Robert Gould Shaw (1837–1863)

The letters to his family and friends are very sweet. You really get into his thoughts about the boredom, confusion, and stress associated with his post. It's also rewarding to witness his growth as a human being through his letters.

The letters to his family and friends are very sweet. You really get into his thoughts about the boredom, confusion, and stress associated with his post. It's also rewarding to witness his growth as a human being through his letters.

I read this mostly because I knew it was one of the sources for the film _Glory_. The colonel's letters were only so-so overall. However, Civil War enthusiasts may find the book more interesting than I did.

One of my favorite history books! Robert Gould Shaw was the son of prominent Boston abolitionists and was chosen to lead the Massachusetts 54th, the African American regiment upon which the movie Glory was based. This collection contains a multitude of his letters, especially to his wife Annie, as he laid bare his struggles and fears as he made his way to the devastating assault on Fort Wagner.