Colonel James Montgomery ordered for Darien, GA to be looted and burned by the 54th regiment • Reluctantly, Gould Shaw had to follow orders • After the attack he called it a “satanic action”

  8. The Storming of Fort Wagner • With two other brigades of white tropes they stormed Fort Wagner. • Before, Gould Shaw had a strong feeling that he would not make it so gave a New York reporter some of his letters and personal papers • Instead of hiding in the back, he chose to lead the attack to be with his soldiers • Before he told his soldiers, “I want you to prove yourselves, the eyes of thousands will look on what you do tonight.” • As he led his men into battle, he shouted “Onward Fifty-fourth!” • Soon after this he was shot through the heart and died almost immediately.

  9. Remembering Gould Shaw • As an act of disrespect, the confederates buried him with all of his other fallen soldiers but his family and friends saw this as an honor because his was buried with all of his soldiers • “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!” –Francis George • Gould Shaw was a man with a huge heart • He always put others before himself and he would have done anything for his men which is why he was such a great civil war hero

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