hero tales from american history-第25节
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e think it will； I shall thank God a thousand times that I was led to take my share in it。
He had； indeed； taken his share in striking one of the most fatal blows to the barbarism of slavery which had yet been struck。 The formation of the black regiments did more for the emancipation of the negro and the recognition of his rights； than almost anything else。 It was impossible； after that； to say that men who fought and gave their lives for the Union and for their own freedom were not entitled to be free。 The acceptance of the command of a black regiment by such men as Shaw and his fellow…officers was the great act which made all this possible。
After reaching South Carolina； Colonel Shaw was with his regiment at Port Royal and on the islands of that coast for rather more than a month； and on July 18 he was offered the post of honor in an assault upon Fort Wagner； which was ordered for that night。 He had proved that the negroes could be made into a good regiment； and now the second great opportunity had come； to prove their fighting quality。 He wanted to demonstrate that his men could fight side by side with white soldiers； and show to somebody beside their officers what stuff they were made of。 He； therefore； accepted the dangerous duty with gladness。 Late in the day the troops were marched across Folly and Morris islands and formed in line of battle within six hundred yards of Fort Wagner。 At half…past seven the order for the charge was given； and the regiment advanced。 When they were within a hundred yards of the fort； the rebel fire opened with such effect that the first battalion hesitated and wavered。 Colonel Shaw sprang to the front； and waving his sword； shouted： 〃Forward； 54th！〃 With another cheer； the men rushed through the ditch； and gained a parapet on the right。 Colonel Shaw was one of the first to scale the walls。 As he stood erect； a noble figure； ordering his men forward and shouting to them to press on； he was shot dead and fell into the fort。 After his fall； the assault was repulsed。
General Haywood； commanding the rebel forces； said to a Union prisoner： 〃I knew Colonel Shaw before the war； and then esteemed him。 Had he been in command of white troops； I should have given him an honorable burial。 As it is； I shall bury him in the common trench； with the negroes that fell with him。〃 He little knew that he was giving the dead soldier the most honorable burial that man could have devised； for the savage words told unmistakably that Robert Shaw's work had not been in vain。 The order to bury him with his 〃niggers；〃 which ran through the North and remained fixed in our history； showed； in a flash of light； the hideous barbarism of a system which made such things and such feelings possible。 It also showed that slavery was wounded to the death； and that the brutal phrase was the angry snarl of a dying tiger。 Such words rank with the action of Charles Stuart； when he had the bones of Oliver Cromwell and Robert Blake torn from their graves and flung on dunghills or fixed on Temple Bar。
Robert Shaw fell in battle at the head of his men； giving his life to his country； as did many another gallant man during those four years of conflict。 But he did something more than this。 He faced prejudice and hostility in the North； and confronted the blind and savage rage of the South； in order to demonstrate to the world that the human beings who were held in bondage could vindicate their right to freedom by fighting and dying for it。 He helped mightily in the great task of destroying human slavery； and in uplifting an oppressed and down…trodden race。 He brought to this work the qualities which were particularly essential for his success。 He had all that birth and wealth； breeding； education； and tradition could give。 He offered up； in full measure； all those things which make life most worth living。 He was handsome and beloved。 He had a serene and beautiful nature； and was at once brave and simple。 Above all things； he was fitted for the task which he performed and for the sacrifice which he made。 The call of the country and of the time came to him； and he was ready。 He has been singled out for remembrance from among many others of equal sacrifice； and a monument is rising to his memory in Boston； because it was his peculiar fortune to live and die for a great principle of humanity； and to stand forth as an ideal and beautiful figure in a struggle where the onward march of civilization was at stake。 He lived in those few and crowded years a heroic life； and he met a heroic death。 When he fell； sword in hand； on the parapet of Wagner； leading his black troops in a desperate assault； we can only say of him as Bunyan said of 〃Valiant for Truth〃： 〃And then he passed over； and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side。〃
CHARLES RUSSELL LOWELL
Wut's wurds to them whose faith an' truth On war's red techstone rang true metal； Who ventered life an' love an； youth For the gret prize o' death in battle？
To him who； deadly hurt； agen Flashed on afore the charge's thunder； Tippin' with fire the bolt of men Thet rived the rebel line asunder？ Lowell。
CHARLES RUSSELL LOWELL
Charles Russell Lowell was born in Boston； January 2； 1835。 He was the eldest son of Charles Russell and Anna Cabot （Jackson） Lowell； and the nephew of James Russell Lowell。 He bore the name； distinguished in many branches； of a family which was of the best New England stock。 Educated in the Boston public schools； he entered Harvard College in 1850。 Although one of the youngest members of his class； he went rapidly to the front； and graduated not only the first scholar of his year； but the foremost man of his class。 He was； however； much more than a fine scholar； for even then he showed unusual intellectual qualities。 He read widely and loved letters。 He was a student of philosophy and religion； a thinker； and； best of all； a man of ideals〃the glory of youth；〃 as he called them in his valedictory oration。 But he was something still better and finer than a mere idealist； he was a man of action； eager to put his ideals into practice and bring them to the test of daily life。 With his mind full of plans for raising the condition of workingmen while he made his own career； he entered the iron mills of the Ames Company； at Chicopee。 Here he remained as a workingman for six months； and then received an important post in the Trenton Iron Works of New Jersey。 There his health broke down。 Consumption threatened him； and all his bright hopes and ambitions were overcast and checked。 He was obliged to leave his business and go to Europe； where he traveled for two years； fighting the dread disease that was upon him。 In 1858 he returned； and took a position on a Western railroad。 Although the work was new to him； he manifested the same capacity that he had always shown； and more especially his power over other men and his ability in organization。 In two years his health was reestablished； and in 1860 he took charge of the Mount Savage Iron Works； at Cumberland； Maryland。 He was there when news came of the attack made by the mob upon the 6th Massachusetts Regiment； in Baltimore。 Two days later he had made his way to Washington； one of the first comers from the North； and at once applied for a commission in the regular army。 While he was waiting； he employed himself in looking after the Massachusetts troops； and also； it is understood； as a scout for the Government； dangerous work which suited his bold and adventurous nature。
In May he received his commission as captain in the United States cavalry。 Employed at first in recruiting and then in drill； he gave himself up to the study of tactics and the science of war。 The career above all others to which he was suited had come to him。 The field； at last； lay open before him； where all his great qualities of mind and hearthis high courage； his power of leadership and of organization； and his intellectual powers could find full play。 He moved rapidly forward； just as he had already done in college and in business。 His regiment； in 1862； was under Stoneman in the Peninsula； and was engaged in many actions； where Lowell's cool bravery made him constantly conspicuous。 At the close of the campaign he was brevetted major； for distinguished services at Williamsburg and Slatersville。
In July； Lowell was detailed for duty as an aid to General McClellan。 At Malvern Hill and South Mountain his gallantry and efficiency were strongly shown； but it was at Antietam that he distinguished himself most。 Sent with orders to General Sedgwick's division； he found it retreating in confusion； under a hot fire。 He did not stop to think of orders； but rode rapidly from point to point of the line； rallying company after company by the mere force and power of his word and look； checking the rout； while the storm of bullets swept all round him。 His horse was shot under him； a ball passed through his coat； another broke his sword…hilt； but he came off unscathed； and his service was recognized by his being sent to Washington with the captured flags of the enemy。
The following winter he was ordered to Boston； to recruit a regiment of cavalry； of which he was appointed colonel。 While the recruiting was going on； a serious m
