Shaw Memorial Inscriptions
The Robert Gould Shaw and Massachusetts 54th Regiment Memorial contains the following inscriptions:
Beacon Street Side
ROBERT GOULD SHAW
COLONEL OF THE FIFTY FOURTH REGIMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS
INFANTRY BORN IN BOSTON OCTOBER X MDCCCXXXVII
KILLED WHILE LEADING THE ASSAULT ON FORT WAGNER
SOUTH CAROLINA JULY XVIII MDCCCLXIII
RIGHT IN THE VAN ON THE RED RAMPART'S SLIPPERY SWELL
WITH HEART THAT BEAT A CHARGE HE FELL
FORWARD AS FITS A MAN
BUT THE HIGH SOUL BURNS ON TO LIGHT MEN'S FEET
WHERE DEATH ENDS MAKES DYING SWEET.
JAMES RUSSEL LOWELL.
Boston Common Side
TO THE FIFTY FOURTH REGIMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT
THE WHITE OFFICERS
TAKING LIFE AND HONOR IN THEIR HANDS CAST IN THEIR LOT
WITH MEN OF DESPISED RACE UNPROVED IN WAR AND
RISKED DEATH AS INCITERS OF SERVILE INSURRECTION
IF TAKEN PRISONERS BESIDES ENCOUNTERING ALL THE
COMMON PERILS OF CAMP MARCH AND BATTLE.
THE BLACK RANK AND FILE
VOLUNTEERED WHEN DISASTER CLOUDED THE UNION CAUSE
SERVED WITHOUT PAY FOR EIGHTEEN MONTHS TILL GIVEN
THAT OF WHITE TROOPS FACED THREATENED ENSLAVE-
MENT IF CAPTURED WERE BRAVE IN ACTION PATIENT
UNDER HEAVY AND DANGEROUS LABORS AND CHEERFUL
AMONG HARDSHIPS AND PRIVATIONS.
TOGETHER
THEY GAVE TO THE NATION AND THE WORLD UNDYING PROOF
THAT AMERICANS OF AFRICAN DESCENT POSSESS THE
PRIDE COURAGE AND DEVOTION OF THE PATRIOT SOLDIER.
ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THOUSAND SUCH AMERICANS
ENLISTED UNDER THE UNION FLAG IN
MDCCCLXIII MDCCCLXV.
CHARLES W. ELIOT.
I KNOW NOT MR. COMMANDER WHERE IN ALL HUMAN HISTORY
TO ANY GIVEN THOUSAND MEN IN ARMS THERE HAS
BEEN COMMITTED A WORK AT ONCE SO PROUD SO PRECIOUS
SO FULL OF HOPE AND GLORY AS THE WORK COMMITTED
TO YOU.
JOHN A. ANDREW, GOVERNOR.
Contact Information & Address:
Mass 54th Memorial
24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, 02108
617.727.3676
sec.state.ma.us