February 1863 the 54th Regiment was the first called African Americans to fight in the Civil War.
Shaw led the 54th through training as well into battle in South Carolina. In July 1863 he requested the honor of him and the 54th to lead the Union Charge against Fort Wagner, in Charleston Harbor. Shaw ended up getting killed along with many of his men in a failed atempt to capture the fort. A memorial was later made in honor of Robert Gould Shaw and the Massachusetts 54th Regiment.