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| 1 | Robert Gould Shaw, the son of wealthy Boston abolitionists, was just 23 years old when he joined the Army of the Potomac. He was later appointed colonel of an all black regiment. During his service to the Union army, Shaw often wrote home telling of his trials and tribulations. Over 100 years later, these letters were used as the basis for the 1989 film Glory. Glory explores the experiences of Shaw during the Civil War and illustrates the interactions between Shaw and his men, and between the black soldiers themselves. |
| 2 | The film opens with Union soldiers marching and a voice-over of a letter Shaw (Matthew Broderick) had written to his mother. This first letter introduces the audience to Shaw and begins to unveil the type of person he is. He writes: "Before this war began, many of my regiment had never seen a negro. Now the roads are choked with the dispossessed." Shaw is eloquent and seemingly kind-spirited. He thanks his mother for sending his volume of Emerson, saying that "his words come home to me like truth . . . 'A deep man,' he says, 'believes that the evil eye can wither, that the heart's blessing can heal, and that love can overcome all odds.'" Shaw is clearly an educated, optimistic, and virtuous man. |
| 3 | Glory wastes no time acquainting the viewer with the realities of Civil War battles. Not ten minutes into the film, the soldiers arrive to fight at Antietam. The scenes of battle are extremely graphic, and therefore effective in producing a sense of disgust at the horrors of war. The post-battle scenes in the medical tent, however, are far worse that anything seen during fighting. With amputees littering the tent, moans and screams cloud the air. Medical instruments are rinsed in water dyed red with blood. Shaw, who is being treated for a flesh wound to his neck, numbly watches an amputee wail in agony as the surgeons pin him down in order to remove his leg--there were no painkillers. Ironically, the man seeing to Shaw's neck wound keeps apologizing for any pain caused in the suturing. Watching such an innocent exposed to such horrific things, though only in film, is gut-wrenching. And one begins to wonder how the experience of war can change a person. |
| 3 | Shaw's father is an influential man with powerful connections. And it is because of these connections with men such as the governor of Massachusetts and Frederick Douglas, that Shaw was recommended to be colonel of an all black regiment. Once the regiment was formed, they marched to Readville camp to begin their training. With the soldiers settling into their tents, the audience is shown just how diverse the recruits are. Rawlins (Morgan Freeman), an old runaway slave who had served as a grave digger for the Union forces; Trip (Denzel Washington), a young ex-slave full of anger and hate; and Thomas (Andre Braugher), a well-educated childhood friend of Shaw's; all share a tent. Right away there is tension between Trip and Thomas, with Trip making snide remarks such as: "I like it when niggers talk like white folk." Thomas knows no differently, and Trip has an obvious chip on his shoulder. |
| 3 | The black soldiers train well and Shaw is full of praise for them. In a letter home he says:
The men learn very quickly--faster than white troops it seems to me. They are almost brave and sedate under instruction and they restrain themselves. But the moment they are dismissed from drill, every tongue is relaxed, and every ivory tooth is visible. And you would not know from the sound of it that this is an army camp. They must have had to learn this from long hours of meaningless and inhuman work. To set their minds free so quickly, it gives them great energy. And there is no doubt that we will leave this state as fine a regiment as any there has marched.Shaw has great respect and admiration for his troops. He is positive about their capabilities and impressed by their discipline. He continues to be optimistic, though he struggles with his role as colonel. |
| 3 | Shaw finds his position of authority difficult. For example, he must behave as a colonel to his childhood friend Thomas, and show him no special favors. Thomas, however, is having an incredibly hard time assimilating to army life. This confuses Shaw because he cares about his friend and wants to help him, yet he also wants to be a strong, dependable leader. But Shaw does learn from his experiences. When he is informed that a deserter, Trip, has been caught, he does what he thinks is his duty and orders the man flogged. When Shaw later inquires of Rawlins if there are things that the troops need, Rawlins replies that the men need shoes, and informs him that Trip was not deserting, that he was just trying to find a decent pair of shoes. Shaw, upset and guilty over misjudging Trip and not adequately providing for his troops, storms into the supply building and demands shoes and socks for his men. Though he mistakenly did not listen to the soldiers before punishing Trip for desertion, he