This is, at best, a start to a listing of the South Carolina units which served during the War of the Rebellion. It is drawn from many – and often conflicting – sources. The units are in the following order: artillery, cavalry, infantry, and then the Reserve and miscellaneous units. There is also a list of South Carolina units of by their Local Designation. The South Carolina regiments of the United States Colored Troops are found in the appropriate section along with the Confederate units.

Within each major grouping, the order is regiment, battalion and then company. Not the ideal, but over the years that was essentially how I recorded the information. Whenever possible I have listed the sub-units (companies or batteries) to the regiments and as much information as possible on each company. As can be expected, for most there is relatively little and for others it is almost overwhelming. The commanders and field officers are listed for the sole purpose of helping sort out units and not tracing ancestors; it is often the only means of sorting out "who's (or might be) who."

This is the unintended result of work done on the antebellum and postbellum South Carolina Militia organizations, not a distinct effort to list South Carolina units which served during the War of the Rebellion. The original effort only took several weeks and concentrated on the units that served within South Carolina. The units that served outside South Carolina were initially of little interest to my study, but to maintain consistency and some level of uniformity their assignments and campaigns are covered here as well.

The references used to compile this listing are many and varied. The primary source was The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Another excellent source was Stewart Sifakis' Compendium of the Confederate Armies: South Carolina and Georgia, published by Facts on File in 1995. At a later point I shall publish a bibliography on the Palmetto Soldiers which will include reference material covering the War of the Rebellion.

Date for this information is: 8 July 1998.

Any errors in this listing are solely my responsibility.

Act of 1 January 1861 authorized the Governor to receive volunteer companies for enlistments of six months. The Governor could organize any companies received into battalions, regiments, brigades, and divisions. The field officers for these formations to be appointed with the advise and consent of the Senate.

Militia Act of 7 December 1861

Order issued by the Adjutant and Inspector General on 4 November 1862, in response to request from Secretaty of War, CSA, G.W. Randolph, to send four regiments of militia into Confederate Service to reinforce General P.G.T. Beauregard for 90 days. The regiments ordered to report to Beauregard were the 2nd, 3rd, 8th, and 11th Regiments of Reserve. An additional four regiments ordered into Confederate Service on 7 November 1862, for a total of eight regiments from the reserves. The 5th, 6th, 7th, and 9th Regiments of the Reserves were ordered to duty. The 4th and 10th Regiments of the Reserves were disbanded.

Commander of South Carolina State Reserve/ Chief of the Military Department of South Carolina: Brigadier General James Chesnut.

1st Corps of Reserves

Field Officers: Colonel E.B.C. Cash (from Chesterfield); Lieutenant Colonel William H. Evans (Darlington); Major J.B. Chandler (Williamsburg).

Composed of all males not on on active service between the ages of 35 to 50; primary duties intended to be patrol and police duties; members liable for active service, State or Confederate.

2nd Corps of Reserves.

Composed of males between the ages of 16 to 18, and 50 to 65; also includes those exempted from ordinary militia duty; primary duties to be patrol and police duties.

2nd Brigade, Cavalry

Active State service.

3rd Brigade, Infantry

Active State service.

4th Brigade, Charleston

Constituted the 1st Regiment, 1st Corps of Reserves; composed of all white males between the ages of 16 and 65 residing within the parishes of St. Philips and St. Michaels.

1st Artillery Regiment, South Carolina Militia

Field Officer: Colonel John A. Wagener.

A Company: Captain Jacob Small, 15 July 1863.

C Company: Captain Wm. S. Henerey, 10 July 1863.

Vigilant Rifles: Captain S.Y. Tupper, 1 November 1861.

Marion Artillery: Captain E.L. Parker.

1st Mounted Militia Regiment

Field Officer: Colonel William E. Martin

St. Pauls Rangers

1st Regiment South Carolina Militia

Field Officer: Lieutenant Colonel Herndon

Captain Jefferson Barton's Company, Greenville; 31 December 1861; later separate company

1st Regiment Charleston Guards

Field Officer: Colonel Edward Magrath

1st Regiment of Reserves, Charleston Reserves

Organized during 1864. Field Officers: Colonel Alexander H. Brown; Colonel Richard De Treville; Lieutenant Colonel Robert N. Gouldin; Colonel Francis M. Robertson; Major J.W.A. Wardlaw.

