3rd Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry

Brief History
3rd Cavalry Regiment was organized in August 1862 from combining the 8th Battalion South Carolina Cavalry and three other independent companies. Service records of soldiers found on Footnote.com state that the 8th (also called the 2nd and Colcock's) Battalion South Carolina Cavalry was organized in May, 1862, from seven independent companies of Cavalry. This battalion was increased to a regimnet in August 1862 by the addition of three companies and designated the 3rd (also called 2nd) Regiment South Carolina Cavalry. A large number of the men previousoy served in the 1st Regiment South Carolina Mounted Militia. Also soldiers from some of the companies of the First Mounted Militia served in the 3rd Regiment South Carolina Cavalry.

Another good history to view is found in Robert S. Seigler's book "South Carolina's Military Organizations During the War Between the States".

See also: 2nd Battalion, South Carolina Cavalry Reserves and 8th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry

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.

Men serving in the 3rd Battalion were made up of "planters and farmers from Barnwell, Beaufort, Colleton and Charleston Districts". Soldiers and Sailors System states that many of the men were from the Districts of Marion, Colleton, Beaufort, Barnwell, and Calhoun.


 * Company A - (also known as the Marion Men of Combahee) - many men from Colleton District (County), some from Beaufort District County  (now Hampton County).


 * Company B - (also known as the Colleton Rangers) - many men from Colleton District (County) - Roster (one man)


 * Company C - (also known as the Beaufort District Troop and Captain John H. Howard's Company, South Carolina Cavalry) - many men from Beaufort District (County)


 * Company D - (also known as the Barnwell Dragoons) - many men from Barnwell District (County)


 * Company E - (also known as the Calhoun Mounted Men or Calhoun Minute Men) - many men from Colleton District (County) and Beaufort District (County), now in Hampton County - St. Peter's Parish.


 * Company F - (also known as the St. Peter's Guards) -many men from from lower Barnwell District(County) and Colleton District (County), Beaufort District (County), now Hampton County, St. Peter's Parish - Roster (couple of names)


 * Company G - (also known as the German Hussars) - many men from Charleston District(County)


 * Company H - (also known as the Ashley Dragoons or Rangers) - many men from Charleston District(County) and Beaufort District (County)


 * Company I - (also known as the Rebel Troops) - Colleton District (County), Charleston District (County) and Beaufort District (County); and the Islands of Edisto, Wadmalaw and John's; a few from Orangeburg District (County) and Barnwell District (County).


 * Company K - (also known as Savannah River Guards and Captain Thomas H. Johnson's Company) - Barnwell District (County)


 * Field Staff and Band

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 2,082 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.


 * 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).


 * "3rd Cavalry Regiment". The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina. Eastern Digital Resources an Internet site, accessed 12/02/2010. Lists a brief Regiment history and a few names in the Company rosters.


 * South Carolina Cavalry - Third South Carolina Cavalry Regiment. South Carolina's Service in the War Between the States, Steve Batson's Internet site, accessed 12/02/2010. This website also lists the counties of origin and nicknames of the company, plus officers of the regiment and companies, and battles the regiment was involved in. See also "South Carolina Cavalry Battalions".


 * "Confederate Post in 1864", The Historical Marker Database, Internet site, accessed 12/03/2010. Location of a marker listing Company F of the Third South Carolina Cavalry's involvement in the area of South Newport, Georgia.
 * 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. There may be another Company of men involved with the Horse Artillery.


 * 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.