learned to attend more closely to the needs of the regiment. Shaw slowly realizes that men respect a leader who endures what they endure. For instance, when the regiment is informed that since they are a negro unit, they will be paid ten dollars each month rather that the standard Union wage of thirteen dollars, they protest vehemently. In response to this, Shaw declares: "If you men will take no pay, then none of us will!" He is expressing his desire to be a strong, respected leader, though he is still a bit timid about using his authority. This is illustrated by his response to a newly appointed Sgt. Major Rawlins, who says to him, "I'm not sure I want this, Colonel." And Shaw replies, "I know exactly how you feel." Shaw was thrown into a position of leadership he felt unready for, and he struggles throughout the film to be a strong, effective colonel. |
| 3 | Shaw faces multiple challenges as colonel of the 54th Massachusetts. Once his soldiers arrive at Beaufort, South Carolina, where they are to be stationed, he meets up with Colonel Montgomery. Montgomery leads a regiment of "contraband" colored soldiers. He makes plans to hike down to the Georgia coast with Shaw and "forage for supplies." When the soldiers arrive in Darien, Georgia, Montgomery allows his men to loot the town. He then orders Shaw to have his men burn Darien. Shaw refuses, telling Montgomery that setting fire to the town is an immoral act in accordance with wartime regulations. Montgomery replies: "Well, you can just explain that at your court-martial--after your men are placed under my command." Afraid of loosing his men to such an immoral brute, Shaw gives the order to torch the town. |
| 3 | The men of the 54th were ready and willing to fight. Unfortunately, despite Shaw's requests, it had become clear that they were only to be used for manual labor. Morale became low among the soldiers due to idleness, and tensions became high. One night, Trip and Thomas scuffle and come close to fighting when Sgt. Major Rawlins intercedes. Trip tells him, "Nigger, you ain't nothin' but the white man's dog." Rawlins smacks Trip and replies:
And what are you? So full of hate you just wanna go out and fight everybody. 'Cause you been whipped and chased by hounds. Well, that may not be livin', but it sure as hell ain't dyin'. And dyin's what these white boys been doin' for goin' on three years now. Dyin' by the thousands, dyin' for you, fool. I know 'cause I dug they graves. . . . The time's comin' when we gonna have to anti-up. Anti-up and kick in like men--like men! You watch who you callin' nigger.Idleness is causing the regiment to fall apart. Rawlins knows that the men need to see battle soon, and so does Shaw. |
| 3 | Shaw decides to request that his commanding officer let him transfer to combat command. When he is refused, he threatens to report the crooked operations of the base to the war department. Shaw notes: "Thirty-four mansions pillaged and burned," "4,000 bales of cotton smuggled through the lines with payments to parties unknown," and "confiscated valuables shipped north as personal baggage." The 54th Massachusetts was soon on its way to combat. The regiment's first battle at James Island, South Carolina provided a victory over the Confederates and proved the valor and discipline of the black soldiers. |
| 3 | Two days later, the 54th volunteered to lead the assault on Fort Wagner, a Confederate fort defending the entrance to Charleston harbor. When his commander mentioned that Shaw=s men had not slept for two days, Shaw told him: "There's more to fighting than rest, sir. There's character. There's strength of heart. You should've seen us in action two days ago, we were a sight to see. We'll be ready, sir." Shaw believes in his men, and is confident in their military abilities. |
| 3 | Aware that the casualty rate would be incredible, and that many of them would never fight again, the soldiers sang and prayed the night before the siege. They prayed for strength, blessing, and God's support. This moment of the film is amazingly emotional. The comradeship shared by the soldiers, the personal differences they had overcome to see each other as family is touching--especially due to the awareness of the closeness of death. |
| 3 | Glory closes with this final battle, or slaughter some might say. Though the advance was in vain (the fort was never captured), and over half of the regiment was lost during battle, the soldiers fought valiantly, and Shaw led them well. He was buried in a mass grave with his men. The script at the close of the film read: "As word of their bravery spread, Congress at last authorized the raising of black troops throughout the Union. Over 180,000 volunteered. President Lincoln credited these men of color with helping turn the tide of the war." Shaw became the leader he had wanted to be, and the black soldiers had proved their worth as men willing to fight for freedom.
Nominated and Edited by Dr. Jackie Flowers, History Instructor
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