1st Regiment State Troops

Field Officers: Colonel Thomas B. Roberts; Lieutenant Colonel W. Ludlow Hodges; Major William E. Welborn. Enlisted for six months service beginning 1 August 1863; mustered out 3 February 1864. Assignments: 1st Military District of South Carolina, September 1863; 5th Military District of South Carolina, October 1863 – February 1864.

A Company: Captain T.H. Russell; company at Tunnell Hill, Oconee

I Company: Captain John White; company refused to enter Confederate service

2nd Regiment State Troops

Field Officers: Colonel William Fort; Lieutenant Colonel G.A. Lewis; Major Walter Quattlebaum

Organized for six months State service from 1 August 1863; Pocataligo, September 1863-February 1864; mustered out in early 1864. Assignment: 3rd Military District of South Carolina, September 1863 – February 1864.

B Company: Captain George D. Streett

C Company, Orangeburg: Captain D.L. Dantzler; organized for six months local service; called to service on 1 August 1863, but not ordered into field service until 12 September 1863

G Company, Orangeburg and Lexington: Captain T.B. Tyler; organized for six months local service; called to service on 1 August 1863, but not ordered into field service until 12 September 1863

H Company, Walterboro: Captain Robert Black; organized for six months local service; called to service on 1 August 1863, but not ordered into field service until 12 September 1863

I Company: Captain J.C. Brooks

K Company: Captain S.S. Wise; organized for six months local service; called to service on 1 August 1863, but not ordered into field service until 12 September 1863

2nd South Carolina Infantry Regiment Reserves

Organized in 1862 for State service; mustered for 90 days Confederate service on 5 November 1862; mustered out in early 1863. Field Officer: Colonel Ellerbee B.C. Cash. Assignment: 4th Military District of South Carolina, November 1862.

D Company, Williamsburg: Captain S.D. McGill

2nd Regiment South Carolina Militia

Field Officer: Lieutenant Colonel Duncan

3rd Regiment South Carolina State Troops, Junior Reserve

Field Officers: Colonel John E. Carew; Lieutenant Colonel R.A. Rouse; Major J.J. Anderson.

Organized for six months State service starting 1 August 1863; one company mustered out on 31 January 1864; other companies disbanded by 1 February 1864; composed of units and personnel from Chesterfield, Darlington, Horry, Marion, Sumter, Clarendon, Marlboro, Williamsburg, Richland, Georgetown; service in area between Charleston and Savannah; Honey Hill, Adams Run, Green Pond, Coosawhatchie, James Island, the evacuation of Charleston; with Hardee's Army at Raleigh; ordered back to South Carolina, disbanded at Spartanburg. Assignments: 4th Military District of South Carolina, four companies, September 1863 – January 1864; 5th Military District of South Carolina, December 1863 – January 1864.

D Company, Marlboro: Captain Z.L. Drake; entered service 6 September 1864-1 April 1865.

I Company: Captain James D. Caskey; organized during September 1864; rendevous at Hamburg in September 1864; composed of 16 year-old boys

3rd Regiment Reserves

Field Officers: Colonel Charles J. Elford; Lieutenant Colonel Stanley S. Crittenden; Major Daniel Grice. Organized for State service in 1862; mustered 5 November 1862 into 90 Confederate service.

3rd Regiment South Carolina Militia

Field Officer: Lieutenant Colonel Harrington

Captain E.E. Evan's Company; organized at Darlington; defended Savannah; rear guard on James Island; with Johnston until Raleigh

4th South Carolina Regiment Reserves

Field Officers: Colonel J.B.E. Sloan, 23 October 1862; Lieutenant Colonel R.A. Maxwell; Major J.W. Norris; organized during 1862 for State service, disbanded February 1863.

4th South Carolina Regiment State Troops

Field Officers: Colonel James H. Witherspoon; Lieutenant Colonel F.M. Mellett; Major John C. Evans; organized in 1863 for six months State service; mustered 1 August 1863, disbanded 1 February 1864; Assignment: 4th Military District of South Carolina, September 1863 – February 1864.

