On the Boston Common stands one of the great Civil War memorials, a magnificent bronze sculpture by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. It depicts the black soldiers of the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Infantry marching alongside their young white commander, Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. When the philosopher William James dedicated the memorial in May 1897, he stirred the assembled crowd with these words: "There they march, warm-blooded champions of a better day for man. There on horseback among them, in the very habit as he lived, sits the blue-eyed child of fortune."
In this book Shaw speaks for himself with equal eloquence through nearly two hundred letters he wrote to his family and friends during the Civil War. The portrait that emerges is of a man more divided and complex―though no less heroic―than the Shaw depicted in the celebrated film Glory. The pampered son of wealthy Boston abolitionists, Shaw was no abolitionist himself, but he was among the first patriots to respond to Lincoln's call for troops after the attack on Fort Sumter. After Cedar Mountain and Antietam, Shaw knew the carnage of war firsthand. Describing nightfall on the Antietam battlefield, he wrote, "the crickets chirped, and the frogs croaked, just as if nothing unusual had happened all day long, and presently the stars came out bright, and we lay down among the dead, and slept soundly until daylight. There were twenty dead bodies within a rod of me."
When Federal war aims shifted from an emphasis on restoring the Union to the higher goal of emancipation for four million slaves, Shaw's mother pressured her son into accepting the command of the North's vanguard black regiment, the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts. A paternalist who never fully reconciled his own prejudices about black inferiority, Shaw assumed the command with great reluctance. Yet, as he trained his recruits in Readville, Massachusetts, during the early months of 1963, he came to respect their pluck and dedication. "There is not the least doubt," he wrote his mother, "that we shall leave the state, with as good a regiment, as any that has marched."
Despite such expressions of confidence, Shaw in fact continued to worry about how well his troops would perform under fire. The ultimate test came in South Carolina in July 1863, when the Fifty-fourth led a brave but ill-fated charge on Fort Wagner, at the approach to Charleston Harbor. As Shaw waved his sword and urged his men forward, an enemy bullet felled him on the fort's parapet. A few hours later the Confederates dumped his body into a mass grave with the bodies of twenty of his men. Although the assault was a failure from a military standpoint, it proved the proposition to which Shaw had reluctantly dedicated himself when he took command of the Fifty-fourth: that black soldiers could indeed be fighting men. By year's end, sixty new black regiments were being organized.
A previous selection of Shaw's correspondence was privately published by his family in 1864. For this volume, Russell Duncan has restored many passages omitted from the earlier edition and has provided detailed explanatory notes to the letters. In addition he has written a lengthy biographical essay that places the young colonel and his regiment in historical context.
Reviews (34)
FLESHES OUT " GLORY " FILM
As many did many I saw the film GLORY. However when I went in search of more information on the Massachusetts 54th quality books were scarce - until this one. Admittedly this i a tome larger than my usual fare but well worth the time you will commit to and invest in. . . though it describes the mindset of whites of that era if one reads VERY carefully one could know that in many ways the thoughts AND beliefs about blacks in America have not yet changed. This is an excellent detailing one man's desire to know and the surprise of what he comes to learn that may help us decrease the misconceptions that we still have one about the other.
Robert Shaw was a well disciplined officer
Robert Shaw was a well disciplined officer who was well qualified to be a union colonel dispite his being in his early twenties. He had the personality of a man much older in years. He was not afraid of strictly contolling his men as an officer in charge. But he also had deep conviction in what he was fighting for, along with great compassion for the plight of others. The book is filled with letters he wrote home to his parents that give blow by blow descriptions of the progression of the war and how it affected him personally. It also shows a side of Shaw not shown in the movie Glory. He was a newly-wed, who sent letter home to his bride, confiding as much to her about the progression of the war. He also saw more fighting during the war than seemed to be represented in the movie. He saw service in several battles and was a seasoned soldier by the time he took command of the 54th Massachusetts volunteers. It is truly sad to think that so many men of all sorts of backgrounds like himself died in the Civil War.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.....
After seeing the movie GLORY I wanted to learn more about the true story!
Very Good
This is a must have for those who are specializing in the American Civil War or the history buff. The historical narrations from the author as well as from a first person narratives in the letters gives a first hand view of how it was to be involved in the war. And how it was in those Victorian times. A good book to read as either for history value or personal entertaintment.
The detail of daily life in the Union Army conveyed ...
The detail of daily life in the Union Army conveyed in Col. Gould's own words, with the chapter explanations and numerous footnotes, make for an enjoyable, comprehensive read. Should be required reading for US History.
This book is not too difficult and he enjoyed the gift
My son admires Robert Shaw. This book is not too difficult and he enjoyed the gift.
Col. Robert Gould Shaw
Just what I need for the article I am writing. Thanks.
True story of R. G. Shaw commander of ...
True story of R.G. Shaw commander of the 54th Massachusetts. Well written.
Stunning to read the actual words of Shaw. His ...
Stunning to read the actual words of Shaw. His letters were touching and gave a greater historical insight of the throes the nation was experiencing at that time.
Five Stars
Gave this to my son as a birthday gift and he said he loves it. Thanks so much.
