Robert gould shaw book

Robert gould shaw family tree along with family connections to other famous kin. This book is a good starting point for anyone interested in learning more about shaw and his men. The civil war letters of colonel robert gould shaw. The 54th was roberts chance to truly show the abolitionist in him. History images us history history books robert gould. A fascinating look at the letters of robert gould shaw. Robert gould shaw october 10, 1837 july 18, 1863 was an american officer in the union army during the american civil war.

Oration by william james at the exercises in the boston music hall, may 31, 1897, upon the unveiling of the shaw monument. The bulk of the collection consists of letters by robert gould shaw to his family, including 98 letters to his mother, 31 to his father, and some to his sisters and brothersinlaw. I had received this book as a birthday present some time ago and just now got around to. Gaudens monument in boston common and the film glory. Only hours later, the body of colonel robert gould shaw, the regiments white commander, was thrown into a mass grave with those of twenty of his men. Augustus saintgaudens memorial to robert gould shaw and the massachusetts fiftyfourth regiment, national gallery of art, washington, 19971998. The author tells the story of robert gould shaw and the historic 54th massachusetts infantry regiment. While leading the regiment, shaw wrote several hundred letters to his parents, sisters, and wife. Lay this laurel share book recommendations with your. Most were written during the civil war, though some to his parents are from his presoldier days when he traveled in europe and was a student at harvard. Shaw, robert gould 10 october 183718 july 1863, soldier, was born in boston, massachusetts, the son of francis george shaw, a merchant and social reformer, and sarah blake sturgis, an abolitionist. Grass systematics by gould, frank w shaw, robert b. Assault of battery wagner and death of robert gould shaw.

Robert gould shaw was buried in a mass burial pit grave along with the other members of the 54th massachusettss volunteer infantry killed during the assault on fort wagner during the civil war. Robert gould shaw books list of books by author robert. Aug 17, 2017 robert gould shaw already owned a sword, but it wasnt appropriate for the rank of colonel, so this new english sword is the one he carried into combat. Ive made steady progress with my research project on colonel robert gould shaw. Colonel robert gould shaw and the 54th massachusetts infantry duncan, russell on. The civil war letters of colonel robert gould shaw, russell duncan described shaw s letters as conveying, the change wrought by battlefield casualties, camp life, commitment, and homesickness upon the sensibilities of youth. Robert gould shaw and his brave black regiment 1965, became the main source of historical material for glory, the academy awardwinning film featuring denzel washington, morgan. This book was a one day read and a good one at that.

The story of shaw and the 54th were depicted in the 1989 film, glory which was based upon the peter burchard book, one gallant rush. Robert gould shaw and the 54th regiment boston african. On july 18, 1863, the african american soldiers of the fiftyfourth massachusetts infantry led a courageous but illfated charge on fort wagner, a key bastion guarding charleston harbor. Shaws collected letters were published in 1992 in blueeyed child of fortune.

This book highlights shaw as the man he really was. The following story is repeated, with the photo above, many times on the internet. The movie is reasonably historically accurate, though there are parts where they took liberties with the truth. Blueeyed child of fortune university of georgia press. The civil war letters of colonel robert gould shaw, and history of the boston stage from 1791 to 1825, and more on. Despite his image in the 1989 film glory, robert gould shaw was a reluctant leader of the famous 54th massachusetts infantry, one of the first african american regiments in the civil war. The book expands on how the 54th massachusetts developed as. An album on the saintgaudens memorial on boston common, honoring black and white men together, who served the union cause with robert gould shaw and died with him july 18, 1863.

Confederate defenders killed, wounded, or made prisoners of half the regiment. Shaw was born into an immensely wealthy boston family. He was born into a boston brahmin family that could trace its origins back to the mayflower. 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. Robert gould shaw and his brave black regiment 1965 is a book by peter burchard, based on letters written by robert gould shaw, white colonel of the first black regiment in the union army during the american civil war, the 54th massachusetts regiment. Robert gould shaw is the author of blueeyed child of fortune 4. The massachusetts historical society mhs announced the acquisition of a significant collection of shaw and minturn family papers, photographs, art, and artifacts, including letters written by robert gould shaw of the 2nd and 54th massachusetts infantry regiments, the 54th being the first african american regiment raised in the north during.

The book, however, is largely a biography of robert gould shaw. Houghtons large collection of shaws letters to his family and other papers has now been fully digitized with funding provided by the ruth miller memorial philanthropic fund, and is available to view through the collections finding aid. It also shows how he struggles with his place in his life. In the film glory, robert gould shaw was portrayed as a rather stuffy but dedicated and idealistic young officer who led his regiment of africanamerican soldiers to a magnificent death in an attempt to take the confederate fort wagner off the coast of south carolina. When shaw was five years old, the family moved to a large estate in west roxbury, adjacent to brook farm. A nonfiction study of the regiment first appeared in 1965 and was republished in paperback in january 1990 by st. See all books authored by robert gould shaw, including blueeyed child of fortune. They are almost grave and sedate under instruction and they restrain themselves. The book sets the record straight in a number of ways. In 1862, boston native and union army officer robert gould shaw took command of the 54th massachusetts volunteer infantry regiment, the nations first allblack regiment.

March 1, 1917 september 12, 1977 was an american poet. The shaws had the benefit of a large inheritance left by shaws merchant grandfather and namesake robert gould shaw 17751853. After shaw was shot to death while storming fort wagner with this sword in his hand, it was stripped from his body along with his other possessions and all his clothing, except for his underwear. When the war started, he saw it as his duty to enlist, first serving in the ranks of a new york regiment, and later securing appointment as a captain in the 2nd massachusetts infantry. The real shaw, as evidenced by this collection of letters. Jul 12, 2017 the massachusetts historical society mhs announced the acquisition of a significant collection of shaw and minturn family papers, photographs, art, and artifacts, including letters written by robert gould shaw of the 2nd and 54th massachusetts infantry regiments, the 54th being the first african american regiment raised in the north during. Robert gould shaw ii as little billee from the novel trilby as the gilded age gave way to the progressive era and eventually the great depression, the. Robert gould shaw and his brave black regiment 1965, became the main source of historical material for glory, the academy awardwinning film featuring denzel washington, morgan freeman and matthew broderick, who portrayed col. Shaw was born a child of privalege, and raised to be an abolitionist and a devout christian. The book is a good historical recording of robert gould shaw, describing in detail his early childhood, his family and his education. Shaw had four sistersanna, josephine effie, susanna, and ellen nellie. Ix and socialite of the leisure class in the greater boston area of massachusetts. Letters from robert gould shaw of the seventh regiment the. Robert gould shaw civil war battle sword mowbray publishing.

This course explores the history of boston from the 1600s to the present day. Growing up in boston also informed his poems, which were frequently set in boston and the new england. Robert gould shaw october 10, 1837 july 18, 1863 was an american officer in the union army during the american civil warhe accepted command. Genealogy charts for robert gould shaw may include up to 30 generations of ancestors with source citations. It depicts the black soldiers of the fiftyfourth massachusetts infantry marching alongside their young white commander, colonel robert gould shaw. An album on the saintgaudens memorial on boston common honoring black and white men together who served the union cause with robert gould shaw and died with him july 18, 1863 as want to read.

The pampered son of wealthy boston abolitionists, shaw was no abolitionist himself, but he. Its exciting how research can transform what you thought you knew about a historical subject or individ. Robert gould shaw project gutenberg selfpublishing. Shaw s collected letters were published in 1992 in blueeyed child of fortune. The robert gould shaw and massachusetts 54 th regiment memorial, located across beacon street from the state house, serves as a reminder of the heavy cost paid by individuals and families during the civil war. Harper pennington in one of his paintings depicted a nude robert gould shaw ii as the character little billee from the bohemian novel trilby by george du maurier. Shaw read the book multiple times and was moved by its plot and antislavery attitude. Source citations are included at the bottom of the page.

