Robert Gould Shaw was 23 when he first enlisted. He went and fought for the North.
             On September 17, 1862 the North attacked the South. The North fell back. The South took the land.
             Shaw later found out that Lincoln was going to free some of the slaves.
             Shaw was offered the chance to be colonel of the 54th Mass. Regiment. The regiment was to be the first all black regiment. Shaw told his friend Forbes that he was going to take the job. He also asked Forbes to come along and help. He agreed.
             Shaw meet the group and started training. Almost all the men did not know their right form their left. They learned fast though/ They learned everything fast. Shaw awoke one morning to find that the Confederate Congress issued a proclamation. It said: All Negro's in arms against Confederate will be brought back into slavery; all Negro's in Federal uniform will be sentenced to death; all white officers in commanded of black troops will be sentenced to death.
             After awhile the men finally got their guns. They were very happy about it. Shaw is pushing the men and Forbes is getting very mad at how Shaw is doing his job. Shaw had put in for a request of shoes 2 weeks ago and never received them . The men in charge said that things were going bad and it would take awhile. Shaw eventually goes up to the place and argues with the men till he gets the shoes and socks he needs for his men.
             Shaw then gets a letter form the war department saying that his men will get paid $10 instead of $13 like everyone else. The blacks get very mad and protest. Shaw stands up and says that if you don't take the pay then neither will any of the officers. The men also get their blue suits. MR. Rawlins is moved up to sergeant major.
             At a dinner, Shaw talks to a man that is also in charge of a black troop. He tells Shaw that he is taking his men to get some fighting done and asks Shaw to come with. Shaw accepts. On June 11, 1863...