Blue-Eyed Child of Fortune: The Civil War Letters of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: "Nothing but Praise"

C H A P T E R I 6 A living cloud of mingled hue Across the sand impetuouscame, Into afierywhirlwind grew And dashed against the fort inflame. —George William Curtis, June 1865 On the early morning of July 16, the soldiers of the Fiftyfourth Massachusetts Infantrystood strong. They wereon picket duty when a Confederate force screamed the Rebelyell and slammed into them. Forced to retreat, the regiment fought a delaying action that prevented the enemy from routing it and awhite regiment, the Tenth Connecticut. The tough resistance by the black soldiers convinced the Confederates not to press the attack later in the day. Receiving praise from General Gillmore and from white soldiers, Shaw wrote Annie that "to-day wipesout the remembrance ofthe Darien affair " Black soldiers had proven they would fight well on the defensive. Two days later, on July 18, they led an assault that demonstrated forever that black Americans could attack fortified positions, kill, and die likewhites. Knowing the question many whites still held, Shaw had admonished them to "prove yourselves men." Their charge into the guns of Wagnergavetheiranswers. 384 othiwg but praise" "N James' Island, S.C. [RGS] July 15,1863 My Dearest Annie, Your letters of June 3d, i4th, and 2,8th, and July 3d, 4th, and 5th, came to-day, and I felt horridly ashamed of myself for having blamed you for not taking care to post your letters. Do excuse it. It will show you how much I value your dear letters. You don't know what a fortunate day this has been for me and for us all, excepting some poor fellows who were killed and wounded. We have at last fought alongside of white troops. Two hundred of my men on picket this morning were attacked byfiveregiments of infantry, some cavalry,and a battery of artillery.1 The Tenth Connecticut (of Stevenson's Brigade) were on their left, and say they should have had a bad time, if the Fifty-fourth men had not stood sowell.2 The whole Division wasunder arms in fifteen minutes, and after coming up close in front of us, the enemy, finding us so strong, fell back.The other regiments lost in all, three men wounded. Welost seven killed, twenty-one wounded, sixmissing, supposed killed, and nine unaccounted for. These last are probably killed or captured.3 All these belonged to the four companies which were on picket.The main body, excepting artillery,was not engaged at all. General Terry sent me word he was highly gratified with the behavior of my men, and the officers and privatesof other regiments praiseus verymuch.4 All this is very gratifying to us personally, and a fine thing for the coloured troops. It is the first time they have been associatedwith white soldiers, this side of the Mississippi. To make my happiness and satisfaction complete, the afternoon brought your and Mother's letters. . . . I have just come in from the front with my regiment, where we were sent as soon as the Rebels retired. This shows that the events of the morning did not destroy the General's confidencein us. We found some of our wounded, who saythe Rebels treated them kindly. Other men report that some prisoners wereshot. It isvery common for frightened men to tell fearful stories of what they have seen; the first report comes from the wounded men themselves; the second from the stragglers. . . .5 Good bye, darling, for the night. I know this letter will give you pleasure, because what we havedone to-day wipes out the remembranceof the Darien affair, which you could not but grieve over, though we were innocent participators . You will have some satisfaction in telling it to your father, your Uncle Charles, and Aunt Fanny, to all of whom please give my sincere re- "NOTHING BUT PRAISE" 385 gards.6 Whenever you seeyour grandfather and grandmother, do not forget to give them my respects. To our Mamma, and Clem. I needn't say I send my warmest love. I got my horse, India-rubber tube, and some clean clothes to-day. Your most loving Husband Cole's Island (opposite Folly Island) [RGS] July lyth, 4 P.M. James Island was evacuated last night by our forces. My regiment started first, at 91/2. P.M. Not a thing was moved until after dark, and the Rebels must have been astonished this morning. Terry went there originally only...