H Company: Captain Roscius F. Atwood; Captain William Boyd

4th Regiment South Carolina Militia

Field Officer: Colonel Ligon

Disbanded 7 November 1862

5th South Carolina Regiment State Troops

Organized for six months State service from 1 August 1863; disbanded on 1 February 1864. Field Officers: Colonel James H. Williams; Lieutenant Colonel John A. Bradley; Major Lucius P. Sadler; Surgeon M.M. Hunter; Adjutant R.F. Attwood. Assignment: 5th Miltary District of South Carolina, September – November 1863.

A Company, Chester: Captain John Hardin

B Company, York: Captain John T. Lowry

C Company, Newberry: Captain T.H. Crooks

D Company, Laurens: Captain W.J.M. Jones

E Company, Spartanburg: Captain O.H. Moss

F Company, Spartanburg: Captain S.M. Swoddy

G Company, Spartanburg: Captain Joel Ballinger

H Company, Spartanburg and Union: Captain J.W. Bobo

I Company, Laurens: Captain W.W. Shaw

5th South Carolina Regiment Reserves

Organizewd for State service in 1862; mustered into Confederate service for 90 days on 5 November 1862; part of the forces surrendered by General Joseph E. Jonhston on 26 April 1865 at Durham Station, Orange County, North Carolina. Field Officers: Colonel Thomas G. Bacon; Lieutenant Colonel J.B. Griffin; Major Edward Noble

B Company, Lancaster: Captain James Small

6th Regiment Reserves

Field Officers: Colonel Andrew J. Secrest; Lieutenant Colonel James N. Shedd; Major Daniel Williams

7th Regiment Reserves

Field Officers: Colonel William B. Wilson; Lieutenant Colonel J.B. Tolleson; Major W.S. McJunkin

8th Regiment Reserves

Field Officers: Colonel James H. Witherspoon; Lieutenant Colonel A.C. Fuller; Major J.W. Arnold

1st Corps, 4 November 1862

H Company: Captain Edmond Davis

9th Regiment Reserves

Field Officers: Colonel James H. Williams; Lieutenant Colonel Anthony C. Fuller; Major John W. Arnold

9th Regiment State Troops

Field Offcer: Colonel James H. Williams

C Company: Captain Benjamin Mathis; Captain Thomas Crooks

9th Regiment South Carolina Militia

Captain Bellinger's Company

10th Regiment Reserves

Field Officers: Colonel J.M. Baxter; Lieutenant Colonel A.G. Salley; Major J.G. Wolfe

Disbanded 7 November 1862

10th Regiment South Carolina Militia

11th Regiment Reserves

Field Officers: Colonel John J. Ryan; Lieutenant Colonel Wm. F. Hutson; Major James L. Davis

A Company: Captain Joseph Stallings; 11 November 1862-16 February 1863

11th Regiment South Carolina Militia

Captain S.S. Wise's Company

14th Regiment South Carolina Militia

Captain D.L. Dantzler's Company

15th Regiment South Carolina Militia

Captain Bennett Tyler's Company

16th Regiment South Carolina Militia

Field Officer: Colonel Clement H. Stevens

Jackson Guard: Captain L.C. Charbonnier

Pickens Rifles: Captain W.H. Jones

17th Regiment South Carolina Militia

Field Officer: Colonel Robert DeTreville

18th Regiment South Carolina Militia

Field Officers: Colonel John E. Carew; Lieutenant Colonel A.F. Browning; Major Alfred Shuler

