Shaw, William C

Unknown Grave Marker

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Significance:

Company K, 14th Michigan Infantry

Date of Birth:

1840

Place of Death:

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Date of Death:

January 3, 1863

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Cemetery

William C Shaw was born in 1840 to Jesse D Shaw and Eliza Shaw. He lived in Ingham County, Michigan in his adult life. At the age of 20, he enlisted with the Union Army in Locke, Michigan on December 9, 1861. He later mustered into Company K of the 14th Michigan Infantry regiment on January 7, 1862. His rank is unlisted. 

The 14th Michigan Infantry Regiment was organized at Ypsilanti and Detroit, Michigan in January and February of 1862. They participated in the Siege of Corinth, Mississippi and some reconnaissance in the area. In December 1862, they were in Nashville, Tennessee. On December 26th, they received orders to march to Murfreesboro, Tennessee and occupy the area. They arrived on December 30th and were positioned with Negley’s division along the Wilkinson Pike and Van Cleve Lane. 

At 6am on December 31st, Confederate troops made contact with the Union’s right flank. The fighting raged on to the 14th Michigan’s right, and they waited as they heard the sounds of battle coming closer. Around 9am, Confederate troops had wrapped the Union’s right flank north towards the Wilkinson Pike, and by 10am, the 14th Michigan formed the right flank of a V-shaped position along the Wilkinson Pike. 

They held this position for about two hours before giving way to a retreat towards the Nashville Pike. For the rest of the first day of battle, the 14th Michigan was positioned on the Nashville Pike. 

On the 1st of January, the 14th Michigan were moved to occupy a position near the west fork of the Stones River. This movement triggered the fighting that would later happen on January 2, 1863. Confederate forces swept into the area in order to capture a high ground, but were quickly stopped by the Union. 

At some point during the battle of Stones River, Shaw received a mortal gunshot wound. He was taken to a regimental hospital and died there on January 3, 1863, due to his wounds. 

William C Shaw is laid to rest in the Stones River National Cemetery in an unknown grave. He is one of around 2500 soldiers buried in the national cemetery that are buried in unknown graves.