The original interments in the cemetery were men who died in nearby
Union hospitals during the occupation of the area early in the
Civil War, mainly in 1861, following the
Battle of Port Royal. Battlefield casualties from around the area were also reinterred in the cemetery, including over 100
Confederate soldiers. It became a National Cemetery with the National Cemetery Act by
Abraham Lincoln in 1863.
Of the Civil War soldiers buried here, there are: 9,000 Union soldiers (3,607 unknown,) 2,800 POWs from the camp at Millen and 1,700 African-American union soldiers. There are also 102 confederate soldiers.[4] The remains of 27
Unionprisoners of war were reinterred from
Blackshear Prison following the war.[4]
In 1987, the remains of nineteen Union soldiers of the all black
Massachusetts 55th Volunteer Infantry were discovered on
Folly Island, South Carolina.[6] The Folly North Archaeological Project, 1990 did further excavations in the area after Hurricane Hugo revealed artifacts due to erosion of the soil and due to concerns of future erosion in the area. The Items discovered included leather shoes, rubberized canvas, wood staves and animal bone.[7]
The Massachusetts 55th had been stationed on Folly Island from late 1863 to early 1864 and was a sister unit to the better-known
Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry, featured in the film Glory.
On May 29, 1989, the 54th soldiers were reinterred in the Beaufort National Cemetery with full military honors. Cast members from the film served as the honor guard at the ceremony.[6]
John N. McLaughlin (1918–2002), Marine Corps Lieutenant General, served in three wars and spent three years as
P.O.W.
Cook Petty Officer 1st Class William Pickney (1915-1976), second African American to be awarded the Navy Coss, for heroism during the Battle of Santa Cruz.
^Sammartino, Therese T. (May 27, 1997).
"Beaufort National Cemetery"(PDF). National Register of Historic Places – Nomination and Inventory. Retrieved 8 June 2012.