W.J. Shaw was a Tennessee citizen who lived during the American Civil War. In 1864, he was briefly held prisoner by Union Army Major William Bradford at Fort Pillow. He escaped in short order, and made his way to Brownsville. The day after his escape, Confederate forces under Nathan Bedford Forrest arrived in Brownsville on their way to take the Fort. Shaw, eager for revenge, agreed to act as guide. After a personal interview with Colonel Robert McCulloch and then Forrest himself, Shaw was outfitted, and led the troops safely to the fort. [1]
Literary Comment[]
While W.J. Shaw was historical, little is known about him beyond his role in the Fort Pillow campaign.