FLESHES OUT " GLORY " FILM
As many did many I saw the film GLORY. However when I went in search of more information on the Massachusetts 54th quality books were scarce - until this one. Admittedly this i a tome larger than my usual fare but well worth the time you will commit to and invest in. . . though it describes the mindset of whites of that era if one reads VERY carefully one could know that in many ways the thoughts AND beliefs about blacks in America have not yet changed. This is an excellent detailing one man's desire to know and the surprise of what he comes to learn that may help us decrease the misconceptions that we still have one about the other.
Robert Shaw was a well disciplined officer
Robert Shaw was a well disciplined officer who was well qualified to be a union colonel dispite his being in his early twenties. He had the personality of a man much older in years. He was not afraid of strictly contolling his men as an officer in charge. But he also had deep conviction in what he was fighting for, along with great compassion for the plight of others. The book is filled with letters he wrote home to his parents that give blow by blow descriptions of the progression of the war and how it affected him personally. It also shows a side of Shaw not shown in the movie Glory. He was a newly-wed, who sent letter home to his bride, confiding as much to her about the progression of the war. He also saw more fighting during the war than seemed to be represented in the movie. He saw service in several battles and was a seasoned soldier by the time he took command of the 54th Massachusetts volunteers. It is truly sad to think that so many men of all sorts of backgrounds like himself died in the Civil War.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.....
After seeing the movie GLORY I wanted to learn more about the true story!
Very Good
This is a must have for those who are specializing in the American Civil War or the history buff. The historical narrations from the author as well as from a first person narratives in the letters gives a first hand view of how it was to be involved in the war. And how it was in those Victorian times. A good book to read as either for history value or personal entertaintment.
The detail of daily life in the Union Army conveyed ...
The detail of daily life in the Union Army conveyed in Col. Gould's own words, with the chapter explanations and numerous footnotes, make for an enjoyable, comprehensive read. Should be required reading for US History.
This book is not too difficult and he enjoyed the gift
My son admires Robert Shaw. This book is not too difficult and he enjoyed the gift.
Col. Robert Gould Shaw
Just what I need for the article I am writing. Thanks.
True story of R. G. Shaw commander of ...
True story of R.G. Shaw commander of the 54th Massachusetts. Well written.
Stunning to read the actual words of Shaw. His ...
Stunning to read the actual words of Shaw. His letters were touching and gave a greater historical insight of the throes the nation was experiencing at that time.
Five Stars
Gave this to my son as a birthday gift and he said he loves it. Thanks so much.
Blue-Eyed Child of Fortune: The Civil War Letters of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw
Through his letters you can tell how close he was to his family and especially his Mother. His detailed letters show his sense of duty to his country and the challenge to accept a most difficult assignment which would in the end take his life. Colonel Shaw was so young but also intellegent and did command his men by his example while training them to be the best soldiers possible. On the 150th anniversary of the Civil War it is time to remember that war is hell and should not be repeated but the human condition always pushes us forward to repeat this history and the young lives lost are always most tragic.
Love Book admired Shaw had heard of him before Glory
Love Book admired Shaw had heard of him before Glory. Packed perfectly and shipped fast. I do not read much anymore but will be very happy to enjoy this book and pass it down to the next generation.
Great In-Depth History of Robert Gould Shaw
I bought this book when I was doing research on a fictional character, who is the ancestor of Robert Gould Shaw. I learned a great deal about Shaw and enabled me to give his fictional ancestor similar character traits.
Great book
Great book if you are a historian
Excellent view into the life of Civil War Officer
Only caveat- If you loved the movie Glory, DON'T read this book. That account of the 54th Mass if highly fictionalized. These letters tell a different story of a very heroic, but flawed man.
Great book
Good book
Great gift!
I purchased this as a gift for a Civil War buff, and by all accounts, he loved it! I paired with the movie, Glory, and it seemed to be a great hit. I recommend it highly.
The Book Delivered!
This book came in time better than expected. It was in good condition. I love its content. It has the most insightful bits of information for my research. I hardly want to stop reading it. It's fabulous! I recommend it!
Five Stars
great to read shaw's own view thru his letters
Great read
Purchased for a friend. Read it twice and enjoy it every time.
Goes beyond the movie version of this story
Provocative and scholarly look at this American hero. Goes where Glory missed in describing the true writings and feelings of this character and tells the story without the fictional additions.
Great book. Great Man.
I bought this book for my husband, and his grandfather, mother, and brother. Robert Gould Shaw was the nephew of his grandfather's great grandmother. It's amazing to read the letters that he wrote home while leading the first all-black regiment in the Civil War.
Great Amazon Book
After a visit to Gettysburg this past June, I have been sending for alot of Civil war Books. This is a special book for me to read, as i am originally from Massachusetts. The book was here very quickly and i find it hard to believe this was ever read. It is in perfect condition. Because of the number of books I have sent for in the last few months, I have not gotten to this one yet. I have seen the statue of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and know his story but I am interested in reading the letters he wrote during that time. I know i will enjoy this book immensely and love the fact that I can afford so many good books from Amazon.
Book
I received book on time and in wonderful condition. I enjoyed the shopping experience with this vendor. Price was excellent, especially in view of condition of item. Thank you.
