Local cemeteries and their use are not in question here. It was not local law that killed and buried these troops, it was Confederate troops and Federal troops, and this was a battlefield. I believe Fort Wagner was manned mostly by North Carolina troops with some Georgia and local Charleston artillery. I would expect only military grave detail customs to come into play here. And since Shaw, a Massachusetts man, was accustomed to serving and fighting with black soldiers why would the Confederates not bury him with his men even if they considered his sensibilities? It would not be more of an insult to bury him away from his men or send the body back showing the difference between white and black? Southerners politically think too. This whole story reeks of exploitation by his abolitionist family and friends; in 1867 the black abolitionist from Massachusetts William Wells Brown, wrote "It is the custom of savages to outrage the dead, and it was only natural that the natives of South Carolina should attempt to heap insult on the remains of the brave young soldier"...it certainly doesn't sound like the Federals had any issues with the aftermath of the battle. Lt. Col. Hallowell was with Shaw.

"HDQRS. FIFTY-FOURTH MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS,
Morris Island, S. C., December 13, 1863.

Lieut. Col. E. W. SMITH, Assistant Adjutant-General:

SIR: In compliance with your letter dated December 12, 1863,1 have
the honor to make the following report:

Since this regiment reported for duty in this department the following
casualties have occurred:

Field and staff.—Morris Island, July 18,1863: Col. R. G. Shaw, killed;
Lieut. Col. E. N. Hallowell, Adjt. G. W. James, wounded.

Line offlcers.—Morris Island, July 18, 1863: Wounded, 9; missing, 2
(Capts. W. H. Simpkins, C. J. Russell).

Enlisted men.—James Island, July 16, 1863: Killed. 14- wounded, 18;
missing, 13. Morris Island, July 18, 1863: Killed, 20; wounded, 125;
missing, 102. In trenches on Morris Island since July 18, 1863: Killed,
4; wounded,4.

Being wounded during the action on Morris Island July 18, 1863, 1
was precluded from getting positive evidence at the moment of what
the officers and men saw of the taking of prisoners and leaving of
wounded on the ground, but the observations of Mr. Trumbull, chaplain
of the Tenth Connecticut Volunteers, who was taken prisoner during
said action, and who has since beell returned to his regiment, give me
assurance satisfactory to my own mind that between 50 and 100
enlisted men of this regiment were taken prisoners during said action.
This, coupled with Jeff. Davis’ proclamation that he would not treat
blacks or their officers as prisoners, furnishes the strongest circumstantial
evidence that a large number, say between 50 and 100, were
taken and are now held by the rebels. Chaplain Trumbull made the
statement I have referred to to Maj. James Sturgis, assistant adju-
tant-general to John A. Andrew, Governor of Massachusetts.

I have no evidence that any officer or enlisted man of this regiment
has been treated by the rebels in a barbarous manner. The killed,
wounded, and missing were killed, wounded, and taken prisoners, as far
as I am able to ascertain, in fair fight.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. N. HALLOWELL,
Colonel, Commanding Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteers"