Who led the 54th Massachusetts Regiment?

Who led the 54th Massachusetts Regiment?

Robert Gould Shaw
Col. Robert Gould Shaw, son of a white abolitionist, led the 54th and died during the assault on Fort Wagner. He was buried unceremoniously by Confederate troops in a common grave with the men he commanded. Records of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment are among the military records held by the National Archives.

Was Robert Gould Shaw’s body recovered?

Union casualties for the day numbered more than 1,500. Union Brigadier General Quincy Granville sent an inquiry to the Confederate commander of Fort Wagner, asking about the disposition of Shaw’s body. The reply was that Col. Anderson, of the Confederate Army,” although his body was not recovered.

What happened to Robert Gould Shaw?

Union Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and 272 of his troops are killed in an assault on Fort Wagner, near Charleston, South Carolina. Shaw was commander of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, perhaps the most famous regiment of African American troops during the war.

Where is Robert Gould Shaw’s body?

Robert Gould Shaw

Birth 10 Oct 1837 Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA
Death 18 Jul 1863 (aged 25) Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina, USA
Burial Battery Wagner Mass Union Grave Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina, USA
Memorial ID 19467 · View Source

What became of Robert Gould Shaw the commanding officer of the 54th Massachusetts?

Two days later, Shaw and his men were among the units chosen to lead the assault on Battery Wagner, part of the defenses of Charleston. Shaw was killed in the charge, bravely urging his men forward, but the 54th had proven that they were as brave as anyone, black or white.

What happened to the 54th Massachusetts?

The Massachusetts 54th Regiment became famous and solidified their place in history following the attack on Fort Wagner , South Carolina on July 18, 1863. At least 74 enlisted men and 3 officers were killed in that battle, and scores more were wounded. Colonel Shaw was one of those killed.

Who led the 54th Massachusetts?

Statue of Massachusetts Governor John A. Andrew, who approved the creation of the 54th Regiment. In March 1863, after the Emancipation Proclamation , Massachusetts Governor John A. Andrew gave his approval for the creation of the 54th Riegiment. The regiment was commanded (led) by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw.

Who were the 54th Massachusetts?

The Massachusetts 54th Regiment was a group of African-Americans who fought for and served the Union during the Civil War. The 54th Regiment was established in March of 1863, and authorized by the Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, who gave John Andrew the authority to create the Regiment.

What is the 54th Regiment?

The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment is best known for its service leading the failed Union assault on Battery Wagner, a Confederate earthwork fortification on Morris Island, on July 18, 1863. This was one of the first major actions in which African American soldiers fought for the Union in the American Civil War.

author

Back to Top