Estill's Company, South Carolina Infantry Local Defense (Arsena )

Brief History
This company formed about 28 February 1862 of workman in the Confederate States Arsenal for the defense of the Arsenal and City of Charleston, SC, for the term of 12 months. Brigadier General Riley commanded this military district on 21 February 1862 and 11 July 1863. An official letter to Brigadier General Ripley, Cmdg, 1st Military District, on 11 July, 1863 makes reference to a conversation Captain Estill had with General Jordan that afternoon on gunboat construction. The letterhead stated the letter was from the "Office State Boat 11 Exchange Street"; although he served as Assistant Superintendent of State Gunboat Construction at Charleston, SC, his signature block on this letter was "A.D. Estill, Captain PCSA Cmdg Arsenal Guard". James M. Eason was Sup State Gunboat Construction in April and June 1863. [The CSS Chikcora was built under contract in 1862 by James M. Eason to J. L. Porter's plans and cost about $300,000. She was destroyed by the Confederates when Charleston was evacuated on 18 February 1865.] On 11 July 1863, Captain Estill signed a document as Commander, Arsenal Guard, and on 29 December 1863, he was shown as a Paymaster's Clerk, Confederate States Navy.

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



This is a company of the South Carolina Local Defense Troops
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.

This company was from Charleston County.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 155 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

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).


 * Charleston Arsenal Guard AKA 4th Sergeants Arsenal Guard Estill's Company - Roster and History, (accessed 5 Apr 2011).