19th Regiment South Carolina Militia

Field Officer: Colonel Peter Bonneau

20th Regiment South Carolina Militia

Captain F.M. Millett's Company

21st Regiment South Carolina Militia

Field Officer: Lieutenant Colonel Robert L. Crawford

Reserves mustered for 90 days

Upper Battalion: Captain J.D. Caskey

Lower Battalion: Captain J.N. Sowell

23rd Regiment South Carolina Militia

Captain Thomas R. Brown's Company

24th Regiment South Carolina Militia

Captain Abram's Company

25th Regiment South Carolina Militia

Field Officer: Colonel C.W. Farrcell; Winnsboro

Company of Volunteers and Conscripts

28th Regiment South Carolina Militia

Captain John C. Evans' Company; Chesterfield; from 7 July 1863

29th Regiment South Carolina Militia

Field Officer: Colonel Cash

2nd Corps of Reserves

Captain David G. Woods' Company; Darlington

30th Regiment South Carolina Militia

Captain Nelson M. Gibson's Company

39th Regiment South Carolina Militia

Captain George H. Chapman's Company; fielded 13 July 1863

1st Charleston Reserves

Field Officers: Colonel Alexander H. Brown; Colonel Francis M. Robertson; Lieutenant Colonel Robert N. Gourdin

1st South Carolina Battalion State Troops

July 1864

A Company: Captain D.H. Smith

1st Battalion South Carolina Reserves

Field Officers: Major Daniel Williams, Major Joe Ballenger.

Organized in mid-1864 with seven companies and served as prison guards in Columbia, Charleston; moved to North Carolina where given leave and joined active service as cavalry, serving as a detachment in Ferguson's Brigade, Wheeler's Cavalry; used to consolidate with members of the 2nd, 6th, and 7th South Carolina Reserve Infantry Battalions, the 3rd South Carolina Infantry Battalion, plus the 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 8th, and 20th South Carolina Volunteers to form the following new units at Smithfield, North Carolina on 9 April 1865 – the 2nd, 3rd, and 7th South Carolina Volunteers Consolidated.

Assignments: Ripley’s Brigade, July – October 1864; Post of Florence, October – November 1864; Post of Columbia, two companies, November 1864; Taliaferro’s Brigade, December 1864; Chesnut’s Brigade, McLaw’s Division, December 1864 – January 1865; Mercer’s Brigade, Wright’s Divison, January – February 1865; Blanchard’s Brigade, McLaes Divison, Hardee’s Corps, February – April 1865. Battles: Carolinas Campaign, February – April 1865; Bentonville, 19 – 21 March 1865.

A Company: Captain W.H. Bartless

B Company

C Company

D Company

E Company

F Company

G Company

2nd South Carolina Battalion

F Company: Captain Daniel J. Avringer; mustered into service at Bamberg July 1864; disbanded at Spartanburg April 1865

2nd South Carolina Infantry Battalion Reserves

Field Officer: Major D.J. Barnette; Organized in Anderson County, 1864; consolidated with elements of the 1st, 6th, and 7th South Carolina Infantry Battalions Reserves, plus those of the 3rd South Carolina Infantry Battalion and the 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 8th, 15th, and 20th South Carolina Volunteers to form and reconstitute the 2nd, 3rd, and 7th South Carolina Volunteers Consolidated on 9 April 1865 at Smithfield, North Carolina. Assignments: Taliaferro’s Brigade, December 1864; Chesnut’s Brigade, McLaw’s Division, December 1864 – January 1865; Mercer’s Brigade, Wright’s Division, January – February 1865; Blanchard’s Brigade, McLaw’s Division, Hardee’s Corps. February – April 1865. Battles: Carolinas Campaign, February – April 1865; Bentonville, 19 – 21 March 1865.

E Company: Captain Benjamin F. Dickson; mustered into service at Anderson on 16 April 1864; Savannah to Raleigh, attached to McLaw's Division

F Company

G Company: Captain John C. Martin

3rd South Carolina Infantry Battalion Reserves

Organized during 1864. Field Officers: Lieutenant Colonel William P. Gill; Major Daniel Grice. Assignments: Post of Florence, October – November 1864; Chesnut’s Brigade, March 1865. Battle: Carolinas Campaign, February – April 1865.

A Company: Captain John Sanders, Union; mustered September 1864

B Company: Captain McLurkin, Fairfield

C Company: Captain Currens, York

D Company: Captain Brown, York

E Company: Captain John Hardin, Chester; mustered for eight months service; Florence, Hamburg, Augusta, Savannah, Charleston, Port Royal, Wilmington, Salisbury, Raleigh

4th South Carolina Battalion Reserves

Field Officer: Lieutenant Colonel James H. Williams, Newberry; organinzed during 1864; prison guards at Charleston, Florence, Wilmington, Goldsboro; surrendered on 26 April 1865 at Durham Station, Orange County, North Carolina, as part of the forces under General Joseph E. Johnston. Assignments: Ripley’s Brigade, one company, October – November 1864; Chesnut’s Brigade, March 1865. Battle: Carolinas Campaign, February – April 1865.

