The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-01-08

gers" who were going to fight for the freedom
OF their brothers in the South. The repugnance
Of the Northerners to personal contact with
black or colored people has been repeatedly
spoken Of by all travellers in America. Prob
ably Colonel Shaw hal less Of this feeling than
aNortherner would have had who had been en-,
tirely brought up In America: but still 1t must
have required that deep root OF willingness to do
Gods viii out OF which springs the truest
moral courage, to have enabled him to march
out of New York ut tho head of the Mas
sachusetts 5iih, all black or colored men,
amidst the jeers aud scoffings OF the ''roughs,'
AMI the contemptuui. pity of many who
should have known better. Yet this did Colonel
Shaw, one day this last spring, with brave
trustful heart, leaving mother, leaving new
made wife, to go forth and live amongst his
poor despiscd men, the first regiment Of mig.
gers called into the field, and to share their
hardships, and to teach them tho deepest and
most precious knowledge that he had himself.
Two months afterwards he was with them be-
fore Fort Wagner, "sitting on the ground and
talking to his men, says IN eyewitness, "yery
familiarity and kindly. lie told them how the
eyes Of thousands would look on the nights
work on which they were about to enter; and
he said, "Now, boys, want you to be men!'
He would walk along the line, and speak words
of cheer to his men. We could sec that he was
man who had counted the cost of the under
taking before him, for his words were spoken
SO ominously," (remember the ConfederateS
had openly threatened to make IN especial aim
of every white officer leading colored troops),
"his lips were compressed, and now and then
there was visible slight twitching of the cor.
ners Of the mouth, like one bent on accomplish
ing or dying. One poor fellow, struck no
doubt By the Colonel's determined bearing, ex-
claimed as he was passing him. "Colonel, | will
stay with you till die;" and he kept his word
he has never been seen since"
The 5ith colored Massachusetts, regiment
held the right wing OF the storRing column
that attacked Fort Wagner on the 18th of July
last. II went into action $50 strong, and came
out with loss OF third Of the men, and a
still larger proportion OF officers. but eight
out Of twenty three coming out uniniured =
The regiment was marched up in column by
wings, the first being under the command oil
Colonel Shaw. When about 1000 yards from
the fort, the enemy opened upon them with
shot, she'll, aud canister. They passed through
this storm, and cheered and shouted as they
advanced. When within hundred yards from
the fort, the musketry from 1t opened with
such terrible effect that the first battalion hesi-
tated-only for On instant. Colonel Shaw
sprang toward, and, waving his sword, cried
"foward, my brave boys" and, with another
cheer aud shout, they rushed through the ditch,
oNSii
hand to hand with the enemy. Colonel Shaw
was one of the first TO scale the walls. He
stood erect to urge toward his men. and. while
shouting to them to press toward, he was shot
dead, and fell into the fort. His body was
found with twenty of his men lying dead around
him, two lying on his own body. In the morn.
ing they were all buried in the same pitt
must not forget to name one Of Colonel
Shaw's men lone Of "his niggers" rs the Con-
A. ~ a H. raIa L. al
for his body the day after the fight, "Colonel
Shaw" they said, eve buried him below his
niggers '-One of his niggers was Sergeant
William Carney. who caught the colors from a
wounded color-bearer, and was the first man
to plant the stars and stripes on Fort Wagner.
As he saw the men falling back, himself wound
ed in the breast, he brought the colors of,
creeping on his knees. pressing his wound with
one hand, and with the other holding up the
banner, the sign Of his freedom: The moment
he was seen crawling into hospital with the dag
both black and white, rose from the straw on
which they were lying and cheered him until,
exhausted, they could cheer no longer. In re.
sponse to this reception the brave standard.
bearer said, "boys, I but did my duty; the
dear old aag never touched the ground,
And now Robert Gould Shaw Is dead; the
rich, prosperous young man. who might have
lived NJ MS ease IN tne Ueuutiiui nouic vi Stu'
ter Island lis dead. He, who might have fought
gallantly In splendid uniform on noble charg-
er among his fellows in riches and station, Is
dead-fghting among the despised colored peo-
ple, amongst whom the last months Of his life
were passed--buried beneath his nggers with
contempt aud insult.
II makes my heart burn when read the false
statements sometimts put out by English pa
pers, to the effect that the higher classes OF
Northerners shirk their part OF sacrii:e and
suffering, and that, In fact, the federal regi-
ments are filled with mercenaries, German or
Irish. I, one English individual, know, Of my
own personal knowledge. Of three only sons,
of rich parents, living in happy homes, full OF
gladness and hope, who have left ALL will say
ito follow Christ; and have laid down their
lives, for no party object, for no mere political
feeling; but to see IL their lives might avail, II
ever so little, to set the captive free. And the
mother of one of these dead sons, Is giving.
her friends fear far to literally too procure CONF
forts, and even luxuries, for the Confederate
prisoners in Fort Lafayette.
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