| “ | In theory it may seem all right to some, but when it comes to being made the instrument of the Lord's vengeance, I myself don't like it.
— Rober Gould Shaw
|
” |
Robert Gould Shaw was an American officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. An abolitionist, he accepted command of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, the first all-black regiment. Supporting the promised equal treatment for his troops, he encouraged the men to refuse their pay until it was equal to that of white troops' wage.
Shaw was born on October 10, 1837, in Boston, Massachusetts, United States to a wealthy abolitionist family. From a young age, Shaw was exposed to the ideals of social justice and equality, which would shape his life and legacy. As he matured, Shaw developed a deep sense of duty and a commitment to the cause of ending slavery. Shaw attended preparatory school at the Second Division of St. John's College and attended Harvard University, but he withdrew before graduating.
In 1862, Shaw volunteered to serve in the Union Army under the 7th New York Militia, later joining the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry, and eventually was given command of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. Under Shaw's leadership, the 54th Massachusetts trained rigorously and was deployed to the front lines of the war. The regiment played a pivotal role in the Second Battle of Fort Wagner on July 18, 1863. Despite facing heavy casualties and a formidable Confederate defense, Shaw fearlessly led his men in a valiant assault on the fort. Tragically, Shaw was killed during the battle, but his leadership and courage in the face of adversity inspired those who fought alongside him.
The sacrifice of Shaw and his regiment garnered widespread attention and became a rallying point for the Union cause. His death and the heroism displayed by the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment had a profound impact on the perception of African American soldiers and their contributions to the war effort.Battles here were deemed to be unfair or otherwise not in accordance with wiki standards, and have been removed from the statuses of the warriors and displayed below.
Battle vs. Hernán Cortés (by MilitaryBrat)[]
Shaw and 4 Black soldiers are scouting out an area before the rest of the Regiment come through. They spot Cortes and his 4 Spaniards about 50 feet away in the forrest who to them pose a threat. Shaw gives the command to fire and they kill one man and wound another.
Shaw: 5
Cortes: 4
Cortes has his men set up the cannon and they fire it at Shaw and his men and kill one of them and wound another by shrapnel.
Shaw: 4
Cortes: 4
Shaw has some of his men reload while the others load the cannon. Shaw tells one of his men to take out one of the men who looks like he's Cortes' second in command. They kill him, and another with their cannon. Meanwhile, another of Cortes' men takes aim and kills one of the 54th soldiers.
Shaw: 3
Cortes: 2
Cortes gets on his horse and takes off towards Shaw and his men leaving a man to get killed by his wounds.
Shaw: 3
Cortes: 1
One of Shaw's men is killed by Cortes' sword and another by wounds he sustained from cannon fire.
Shaw: 1
Cortes: 1
Cortes attempts to run Shaw through with his blade but is stopped when Shaw kills Cortes' horse from under him. Cortes is vulnerable so Shaw takes this oppurtunity to kill him with his cavalry saber.
WINNER: Robert Gould Shaw
Expert's Opinion[]
TBW
To see the original battle, weapons, and votes, click here.