A Company: Captain W.H. Holman, Newberry; April 1864-April 1865

B Company: Captain Robertson, Abbeville

C Company

D Company: Captain Jones, Laurens

E Company: Captain E.M. Cooper, Laurens

5th South Carolina Infantry Battalion Reserves

Field Officer: Lieutenant Colonel Thomas R. Brown; Chesterfield; organized during 1864; surrendered on 26 April 1865 at Durham Station, Orange County, North Carolina, as part of the forces under General Joseph E. Johnston. Assignments: Post of Florence, October – November 1864; Chesnut’s Brigade, March 1865. Battle: Carolinas Campaign.

C Company: Captain James P. Harrall

6th Battalion Reserves

7th Battalion Reserves

8th Battalion Reserves

Aetna Guards: Captain E.F. Sweegen

Battalion of Arsenal Cadets

Officers: Captain J.P. Thomas; Acting Adjutant, Lieutenant Amory Coffin; Quartermaster, Lieutenant B.H. Knight; Surgeon, Doctor M.M. Sam

Arsenal Cadets when on State duty

A Company: Lieutenant J.B. Patrick

B Company: Lieutenant A.J. Norris

Captain Charles Alston, Jr. Company, 24 April 1862

Arsenal Guard: Captain Alex D. Estill; entered 12 months service from February 1862

Captain Bellinger's Company of Reserves

Captain E. St.P. Bellinger; company attached to 9th South Carolina Volunteers from 28 August 1861-31 December 1861; 1/2 of company stationed at Field's Point, 1/2 of company at Fenwick's Island; after the fall of Hilton Head Island company at Ashpoo Ferry with the rest of the regiment at Hardyville (sic)

Brooks' Home Guard: Captain A.B. Rhett

Bureau Battalion, Charleston

Composed of clerks, detailed men, etc.

Charleston Zouaves

Chesterfield Eagles: Captain Neill F. Graham; For special State Defenses

Battalion of Coast Rangers

Field Officer: Lieutenant Colonel Lewis M. Hatch

Captain H.W. Butler; Captain E.O. Murden; Captain J.M. Whilden

Organized in August 1861 for the local defense of Charleston

Combahee Rangers: Captain T.J. Allen; police and State service

Company Detailed Men and Boys

Cunningham's Battalion of Reserves

Field Officer: Major John Cunningham

Edgefield Reserves: Captain Joseph Abney; volunteered for 12 months State service on 7 December 1861

Eutaw Battalion

Field Officers: Lieutenant Colonel Charles H. Simonton; Major John G. Peeple

Seven companies

Captain J.W. Harllee

Captain Forster's Company of Reserves: Captain Alex M. Forester

Goodwyn's Brigade

Field Officer: Colonel A.D. Goodwyn

Brigade composed of one company from each county in the State

1st Regiment State Troops

2nd Regiment State Troops

3rd Regiment State Troops

4th Regiment State Troops

Greenville Home Guards: Captain T.S. Arthur

Harllee's Legion

Field Officer: Brigadier General William W. Harllee

Also known as the Pee Dee Legion

Highland Company: wore kilts

Irish Volunteers: Captain Edward Magrath; volunteered for service 16 September 1861 (1860?); separate company

Irish Volunteers: Captain Courteney

Irish Volunteers: Captain Heyward

Jackson Guard: Captain W.H. Jones

Captain Kay's Company of Reserves: Captain J.D. Kay

Kershaw Regiment

Lancaster District Home Guard Units

Lancaster Court House Home Guard: Captain J.T.K. Belk

Craigville Vigilance Committee: Captain John C. Foster; 13 April 1861

Hanging Rock Home Guards, Salem: Captain John M. Andrews; organized on 22 May 1861

