1st Battalion, South Carolina Infantry (Charleston) (Gaillard's)

Brief History
1st Infantry Battalion, known as the Charleston Battalion and Gaillard's, was organized at Charleston, South Carolina, during the spring of 1862. Its six companies contained men from Sumter, Union, and Calhoun Counties. The unit was assigned to the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and served in the Charleston area. On September 30, 1863 the battalion consolidated with the 1st Battalion, South Carolina Sharpshooters to form 27th Regiment South Carolina Infantry.

Companies in the military unit with County 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.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,292 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.


 * Company A - (also known as the Charleston Riflemen) - many men from Charleston District (County)


 * Company B - (also known as the Palmetto Guard or the Charleston Light Infantry) - many men from Charleston District (County)


 * Company C - (also known as the Irish Volunteers) - many men from Charleston District (County)


 * Company D - (also known as Sumter Guards) - many men from Charleston District (County)


 * Company E - (also known as the Calhoun Guards) - many men from Charleston District (County)


 * Company F - (also known as the German Fusiliers and Union Light Infantry Volunteers) - many men from Charleston District (County) - Roster (3 names listed)


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

Information about the Companies come from the following sources:

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. It 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).


 * South Carolina Infantry Battalion from South Carolina's Service in the War Between the States; Steve Batson's website, accessed Nov 2010. This website also lists officers of the regiment and companies,battles the regiment was involved in and company nicknames.


 * 1st Charleston Infantry Battalion (Gaillard's Battalion) (Infantry) from The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina. Eastern Digital Resources, accessed 11/19/2010, lists a couple of names from Company F.


 * Charlestonians in War : the Charleston Battalion, by W. Chris Phelps (Gretna, Louisiana : Pelican Pub. Co., c2004),, book 975.791/C1 M2p.


 * 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 7 Companies (A-G) listed.


 * Phelps, W. Chris. Charlestonians in war : the Charleston Battalion. (Gretna, Louisiana : Pelican Pub. Co., c2004),


 * 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.