Robert Gould Shaw ( October 10 , 1837 â `` July 18 , 1863 ) was an American colonel during the Civil war . He lead the all African American 54th Regiment . Robert Gould Shaw ( October 10 , 1837 â `` July 18 , 1863 ) was the colonel in command of the all-black 54th Regiment , which entered the American Civil War in 1863 .