[487] 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
