Commander of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the first black regiments to be enlisted in the service of the United States, a position which he has seamingly been thrown into and he feels he may not merit. At first Shaw seems to be a cowardly figure and during battle grazed by shrapnel he passes out. He later is allicted with survivors guilt, but with the help of time and his friend Forbes, Shaw is able to evolve himself into the mighty leader his men need him to be. In the end Shaw shows his valor when he first volunteers to be the leading infantry regiment in the assault on Fort Wagner and then during battle pushes on when all seems to be lost.