[488]
him, though his guard was shot by his side.
The bearer of the United-States colors was severely wounded in the breast.
He fell upon his knees, but with one hand upon his wound; with the other, he held the Stars and Stripes erect, and upon his knees brought them off the field, saying, “The flag has not been on the ground.”
He was carried to the hospital, still bearing the flag; and, as he entered, his wounded brothers gave cheers for the flag and the bearer.
I mention these as but a few of many instances of bravery during the charge.
Of the death of Colonel Shaw and his burial, we have received information by a flag of truce.
He was buried at Fort Wagner on Sunday last.
We also learned that all the prisoners taken of the Fifty-fourth Regiment are in confinement at Charleston, waiting action of their Government.
So say the officers.
The letter of
Surgeon Lincoln R. Stone bears the same date.
He says that
Colonel Shaw was
shot dead through the heart, and was buried in the fort.
He was seen to fall from the parapet inside the fort, and the fire was very severe indeed when the enemy opened.
‘I need not say that he fell at the head of his regiment: all who knew him would know that.’
Surgeon Stone then gives a detailed account of the assault upon
Fort Wagner, and a list of the casualties in the regiment.
He concludes as follows:—
Neither Colonel Littlefield nor I, however, can tell you of the great shock and grief we feel at our losses, both in officers and men,—only so lately, with all bright anticipations of the future, leaving home and friends.
It is almost impossible to realize it. There remains, however, the consciousness that they all fell nobly and bravely at the very front,—at the head of the regiment,—as a soldier should fall.
A copy of these letters were also forwarded by the
Governor to
Mrs. Ogden Haggerty,
Lenox, Mass., with a letter concluding with these words: ‘With sincere and respectful regards, both for yourself and for
Mrs. Shaw, to whom I beg especially to tender my cordial sympathy.’
Mrs. Haggerty was the mother of
Mrs. Shaw, whose residence was in the
city of New York.
Colonel Shaw was married only a few months before his death.
On the thirty-first day of July, the
Governor wrote to
Major-
