1st Regiment, South Carolina Rifles (Militia) (Branch's)

Brief History
The 1st Regiment Rifles, South Carolina Militia was organized in December 1860 in Charleston, South Carolina. It was also known as Branch's Rifle Regiment; the 1st Regiment Rifles, Militia; the Militia Regiment of Rifles and the 1st Regiment South Carolina Rifles. Though the regiment was not organized until the end of 1860, many of the companies had been organized many years previous to this time. South Carolina's Military Organizations During the War Between the States gives the following: "It was the South Carolina Militia and the South Carolina Regular Army that held the line around Charleston Harbor and along the coast during the first few months of 1861 until additional battalions and regiments of volunteers could be raised and prepared for duty.”

The 1st Regiment Rifles served in various areas throughout the state during 1861. On February 6, 1862 it was reorganized and signed up for a twelve month Confederate service. If companies did not have enough men, it would be disbanded or combined with other companies. On February 24, 1862 the 1st combined with the remnants of the 17th Militia Regiment.

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 the companies, their nicknames and counties of origin is taken from Seigler's and Hewett's books and some websites. See Seigler's book for in depth information about the companies, their captains, dates of organization and military involvements.


 * Washington Light Infantry (also known as Charles H. Simonton's Company; the Washingtons) - Charleston Militia


 * Carolina Light Infantry


 * Meagher Guards (a company of Charleston Irishmen)


 * Chichester's Zouaves (also known as Charles E. Chichester's Company and the Charleston Zouave Cadets ) - many men from Charleston District (County)


 * A. Melcher's Company


 * Moultrie Guards (also known as Captain B.W. Palmer's Company)


 * German Riflemen


 * Palmetto Riflemen


 * Jamison (Jamieson) Riflemen


 * Sarsfield Light Infantry (a company of Charleston Irishmen)


 * The Beauregard Light Infantry


 * Pickens Rifles

At the reorganization in February 1862 in which the 1st and 17th Regiments, South Carolina Militia combined, the following companies were created. They were given numerical designation. In parenthesis is the original regiment the company came from:


 * Company #1 - the Calhoun Guards (17th), the Moultrie Guards (1st), and the Carolina Light Infantry (1st)


 * Company #2 - Captain Ramsay's Company


 * Company #3 - the Jamison Rifles (1st) and the Brooks Guards (17th)


 * Company #4 - Carolina Light Infantry (1st), the Phoenix Rifles (17th) and Sumter Guards (17th)


 * Company #5 - the Charleston Riflemen (17th) and the Cadet Riflemen (17th)


 * Company #6 - the Emerald Light Infantry (1st) and the Jasper Greens Company (17th)


 * Company #7 - the Sarsfield Light Infantry (1st) and the Montgomery Guard (17th)


 * Company #8 - The Irish Volunteers


 * Company #9 (No companies listed)


 * Company #10 (No companies listed)


 * Company #11 (No companies listed)


 * Company #12 (No companies listed)

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 137 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Source Material

 * 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).


 * "1st Regiment Rifles, Militia (Branch's Rifle Regiment (Infantry)". The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina. Eastern Digital Resources, Internet site, accessed 11/22/2010.


 * "The Carolina Legion", Internet site accessed 11/22/2010.


 * "Record of "The Charleston Zouave Cadets". 1st Regiment Rifle. Internet site, accessed 12/07/2010. Contains a history of this unit, a list of the officers and soldiers. To learn more about the Zouave read the article from Wikipedia.


 * "Charleston Zouave Cadets- 1st Regitment Rifles". Internet site, accessed 12/07/2010. Contains a history of this company.


 * 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 4 Companies listed.


 * 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.