The 4th of July is one that reminds me of our Independence from Great Britain as a result of the Revolutionary War, taking time to consider the cost of lives given for us so we might enjoy lifestyles today embraced by this very word..."Freedom!"
Yet, Freedom always has a price...and for those who sacrificed their very lives and blood so we might enjoy the benefits of these heroic efforts... acts of bravery witnessed and recorded from the epic struggles of the Revolutionary War... has served as a "benchmark" to what the U.S.A. believes and stands for. Yet, that was only the beginning, for the "benchmark" that was established from the Revolutionary War efforts, has caused other moments in U.S. history to emerge and surfaces in my mind on this day... following the lead of our courageous ancestors... carving out our very Freedom between the years 1776 to 1781....
The year was 1863. A young man from Boston Massachusetts had enlisted in the Union army 2 years earlier, in April of 1861. This young man had joined the 7th New York Militia whose orders were to protect the area known as Washington D.C., in case of an attack by the Confederate army. Later this young man would join the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry, and was promoted to 2nd lieutenant..an officer in the Union army.
This young man's name?...Robert Gould Shaw.
Shaw had recorded in over 200 letters the experiences he faced in what we all know as "The Civil War". Shaw was the son of parents who were abolitionists, ones given to radically in the fight against the misuse of humans commonly known as "slavery".
The young Shaw had grown up in a rather wealthy family and attended schools like Harvard University, yet by this time in 1863 found himself deeply involved in this Civil War.
It was actually Shaw's father that had approached the young Shaw first... in February of 1863...with an idea the Union army was wanting to initiate....to establish a regiment of Black soldiers who would assist in the efforts of the Union army...to abolish slavery.
At first, the young Shaw declined the invitation to lead such a regiment, but upon seeing for himself the dedication this newly established unit, referred to as the 54th of Massachusetts, he rethought his initial reaction...and accepted the position. By the end of March in 1863, Shaw had been promoted to Major, and on April 17th was given the position of Colonel....in the Union army.
The preparation of the 54th of Massachusetts did not come without problems. First, this now famous Black unit was paid $3.00 less a week than white Union soldiers, receiving $10 a week vs. $13 dollars a week white Union soldiers were receiving. Upon hearing of the discrepancy, Col. Shaw led a boycott (including his officer's pay) that refused any pay...until the 54th of Mass. received equal pay. It was not until August of 1863 this issue was rectified, and the 54th began to receive equal pay as white Union soldiers.
Other issues like supplies (shoes, uniforms, and food supplies) needed addressed...to establish the 54th of Massachusetts as an equal regiment to any other regiment in the entire Union army.
On May 2nd, 1863, Col. Shaw married "Annie" Haggarty....not knowing he was only 26 days away...from his death.
The first orders the 54th received in reference to going to battle was to assist in the capture of a Confederate town in Georgia....a place called Darien.
There was a Col. James Montgomery who was in charge of this capture, and as the 54th approached, Col. Shaw and his regiment were abhorred at what was about to take place.
Col. Montgomery had wanted to capture this town of Darien, yet the town by this time was pretty defenseless... with mostly only women and children left in the town. Montgomery explained to Shaw what his motives were: " These Southerners must be made to feel that this was a real war, and that they were to be swept away by the "hand of God", like the Jews of old recorded in the Bible."
Col. Shaw was horrified by Montgomery's logic, and wrote: "It may sound religious in theory, but being made an instrument of the "Lord's vengeance", is something I do not care for or even like at all. We are nothing more than outlaws, and therefore not bound by the rules of regular warfare, and resort to wrecking a vengeance on the innocent...and the defenseless."
It was a horrible experience that Shaw deeply was against and regretted to be involved with.
The ironic part of this story: Darien Georgia was the community that had signed the first Southern amendment...an introduction to the abolition of slavery.
Yet, On May 28th, 1863...the 54th had received their new orders and were now about to engage in the attack of Fort Wagner, a heavy fortified Confederate fort in South Carolina used to protect the city of Charleston.
