Diary of Josephine Shaw Lowell: October 29, 1862

Rob is home again for tomorrow. That dear General Gordon, feeling that he ought to be at home for Sue's wedding, and not being able to get him a furlough, sent him to New York on official business. We thought he was on the advance, far away, when suddenly at 2 o'clock he appeared, having come down with Annie Haggerty,¹ whom he had gone to see in New York. He looks splendid and seems in good spirits. To have him at home is lovely. We were saying this morning that we were all together but one, and now that one has come. He said tonight, poor boy, that he wished we were done with this fighting and expected to be “slaughtered before it was over.” I suppose they must all feel so, seeing so many of their friends and companions dying around them. Tomorrow, Harry and he meet. They've not seen each other since Cedar Mountain. So far the Lord has been very merciful to us, in turning all our sorrows to joy.

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¹ Afterwards Mrs. Robert Gould Shaw.

SOURCE: William Rhinelander Stewart, The Philanthropic Work of Josephine Shaw Lowell, p. 36-7

Colonel Robert Gould Shaw to Annie K. Haggerty Shaw, July 18, 1863

Morris Island, July 18.

We are in General Strong's brigade. We came up here last night, and were out again all night in a very heavy rain. Fort Wagner is being very heavily bombarded. We are not far from it. We hear nothing but praise of the Fifty-fourth on all hands. Montgomery is under Stevenson. I wish I were. He is a good officer. Strong I like too.

SOURCE: Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Editor, Harvard Memorial Biographies, Volume 2, p. 207

Colonel Robert Gould Shaw to Annie K. Haggerty Shaw, July 17, 1863 – 4 p.m.

Cole's Island (opposite Folly Island), July 17, 4 p. m.

James Island was evacuated last night by our forces. My regiment started first, at half past nine, P. M. Not a thing was moved until after dark, and the Rebels must have been astonished this morning. Terry went there originally only to create a diversion from Morris Island, and it was useless to stay and risk being driven off, after Morris was taken. It thundered and lightened, and rained hard all night, and it took us from ten, P. M., to five, A. M., to come four miles. Most of the way we had to march in single file along the narrow paths through the swamps. For nearly half a mile we had to pass over a bridge of one, and in some places two planks wide, without a railing, and slippery with rain,—mud and water below several feet deep, — and then over a narrow dike so slippery as to make it almost impossible to keep one's feet. It took my regiment alone nearly two hours to pass the bridge and dike. By the time we got over, it was nearly daylight, and the brigade behind us had a pretty easy time. I never had such an extraordinary walk.

We are now lying on the beach opposite the southern point of Folly Island, and have been here since five this morning. When they can get boats, they will set us across, I suppose.

There is hardly any water to be got here, and the sun and sand are dazzling and roasting us. I shouldn't like you to see me as I am now; I haven't washed my face since day before yesterday. My conscience is perfectly easy about it, though, for it was an impossibility, and every one is in the same condition. Open air dirt, i. e. mud, &c, is not like the indoor article.

We have had nothing but crackers and coffee these two days. It seems like old times in the Army of the Potomac!

SOURCE: Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Editor, Harvard Memorial Biographies, Volume 2, p. 206-7

Colonel Robert Gould Shaw to Annie K. Haggerty Shaw, June 26, 1863

The only persons responsible for the depravity of the negroes are their scoundrelly owners, who are, nevertheless, not ashamed to talk of the Christianizing influence of slavery. Whatever the condition of the slaves may be, it does not degrade them as a bad life does most people, for their faces are generally good. I suppose this is owing to their utter ignorance and innocence of evil.

We landed on this island last night, and to-day are bringing everything to our camp, a mile from the landing, by hand. Having a great many stores, it is a long job. I am sitting on a box in the middle of a field of sand, under a tent-fly, and writing on my knee.

SOURCE: Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Editor, Harvard Memorial Biographies, Volume 2, p. 205

Colonel Robert Gould Shaw to Annie Kneeland Haggerty Shaw, June 1, 1863

Steamer De Molay, Off Cape Hatteras,

June 1,1863.

The more I think of the passage of the Fifty-fourth through Boston, the more wonderful it seems to me. Just remember our own doubts and fears, and other people's sneering and pitying remarks, when we began last winter, and then look at the perfect triumph of last Thursday. We have gone quietly along, forming the regiment, and at last left Boston amidst a greater enthusiasm than has been seen since the first three months' troops left for the war. Every one I saw, from the Governor's staff (who have always given us rather the cold shoulder) down, had nothing but words of praise for us. Truly, I ought to be thankful for all my happiness, and my success in life so far; and if the raising of colored troops prove such a benefit to the country and to the blacks as many people think it will, I shall thank God a thousand times that I was led to take my share in it.

SOURCE: Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Editor, Harvard Memorial Biographies, Volume 2, p. 204

Capt. Robert Gould Shaw to Annie Kneeland Hagerty Shaw, February 8, 1863

February 8.

You know by this time, perhaps, that I have changed my mind about the black regiment. After father left, I began to think I had made a mistake in refusing Governor Andrew's offer.  . . .  Going for another three years is not nearly so bad a thing for a colonel as for a captain, as the former can much more easily get a furlough. Then after I have undertaken this work, I shall feel that what I have to do is to prove that a negro can be made a good soldier, and, that being established, it will not be a point of honor with me to see the war through, unless I really occupied a position of importance in the army. Hundreds of men might leave the army, you know, without injuring the service in the slightest degree

I am inclined to think that the undertaking will not meet with so much opposition as was at first supposed. All sensible men in the army, of all parties, after a little thought, say that it is the best thing that can be done; and surely those at home who are not brave or patriotic enough to enlist should not ridicule or throw obstacles in the way of men who are going to fight for them. There is a great prejudice against it, but now that it has become a government matter, that will probably wear away. At any rate, I sha'n't be frightened out of it by its unpopularity

I feel convinced I shall never regret having taken this step, as far as I myself am concerned; for while I was undecided I felt ashamed of myself, as if I were cowardly.

SOURCE: Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Editor, Harvard Memorial Biographies, Volume 2, p. 202-3

Captain Robert Gould Shaw to Annie Kneeland Haggerty Shaw, February 4, 1863 (Excerpt)

February 4.

Father has just left here. He came down yesterday, and brought me an offer from Governor Andrew of the colonelcy of his new black regiment . The Governor considers it a most important command, and I could not help feeling, from the tone of his letter, that he did me a great honor in offering it to me. My father will tell you some of the reasons why I thought I ought not to accept it. If I had taken it, it would only have been from a sense of duty, for it would have been anything but an agreeable task.

SOURCE: Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Editor, Harvard Memorial Biographies, Volume 2, p. 202