I think what we have here is a classic case of trying to pick gnat poop out of pepper. The 54th Mass. was a famous unit but far from the only unit composed partially or entirely of black men. We've even argued the facts here of black Confederate service. Including the discussion of what made a soldier. Was it a rifle or could it have included a shovel or a frying pan? I hope everyone that has posted here took the time to read the thread on the Tennessee board. And Mr. Hodge's "intervention" in what didn't seem all that much out of line to me. Maybe I'm a little more ragged around the edges than some that are easily offended on these boards. There seems to be an issue here with honor and dignity vs. dishonor and humiliation. Ponder this. United States President John Tyler sided with his native state of Virginia during the war. A former United States President went on to be a member of The Confederate Congress. He died in January of 1862. His written and well documented wish was to be buried on his own property and native soil of Virginia. He even wrote that he wished his wife to mark his grave with an inexpensive and simple stone marker. A Virginian from birth to death. The problem existed however that Sherwood Forest, Tyler's Virginia home was occupied by McClellan's Federal Troops as were all of the grand old homes along The James River that we call Plantation Row. You think those Federal troops would have allowed Mr. Tyler's remains to have been respectfully and properly delivered back to his home where he could be buried with all of the honors of an American President, Confederate Congressman, and Virginia Son, including the military entourage that would have participated. I doubt it. He was buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond. Safe and sound from the hands and eyes of "the medling yankees". But later to be honored for his position as United States President with an elaborate stone provided by the United Staes government. Ironic, wouldn't you say? There is very little honor in death while at war. It's usually only after the fact that so much pomp and circumstance enters the picture. You think those rag tag boys manning Fort Wagner aimed better or shot faster because there was a Black regiment in front of them. You think the took more or less time burying them in some act of humiliation or revenge? I doubt it. They had been manning that fort and killing the attackers for a few years at that time. Did you expect them to box up young Robert Gould Shaw and mail him back to his parents in Boston? The probably didn't have time considering the next regiments that followed the 54th against that fort on the next day, week, and year. Hollywood can sure put some patriotic and noble memories in your head. The best memory I have of the movie "Glory" was seeing The Second National Confederate Flag flying proudly above Fort Wagner with the caption "the fort was never taken". Black, white, or blue.

Doyle summed it up best.

"To the soldier a dead body was just that, a dead body. And burying them was just a distasteful, but necessary normal detail to be done with as quickly as possible. I know from my own personal experience that after a while seeing dead bodies, a dead body is just another thing to deal with and nothing special to lose your lunch over. By 1864 all of those men had seen more than their share of death and dead bodies."

As Gerald Hodge might want to say.......let's move on.