The battle first broke around 8 pm in the evening.... by 10 pm, it was over.
There were over 600 Black soldiers of the 54th prepared for battle, and 37 white officers. The attack began in an area known as Hilton Head, and it was a steep uphill climb. Col. Shaw took it upon himself to lead in the charge, rather than the traditional role of officers to go forward from behind the regiment. It was a remarkable act of valor.
The result?...the 54th were unable to take Fort Wagner. Over 280 Black soldiers of the 54th lost their lives, and Col. Shaw?...had been shot in the chest leading the charge...and died in battle.
Although the fort was not taken, the damage inflicted upon the Confederate fort were so extensive...the fort itself was soon abandoned after the battle. The news of the 54th bravery...spread everywhere and actually was a major morale booster...for the end to this grave Civil War.
Before the battle had begun, the Confederates had sent word to the 54th that "all Negros captured would be returned to slavery, and all white officers affiliated with this regiment...would be executed."
After the battle had concluded, there was a mass grave made and the Black soldiers were thrown in the makeshift massive grave site and burned, along with white officers killed in battle. There was a sign put atop the grave that read: "We have burned Shaw...with his "niggers."
Upon hearing the news of their son's death, his parents declared the burial site as "Holy Ground."
There was a William Carney who was a member of the 54th. He was a Black soldier who in the midst of battle, saw the Union flag was about to go down, grabbed the flag and kept it high. Being shot twice, yet able to eventually return to the Union lines he was by this time bleeding heavily, handed the flag to a fellow soldier and said these memorable words: "Boys, I only did my duty: the old flag never touched the ground."
Carney survived the battle and lived until December 9th, 1908, becoming a post office employee and a popular speaker for patriotic events. On May 23rd, 1900 William Carney received...the Medal of Honor.
In 1897, a sculpture made by Augustus Saint-Gaudens was made. It is a 3 dimensional bronze statute...with Col. Shaw and his men of the 54th of Massachusetts. Above the men is an angel, holding an olive branch...the symbol of peace.
Patriotic celebrations of various kind are great events to celebrate...may we all remember the cost it was....for us to enjoy these moments.
Happy 4th of July!
Yet, Freedom always has a price...and for those who sacrificed their very lives and blood so we might enjoy the benefits of these heroic efforts... acts of bravery witnessed and recorded from the epic struggles of the Revolutionary War... has served as a "benchmark" to what the U.S.A. believes and stands for. Yet, that was only the beginning, for the "benchmark" that was established from the Revolutionary War efforts, has caused other moments in U.S. history to emerge and surfaces in my mind on this day... following the lead of our courageous ancestors... carving out our very Freedom between the years 1776 to 1781....
The year was 1863. A young man from Boston Massachusetts had enlisted in the Union army 2 years earlier, in April of 1861. This young man had joined the 7th New York Militia whose orders were to protect the area known as Washington D.C., in case of an attack by the Confederate army. Later this young man would join the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry, and was promoted to 2nd lieutenant..an officer in the Union army.
This young man's name?...Robert Gould Shaw.
Shaw had recorded in over 200 letters the experiences he faced in what we all know as "The Civil War". Shaw was the son of parents who were abolitionists, ones given to radically in the fight against the misuse of humans commonly known as "slavery".
The young Shaw had grown up in a rather wealthy family and attended schools like Harvard University, yet by this time in 1863 found himself deeply involved in this Civil War.
It was actually Shaw's father that had approached the young Shaw first... in February of 1863...with an idea the Union army was wanting to initiate....to establish a regiment of Black soldiers who would assist in the efforts of the Union army...to abolish slavery.
At first, the young Shaw declined the invitation to lead such a regiment, but upon seeing for himself the dedication this newly established unit, referred to as the 54th of Massachusetts, he rethought his initial reaction...and accepted the position. By the end of March in 1863, Shaw had been promoted to Major, and on April 17th was given the position of Colonel....in the Union army.
