Rutledge's Company, South Carolina Cavalry Militia (Charleston Light Dragoons)

United States     U.S. Military      South Carolina      South Carolina Military      South Carolina in the Civil War      South Carolina Militia      4th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry (Rutledge's)      Rutledge's Company, South Carolina Cavalry Militia (Charleston Light Dragoons)

Brief History
South Carolina 4th Cavalry Regiment Company K or The Charleston Light Dragoons

The story of the Charleston Light Dragoons is interwoven with the social and military history of South Carolina from early colonial days. It is to be regretted that public data in regard to its organization and personnel have been lost in the lapse of time, and that records of its own, old muster-rolls and similar archives, were necessarily abandoned, from lack of means of transportation, after its surrender with Johnston's army in North Carolina in April, 1865, at the end of the War between the States. it is clear that the corps existed at least as early as 1733, being called then with British loyalty the "Charleston Horse-Guards," a title changed, doubtless in deference to Republican sentiment, at the Revolution, into "Charleston Light Dragoons ."

"Units of the Confederate States Army" by Joseph H. Crute, Jr. contains no history for this unit.



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.


 * Charleston Light Dragoons (also known as the Company K, (accessed 8 Apr 2011) and may have been known as the Charleston Light Hussars) - Charleston District (County) - Roster, (accessed 8 Apr 2011).

Other Sources

 * Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System can be searched by soldier's name or by regiment; includes regimental rosters and additional history of the regiment. This site uses Joseph H. Crute's book,Units of the Confederate States Army, as their main source for the regiment history. Family History Library book 973 M2crua,, WorldCat.
 * 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).
 * South Carolina 4th Cavalry Regiment Company K, The Charleston Light Dragoons, (accessed 8 Apr 2011).  Taken from John Rigdon's "A Guide to South Carolina Civil War Research".  This site includes historical notes and rosters.
 * Emerson, W. Eric, Sons of Privilege,The Charleston Light Dragoons in the Civil War, (University of South Carolina Press; 1St Edition edition; October 31, 2005).   This book can be purchased through Amazon.com, (accessed 8 Apr 2011).   Also available through worldcat.org, (accessed 8 Apr 2011).