History of the Negro Race in America from 1619 to 1880. Vol. 2: Negroes as Slaves, as Soldiers, and as CitizensWilliams, George Washington
History
History of the Negro Race in America from 1619 to 1880. Vol. 2: Negroes as Slaves, as Soldiers, and as Citizens
Williams, George Washington
African Americans -- History; Liberia; Sierra Leone
"Colonel Shaw reached the parapet, leading his men, and was
probably killed. Adjutant James saw him fall. Private Thomas
Burgess, of Company I, told me that he was close to Colonel Shaw;
that he waved his sword and cried out: 'Onward, boys!' and, as he
did so, fell. Burgess fell, wounded, at the same time. In a
minute or two, as he rose to crawl away, he tried to pull Colonel
Shaw along, taking hold of his feet, which were near his own
head, but there appeared to be no life in him. There is a report,
however, that Colonel Shaw is wounded and a prisoner, and that it
was so stated to the officers who bore a flag of truce from us,
but I cannot find it well authenticated. It is most likely that
this noble youth has given his life to his country and to
mankind. Brigadier-General Strong (himself a kindred spirit) said
of him to-day, in a message to his parents: 'I had but little
opportunity to be with him, but I already loved him. No man ever
went more gallantly into battle. None knew but to love him.' I
parted with Colonel Shaw between six and seven, Saturday evening,
as he rode forward to his regiment, and he gave me the private
letters and papers he had with him, to be delivered to his
father. Of the other officers, Lieutenant-Colonel Hallowell is
severely wounded in the groin; Adjutant James has a wound from a
grape-shot in his ankle, and a flesh-wound in his side from a
glancing ball or piece of shell. Captain Pope has had a
musket-ball extracted from his shoulder. Captain Appleton is
wounded in the thumb, and also has a contusion on his right
breast from a hand-grenade. Captain Willard has a wound in the
leg, and is doing well. Captain Jones was wounded in the right
shoulder. The ball went through and he is doing well. Lieutenant
Homans wounded by a ball from a smooth-bore musket entering the
left side, which has been extracted from the back. He is doing
well.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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