The preparation of the 54th of Massachusetts did not come without problems. First, this now famous Black unit was paid $3.00 less a week than white Union soldiers, receiving $10 a week vs. $13 dollars a week white Union soldiers were receiving. Upon hearing of the discrepancy, Col. Shaw led a boycott (including his officer's pay) that refused any pay...until the 54th of Mass. received equal pay. It was not until August of 1863 this issue was rectified, and the 54th began to receive equal pay as white Union soldiers.
Other issues like supplies (shoes, uniforms, and food supplies) needed addressed...to establish the 54th of Massachusetts as an equal regiment to any other regiment in the entire Union army.
On May 2nd, 1863, Col. Shaw married "Annie" Haggarty....not knowing he was only 26 days away...from his death.
The first orders the 54th received in reference to going to battle was to assist in the capture of a Confederate town in Georgia....a place called Darien.
There was a Col. James Montgomery who was in charge of this capture, and as the 54th approached, Col. Shaw and his regiment were abhorred at what was about to take place.Col. Montgomery had wanted to capture this town of Darien, yet the town by this time was pretty defenseless... with mostly only women and children left in the town. Montgomery explained to Shaw what his motives were: " These Southerners must be made to feel that this was a real war, and that they were to be swept away by the "hand of God", like the Jews of old recorded in the Bible."
Col. Shaw was horrified by Montgomery's logic, and wrote: "It may sound religious in theory, but being made an instrument of the "Lord's vengeance", is something I do not care for or even like at all. We are nothing more than outlaws, and therefore not bound by the rules of regular warfare, and resort to wrecking a vengeance on the innocent...and the defenseless."
It was a horrible experience that Shaw deeply was against and regretted to be involved with.
The ironic part of this story: Darien Georgia was the community that had signed the first Southern amendment...an introduction to the abolition of slavery.
Yet, On May 28th, 1863...the 54th had received their new orders and were now about to engage in the attack of Fort Wagner, a heavy fortified Confederate fort in South Carolina used to protect the city of Charleston.
The battle first broke around 8 pm in the evening.... by 10 pm, it was over.
There were over 600 Black soldiers of the 54th prepared for battle, and 37 white officers. The attack began in an area known as Hilton Head, and it was a steep uphill climb. Col. Shaw took it upon himself to lead in the charge, rather than the traditional role of officers to go forward from behind the regiment. It was a remarkable act of valor.
The result?...the 54th were unable to take Fort Wagner. Over 280 Black soldiers of the 54th lost their lives, and Col. Shaw?...had been shot in the chest leading the charge...and died in battle.
Although the fort was not taken, the damage inflicted upon the Confederate fort were so extensive...the fort itself was soon abandoned after the battle. The news of the 54th bravery...spread everywhere and actually was a major morale booster...for the end to this grave Civil War.
Before the battle had begun, the Confederates had sent word to the 54th that "all Negros captured would be returned to slavery, and all white officers affiliated with this regiment...would be executed."
After the battle had concluded, there was a mass grave made and the Black soldiers were thrown in the makeshift massive grave site and burned, along with white officers killed in battle. There was a sign put atop the grave that read: "We have burned Shaw...with his "niggers."
Upon hearing the news of their son's death, his parents declared the burial site as "Holy Ground."
There was a William Carney who was a member of the 54th. He was a Black soldier who in the midst of battle, saw the Union flag was about to go down, grabbed the flag and kept it high. Being shot twice, yet able to eventually return to the Union lines he was by this time bleeding heavily, handed the flag to a fellow soldier and said these memorable words: "Boys, I only did my duty: the old flag never touched the ground."
Carney survived the battle and lived until December 9th, 1908, becoming a post office employee and a popular speaker for patriotic events. On May 23rd, 1900 William Carney received...the Medal of Honor.
In 1897, a sculpture made by Augustus Saint-Gaudens was made. It is a 3 dimensional bronze statute...with Col. Shaw and his men of the 54th of Massachusetts. Above the men is an angel, holding an olive branch...the symbol of peace.
Patriotic celebrations of various kind are great events to celebrate...may we all remember the cost it was....for us to enjoy these moments.
Happy 4th of July!
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