Sep 28, 2015 the completed robert gould shaw documentary. Around the same time, shaw wrote that his patriotism had. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Only hours later, the body of colonel robert gould shaw, the regiments white commander, was thrown into a. See more ideas about robert gould shaw, american civil war and civil war photos. Apr 25, 2011 one member, robert gould shaw, then a littleknown private in the seventh new york, achieved national fame after he was killed in 1863 at the head of the black 54th massachusetts infantry and eventual immortality in the augustus st. Born into a prominent boston abolitionist family, he accepted command of the first allblack regiment the 54th massachusetts in the northeast. Robert gould shaw, born october 10, 1837, boston, massachusetts, u. The civil war letters of colonel robert gould shaw shaw, robert gould, duncan, russell, mcfeely, william on. Korea the forgotten war in colour outbreak fad june 25 2010 230am ch61 wned may 30 2012 wed duration. Discussion colonel robert gould shaw civil war history. Robert gould shaw author of blueeyed child of fortune. Robert gould shaw ii sometimes referred to as rgs ii june 16, 1872 march 29, 1930 was a wealthy landowner, international polo player of the myopia hunt club biographical history of massachusetts, eliot, vol. Online shopping from a great selection at books store.

Colonel robert gould shaw and the 54th massachusetts infantry. Robert gould shaw october 10, 1837 july 18, 1863 was an american military officer in the union army during the american civil war. In this book shaw speaks for himself with equal eloquence through nearly two. Historic context reel american history films list lehigh. This is particularly interesting as it spends more time during the almost two years shaw spent with the 7th ny militia and 2nd mass vol inf, rather than the admittedly more significant six months he spent with the 54th mass vol inf. While leading the regiment, shaw wrote several hundred letters to his parents, sisters, and wife, which constitute one of the main sources of information on the regiment from this period. Christmas 1861 robert gould shaws holiday letter from.

This painting hung in the bedroom of henry symes lehr, the. On the boston common stands one of the great civil war memorials, a magnificent bronze sculpture by augustus saintgaudens. This book is a good starting point for anyone interested in. Shaw was born into one of the wealthiest families in the country, linked by marriage to boston merchant dynasties such as the cabots and russells. In the introduction to his book, blueeyed child of fortune. Robert gould shaw ii sometimes rgs ii june 16, 1872march 29, 1930 a 1st cousin of colonel robert gould shaw was born into one of the wealthiest and most influential boston families.

He was a wealthy landowner and socialite during the late 19th century, known as the gilded age. The memorial to robert gould shaw and the massachusetts fiftyfourth regiment is a bronze relief sculpture by augustus saintgaudens opposite 24 beacon street, boston at the edge of the boston common. Duncan initiates the book with a biographical essay on robert gould shaw and follows with shaws documented letters, which were the basis for the film. In this book shaw speaks for himself with equal eloquence through nearly two hundred letters he wrote to. The research process can also steer you toward a different book idea altogether. His family, past and present, were important subjects in his poetry. Discover book depositorys huge selection of robert gould shaw books online. Robert gould shaw was the commander of the 54th massachusetts volunteer infantry, one of the first black regiments to be enlisted in the service of the us during the civil war. Robert gould shaws gruesome task the new york times. Glory resurrected robert gould shaw as a dramatic figure. Ive spent the better part of the past few weeks reading as much as i can about robert gould shaw and taking extensive notes. Jul 21, 20 it was this week 150 years ago the colonel robert gould shaw was killed in action at the age of 25. The soontobemartyr, robert gould shaw, wrote this letter to his mother while sitting in his guard tent three miles east of frederick, maryland in the early morning hours of christmas day 1861.

In addition to books about the civil war i have been thinking about how to go about writing and structuring a biography, which i have never written before. The portrait that emerges is of a man more divided and complexthough no less heroicthan the shaw depicted in the celebrated film glory. The 54th massachusetts regiment and augustus saintgaudens shaw memorial, national gallery of art, washington, 20 2014, no. Robert gould shaw october 10, 1837 july 18, 1863 was an american officer in the union. Dear mother, they learn, learn quickly, faster than white troops it seems to me. Jul 27, 2019 on this day, union colonel robert gould shaw and 272 of his troops are killed in an assault on fort wagner, near charleston, south carolina. As colonel, he commanded the allblack 54th massachusetts infantry regiment, which entered the war in 1863. Robert gould shaw, iii 18981970 find a grave memorial. Peter burchard story of shaw s life and his heroic command of the 54th massachusetts regiment, the first negro unit raised in the north in the civil war. Infantry marching alongside their young white commander, colonel robert gould shaw. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book.