2nd Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry

Brief History
The 2nd Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry was organized during the summer of 1862 (22nd of August) by consolidating the 4th South Carolina Cavalry Battalion and the Cavalry Battalion of Hampton's South Carolina Legion. In May, 1864, the Infantry Battalion of Hampton's South Carolina Legion was mounted and united with the 2nd Cavalry. It was then redesignated the Hampton South Carolina Cavalry Legion.In April 1865, the 2nd Regiment Cavalry were on picket duty along the Cape Fear River. They were ordered to march to Charlotte and then on to Chester, South Carolina where they were furloughed.

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.


 * Company A - (also known as the Boykin Mounted Rangers and Hampton Scouts) - many men from Kershaw District (County), with a few from Richland District (County), Darlington District (County), Charleston District (County), Barnwell District (County), Chester District (County), Lexington District (County), Spartanburg District (County) and Laurens District (County)


 * Company B - (also known as Beaufort Detachment, Hampton Legion, Beaufort District Troop, Beaufort Dragoons) - many men from Beaufort District (County), Grahamville area. A few men from Charleston District (County) and Colleton District (County)


 * Company C - (also known as Hapmton Detachment, the Congaree Mounted Riflemen, and the Congaree Rangers) - many men from Richland District (County)


 * Company D (also known as McKewn's Cavalry, Wassamassaw Cavalry, and the Wassa Massaw Rangers) - many men from Charleston Ditrict (County), Goose Creek area.


 * Company E - (also known as Dean's Cavalry) - many men from Spartanburg District (County), Greenville District (County), and Laurens District (County)


 * Company F - (also known as the Easley's Cavalry) - many men from Pickens District (County). A few men from Greenville District (County), Anderson District (County), Lancaster District (County) and Spartanburg District (County)


 * Company G - (also known as Bonham's Light Dragoons and Lipscomb's Troop) - many men from Newberry District (County), Abbeville District (County) and Laurens District (County).  A few men came from Richland District (County), Charleston District (County) and Edgefield District (County)


 * Company H - (also known as the Congaree Troop) - many men from Richland District (County) and Fairfield District (County)


 * Company I - (also known as the Edgefield Hussars or formerly known as Company A, Cavalry Battalion, Hampton Legion, and the Edgefield Dragoons) - many men from Edgefield District (County), also from Abbeville District (County), Richland District (County), Fairfield District (County) and Orangeburg District (County) - Roster


 * Company K - (Formerly knowns as Company B, Cavalry Detachment, Hampton Legion, Brooks' Troops, and the Brook's Guards and Brook's Dragoons) - many men from Greenville District (County)

Information about the companies is taken from Seigler's book, and the websites for Batson and Eastern Digital Resources.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,584 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in ‘South Carolina in the Civil War’ and ‘United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865’ (see below).


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * South Carolina in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for South Carolina, and how to find them.. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of South Carolina. Microfilm publication M267. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Services, 1958. These records have been indexed and digitized and are available at Footnote.com (A subscription website, but is available for use at the FamilySearch Library and some FamilySearch Centers). It has digital Civil War soldier service records and brief regiment histories (located at the bottom of some of the muster rolls). (Accessed December 2010)


 * "2nd Cavalry Regiment". The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina from Eastern Digital Resources, an Internet site, accessed 11/15/2010. Lists Company Roster for Company I and a brief Regiment History.


 * South Carolina Cavalry, Second South Carolina Cavalry Regiment, South Carolina's Service in the War Between the States, Steve Batson's Internet site, accessed 11/27/2010. This website also lists officers of the regiment and companies; and battles the regiment was involved in. The reference to the Second Cavalry Battalion states: See Eighth Cavalry Battalion.


 * "Hampton Legion-2nd South Carolina Cavalry 1861-1865", eHistory Archive Internet site, accessed 11/27/2010. Gives a brief history about the regiment and Hampton.


 * Henderson, E. Prioleau. Autobiography of Arab. Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1990..


 * Hewett, Janet B., ed. Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Wilmington, North Carolina: Broadfoot Pub. Co., c1994-2001. . Lists officers, companies, some nicknames for the companies and dates involving the company and places where they were stationed. There are 10 Companies (A-I, K) listed.


 * Boykin, Richard Manning  Captain Alexander Hamilton Boykin one of South Carolina's distinguished citizens   (New York: Pandick Press. 1942), 265 pages. Book at WorldCat.org


 * Henderson, Edward P  Autobiography of Arab   (Columbia, S.C.: R.L. Bryan, 1901), 170 pages. Digital Copy at Internet Archive, Book at WorldCat.org


 * Mays, Samuel Elias  Genealogical Notes on the Family of Mays, and Reminiscences of the War Between the States   (Plant City, Printed by Plant City enterprise, 1927), 324 pages. From notes written around the campfires by Samuel Elias Mays, born in South Carolina, Nov. 12th, 1834.  Book at WorldCat.org


 * Moore, Henry Woodbury and James Washington Moore. Chained to Virginia While Carolina Bleeds : the Civil War Correspondence of Henry Woodbury Moore and James Washington Moore, Gillisonville, Beaufort District, South Carolina  ( Columbia, S.C. : H.W. Moore, ©1996), 232 pages. Includes information on the Hampton Legion.  Book atWorldCat.com


 * Seigler, Robert S. South Carolina's Military Organizations During the War Between the States. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press, c2008. . This book has an overview about the creation of the military units for service during the Civil War. There are four volumes which are divided into areas of the State. There is information about the different military units including dates of organization and service, company officers, battle engagements, company names and places of origin, and a few pictures. This book is also available through other libraries.