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ordered up from Fortress Monroe; so Lowell will have his whole regiment together.
Nothing more appears on the
Governor's files respecting the purchase of the guns, mentioned by
Mr. Forbes.
The Governor visited
Washington about this time, saw
Mr. Forbes and the ordnance officer, and doubtless decided not to purchase them for the
State, as they never were received here.
We have already stated that
Colonel Shaw, of the Fiftyfourth Regiment Massachusetts Colored Volunteers, was killed in leading his command in the attack upon
Fort Wagner.
We find on the
Governor's records, dated July 31, and addressed to
Francis George Shaw,
Esq., the father of the
Colonel, this letter:—
‘I send to you, with this, copies of letters which I have received from Colonel Littlefield and Dr. Stone, by this morning's mail.
Nothing which I can write can express as I would wish the affectionate sympathy with which I am sincerely yours,’ &c.
The letter of
Colonel Littlefield, who signs himself ‘
Colonel Fourth South-Carolina Volunteer Cavalry Regiment,’ is of more than ordinary interest.
We do not know who
Colonel Littlefield was; but he may have commanded a regiment of colored troops raised in
South Carolina.
His letter is dated ‘Headquarters Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteers,
Morris Island, S. C., in the field, July 24, 1863.’
He had been placed, by order of
General Gilmore, in command of the Fifty-fourth after the death of
Colonel Shaw, the
Lieutenant-Colonel being unfit for duty by reason of severe wounds.
He states that the Fifty-fourth Regiment was selected to lead the storming party upon
Wagner, because they had distinguished themselves on
James Island one week before, and adds,—
I witnessed the charge, and, though no way connected with the regiment, I feel it my duty to bear testimony to the valor and bravely of the entire command.
Colonel Shaw marched his men up to the fort, where he fell with twenty or thirty of his command.
The bodies of two of his men were found dead on the top of him. The bearer of the State flag marched to the parapet with the bearer of the United-States colors.
One of the rebels caught the State flag, and tore it from the staff The bearer held to the staff; and brought it off with