Blair Guards: Captain T.L. Clyburn

Pleasant Hill Home Guards: Captain J.E. Rutledge

Flat Creek Home Guard: Captain S.T. Small

Wild Cat Vigilant Committee of Volunteers: Captain J. Funderburk

Stognerville Home Guards: Captain William Ward Baskins

Catawba Rangers: Captain James D. McIlwain; cavalry company

Lancaster Guards: Captain John Q. McManus; company disbanded due to fear that it may be sent outside of South Carolina for service

Lythgoe's Regiment

Field Officer: C.E. Chichester

Captain W.J. McKerall

Captain S.S. Tompkins

Captain M.B. Stanley

Marion Rifles: Captain C. B. Sigwald

Captain Moss' Company of Reserves: Captain Oliver H. Moss; company enlisted at Bomars on 1 August 1861; may have been company in Colonel J.H. Williams' 3rd Regiment; possibly broken up and members of the company entered active service

Nesbit's Battalion State Troops

Field Officers: Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Nesbit; Major Richard D.F. Rollins

Redesignated 9th South Carolina Infantry Battalion; component of Pee Dee Legion; formed 26th South Carolina Volunteers

Naval Battalion, Charleston

Ordnance Guard: Captain Thomas D. Dottener; accepted for service 22 February 1862

Partizan Company: Captain M.J. Kirk

Partizan Rangers, Cheraw: Captain James Powell

Partizan Rangers: Captain Jonathan R. Miot

Pee Dee Legion, or Brigade of State Militia

Field Officer: Brigadier General W.W. Harllee

Created for local defense

Percival's 1st Mounted Regiment of South Carolina State Troops

Officer: Captain K.F. Percival

Organized at Aiken; company enlisted under local State law; departed Aiken on 25 November 1861; Port Royal; disbanded in February 1862; a second company formed in 1864, equipped with breech-loading carbines; participated in the cavalry action at Aiken on 12 February 1865

Phoenix Rifles: Captain Peter C. Gaillard

Pickens Rangers

Pickens Rifles: Captain L.C. Charbonnier; organized in Summer of 1861 at Charleston; composed of boys 14-16 years old; during the Spring of 1862 did not enter into Confederate service

Rutledge Mounted Riflemen

St. Helena Mounted Riflemen

St. Paul's Home Guard: Adams Run, Colleton

Captain Shivers' Company of Reserves: Captain William Shivers; mustered into service at Columbia on 6 November 1861 to guard prisoners at Columbia and for local defense in accordance with Act of 21 August 1861

Simon's Company of Reserves: Captain Keating W. Simons; local service; many members had occupations exempted from active service

South Carolina College Cadets: Captain John N. Gary; Organized 1861

South Carolina College Cadets: Captain Charles S. Venable; Organized 1861; company existed one day, could not get the permission of the faculty to enter service, vacation having commenced the day prior to the unit being organized

Spartan Rangers: Captain William T. Wilkins; Independent Company, South Carolina Reserves; composed of 17-year olds; organized in 1864; trained in Greenville; attached occasionally to 1st South Carolina Cavalry; served from Savannah to Pee Dee Rivers; Adams Run, Honey Hill, Moncks Corner

Battalion of State Cadets

Field Officers: Major J.B. White; Adjutant, Lieutenant Amory Coffin; Quartermaster A.H. Mazyck

Cadets of The Citadel when on State duty

A Company: Captain Hugh S. Thompson

B Company: Lieutenant N.W. Armstrong; Lieutenant J.F. Lanneau

Stono Scouts: Captain John B.L. Walpole; Charleston; an independent company of State Troops unattached to any organization

Vigilant Rifles: Captain S.V. Tupper

Volunteer Corps, Charleston Fire Department

Vigilant Rifles: Captain S.V. Tupper

Phoenix Rifles: Captain Peter C. Gaillard

Aetna Guards: Captain E.F. Sweegen

Marion Rifles:Captain C.B. Sigwald

Walhalla State Guard: Captain James O'Connell

Wards Battalion of Reserves

Field Officer: Major J.W. Ward

Captain T.P. Whitesides Company, York; 24 April 1862