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

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: "The Burning of Darien"

C H A P T E R I 3 The gray line moved north, the blue line stayed put, and the black line went south. On June3, Lee began his second invasion of the North, pulled along unknowingly by the magnet that became Gettysburg. At Brandy Station on June 6, twenty thousand horsemen under J. E. B. Stuart and Alfred Pleasanton charged and recharged each other for nearly twelve hours in the greatest cavalry clash of the war. All the while, Grant continued to squeeze Vicksburg. The same day that Lee started north from Fredericksburg, the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Infantry reported for duty at Port Royal, South Carolina. A week before, on May 2.8, to an astonishing fanfare of support unseen since the first days of the war, Shaw had departed Boston with his regiment. Abolitionist supporters and Democratic detractors watched the Fifty-fourth carefully to see if blacks would fight. Fourteen days later, the regiment saw its first action, burning the undefended town of Darien on the banks of the Altamaha River in Georgia. Opponents of black troops screamed "I told you so; savages!" Blacks could burn defenseless buildings, but what would happen when they formed into line of battle against white men:1 The Darien affair had hurt this most watched of all regiments.With a sense of duty to his men and supporters, Shawspent the next—and last—month of his life trying he burning of Darien" t 331 to put Darien behind him and rekindle the kind of glory and pride he felt while in the Second Massachusetts. Readville [HL] May 17 1863 Dear Mother, We were very sorry not to find you in the train last night, and to hear that you were ill. Nellie arrived safely and is at present domiciled with Effie & us at Mrs. Crehore's. Tomorrow, if it is not stormy, there are to be four banners presented to the 54th.1 1havepersuaded allthe donors to have them presented together by the Govr so that the whole affair will not occupy more than 1/2. hour. The War Department has been notified that we shall be ready to go on the zoth Inst. but we have heard nothing from them yet, so that I can't tell when we shall go. I will telegraph to you when I find out. Do try to come ifyou can. Give my love to Father, Anna, & George. I wish I had something more to write you but I haven't, becauseI amso sleepyand stupid. Goodnight dearest Mother. Annie sends you & Father her best love. Always your loving son i. On May18, a tremendous crowd silk flag with the goddess of Liberty made an excursion to Readvilleto seethe and the motto: "Liberty, Loyalty,and regiment and watch Governor Andrew Unity," and a blue flag with a cross to present theflags.The four flags were the symbolize Christ's mission. Emilio, A Stars and Stripes, the state flag, a white Brave Black Regiment, pp. 2.4-30. Readville [RGS] May 18,1863 Dearest Mother, I am so sorry you were not here to-day. The presentation went off finely. The Governor made a beautiful speech.1 My response was smallpotatoes? The day has been beautiful; and on the whole it was a success.After the ceremony, we had aBattalion drill, and then refreshments for guests at myhead-quarters. The Governor handed me a telegram from the Secretaryof War, saying,"The Fifty-fourth Massachusetts will report to General Hunter; make requisitions for transportation, sothat they maygo at once?* 33Z B L U E - E Y E D C H I L D OF F O R T U N E As soon as the transports are ready, we shall be off; that may not be for a week, though. I shall find out to-morrow, if possible, and telegraph Father; if I don't seeyou and Father before I go, I shall be terribly disappointed. Effie and Nellie are at Milton Hill to tea this evening.4 Cabot Russel and Wilkie James hired a large "carryall," and drove them over.5 They thought the carryall more in accordance with your ideas of propriety, than separate buggies. You will wonder, no doubt, at our being taken from General Wilde.6 General Hunter wanted us, and I told the Governor I thought the men would have a better chance for work than with Foster.7 The latter, as likely...