A Doctor, A Politican, A Soldier

Confederate Colonel and former United States Congressman Henry Marchmore Shaw was killed November 1^st 1864.

Henry Marchmore Shaw was born November 20^th 1819 in Newport, Rhode Island.  He graduated in 1838 from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia with a medical degree and opened a practice in Indiantown, North Carolina.  As a politician he ran as a Democrat and was elected to the United States Congress, surviving from 1853 to 1859 with a gap during 55 -57.

When the Civil War started Shaw enlisted in the Confederate Army.  He was made a Colonel in the 8^th North Carolina, and commanded them at the Battle of Roanoke Island in September 1861.  When Union General Ambrose Burnside attacked the Island in February 1862, Shaw captured.  During a battle near New Bern, North Carolina he was killed on November 1^st 1864.  Shaw was buried in Shawboro Cemetery in Shawboro, North Carolina.

They Lost 35% Of The Unit

The 21st Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was organized in Worchester, Massachusetts and mustered into Union service August 23rd 1861.


The 21st Massachusetts Infantry was garrisoned at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland after being mustered into service on August 23rd 1861. The regiment was part of the Coastal Division under the command of Union Major General Ambrose E Burnside. They saw action in the Battle of Roanoke Island and the Battle of New Bern, before being attached to the Army of the Potomac in July 1862. The 21st took part in many of the big battles in the east including the Battle of Chantilly, where they lost at least 35% of the unit on September 1st 1862. They moved to the Department of the Ohio from March 1863 to January 1864. The 21st rejoined the Army of the Potomac in early May 1864, and took part in Union Lieutenant General Ulysses S Grant’s Overland Campaign.

After three years of service the 21st had 152 men killed, 400 were discharged because of wounds, 69 were prisoner of war, and 300 had left because disease. Their numbers had been reduced from 1000 to about 100 men.

A recommended web site for further reading is Twenty-First Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Three Years

A Battle For The Coast

The Battle of Roanoke Island, an amphibious battle was fought February 7th and 8th 1862 in the North Carolina Sound.

The first opening of what would be called the Burnside Expedition took place on February 7th and 8th 1862. Known as the Battle of Roanoke Island, it was fought just south of Virginia in the North Carolina Sound. The Union attack was made up of gunboats taken from the North Atlantic Blocking Squadron under the command of Flag Officer Louis M Goldsborough and troops led by Brigadier General Ambrose E Burnside. These Union forces came up against Confederate gunboats known as the Mosquito Fleet under the command of Captain William F Lynch, with about 2,000 soldiers led at the time of the battle by Colonel Henry M Shaw. The Confederate defenses were also supported by four forts and two batteries.

The day of February 7th 1862 was spent in a gun duel between the Union gunboats and the forts along the shore. Several of the Union gunboats were hit, but damage was light. Around four that afternoon Burnside went ashore with his 10,000 men, and six howitzers. It was to late in the day to begin a ground fight, and so they went into camp for the night.

The second day of the Battle, the Union troops advanced under a heavy artillery fire. Although protected by swamps the Confederates were flanked on both sides and drew back into the forts. Burnsides took the Forts one at a time. Shaw ran out of places to escape to and surrendered his 2,500 men and 32 guns..