5th Regiment, South Carolina Reserves (90 days 1862-63)

Brief History
The 5th Regiment, South Carolina Reserves was one of ten regiments of the 1st Corps of Reserves. It was organized in the fall of 1862 and served from November 5, 1862 to February 1863.

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.

Information about these companies, their counties of origin and rosters is taken from the following website and some from Seigler's book.


 * Company A - many men from Abbeville District (County) - Roster


 * Company B - many men from Chester District (County) - Roster


 * Company C - many men from Edgefield District (County) - Roster


 * Company D - Roster


 * Company E - Roster


 * Company F - many men from Colleton County (County) - Roster


 * Company G - many men from Abbeville District (County) - Roster


 * Company H - many men from Abbeville District (County) - Roster


 * Company I - many men from Dorchester District (County) - Roster


 * Company K - many men from Edgefield District (County) - Roster

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 919 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 Family History Library and some Family History 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)


 * "South Carolina 5th Regiment, South Carolina Reserves". The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina. Eastern Digital Resources an Internet site, accessed 12/16/2010. Gives some references for this military unit.


 * 5th South Carolina Reserves, Jun 1862 - Jan 1863. Internet site, accessed 12/17/2010. Contains the names of officers of the Regiment, the companies, counties, and rosters.


 * "South Carolina Reserve and Miscellaneous Units in the War of the Rebellion". Internet site, accessed 12/17/2010. Lists some of the Troop and Reserve units, a few companies, officers and some dates of service.  This site lists Company B coming from Lancester County. It may be referring to 5th Battalion, South Carolina Reserves (Brown's) unit.


 * 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.