4th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry

Brief History
The 4th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry was also known as the Bloody Fourth and the Bloody Old Fourth. It was organized at Anderson, South Carolina, in February and March 1861. On March 6th it was enlisted into state service. Because of great loss of men in this regiment due to casualties and disease, the 4th Regiment Infantry did not reorganize in April 1862. It was disbanded and the men reenlisted into other regiments. Some of them consolidated into five companies and were redesignated the 4th Battalion South Carolina Infantry (actually the 13th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry). Other men enlisted in regiments such as the Palmetto Sharpshooters and A.C. Earle's Company, South Carolina Cavalry.

Further brief histories on this unit can be located on soldiers' service records found at Footnote.com and at the Eastern Digital Resources website.

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.

Some of the rosters list only a few names.


 * Company A - (also known as the Butler Guards and Hoke's Rifle Company) - many men from Greenville District (County). This company was transferred to the 2nd Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers as Company B in May 1861


 * Company B - (also known as the Palmetto Riflemen, the Palmetto Rifles and Whitner's Rifle Company) - many men from Anderson District (County). Anderson community - Roster


 * Company C - (also known as the Dean Company, Dean's Infantry Company, Captain J.T. Dean's Company) - many men from Anderson District (County). Dean area - Roster


 * Company D - (also known as the Piercetown Guards and Long's Infantry Company) - many menn from Anderson District (County). Pierecetown community - Roster


 * Company E - (also known as the Calhoun Mountaineers, the Calhoun Guards and Kilpatrick's Infantry Company) - many men from Pickens District (County), now Oconee County (Fair Play area)


 * Company F - (also known as the Tyger Volunteers and Poole's Infantry Company) - many men from Greenville District (County). Near the middle and south forks of the Tyger River


 * Company G - (also known as the Saludia Guards or Volunteers and Hawthorne's Infantry Company) - many men from Greenville District (County)


 * Company H - (also known as the Twelve Mile Volunteers) - many men from Pickens District (County). Twelve Mile Creek area.


 * Company I - (also known as the Pickens Guards and Hollingsworth's Infantry Company)- many men from Pickens District (County), a few men from Anderson District (County). Pendleton area.


 * Company J - (also known as The Confederate Guards and Ashmore's Infantry Company) - Anderson District (County)


 * Company K - Sometimes listed as Company I. (also known as the Fort Hill Guards and Shanklin's Company) - many men from Anderson District (County). Fork Township area and Pickens District (County). Pendleton area.

Information about the companies, their nicknames and counties of origins are taken from Seigler's book and Batson's website. Rosters are from the website created by Eastern Digital Resources.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,240 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.


 * 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 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). (Accessed December 2010)


 * 4th Infantry Regiment. The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina. Eastern Digital Resources an Internet site, accessed 12/01/2010. Lists a brief Regiment History and Company Rosters.


 * Fourth South Carolina Infantry Regiment and Battalion. South Carolina's Service in the War Between the States, Steve Batson's Internet site, accessed 12/01/2010. This website also lists officers of the regiment and companies; and battles the regiment was involved in. The site gives the county of organization and nicknames listed.


 * 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, and dates involving the company and places where they were stationed. There are 10 Companies (A-I, K) listed.


 * Hoyt, James A. The Palmetto Riflemen : Co. B., Fourth Regiment S.C. Vols. Co. C., Palmetto sharp shooters : historical sketch : an address delivered by James A. Hoyt, a member of the Company, on the 21st of July 1885; together with a roll of the Company and other information. Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1990., fiche 6082630 (1 fiche).


 * Lewis, Richard and Confederate States of America. Army. South Carolina Infantry Regiment, 4th; Camp life of a Confederate boy, of Bratton's Brigade, Longstreet's Corps, C.S.A., (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1990). Available at the FamilySearch Library, .  Other libraries, (accessed 14 Apr 2011).


 * Reid Jesse W. History of the Fourth Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers, from the Commencement of the War until Lee's Surrender. Giving a full account of all its movements, fights and hardships of all kinds. Also a very correct account of the travels and fights of the Army of northern Virginia ... (Greenville, S.C., Shannon &amp; Co., Printers, 1892), 143 pages. Digital copy at Internet Archives. Libraries, that have this book.


 * Salley, Alexander Samuel. South Carolina Troops in Confederate Service, Vol 2  (The State Co., Columbia, SC 1930)  This volume covers the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th infantry regiments. Digital copy at Internet Archives. Book at Other Libraries


 * 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.