b) Robert Gould Shaw

Robert Gould Shaw commanded the esteemed 54th Massachusetts Regiment, one of the first African American regiments in the Civil War. Shaw, a young white officer from a prominent abolitionist family, led the regiment with distinction. The 54th Massachusetts gained fame for their courageous assault on Fort Wagner in South Carolina in 1863. Although the attack was unsuccessful and Shaw was killed, the bravery and sacrifice of the 54th played a key role in changing public opinion about African American soldiers and their capabilities.