1st Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry

Brief History
The 1st Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry, also known as Hampton's Cavalry Brigrade, was organized June 25, 1862, using as its nucleus the 1st South Carolina Cavalry Battalion which had been organized October, 1861. Though the 1st Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry was part of the surrender of the Army of Tennessee on April 26, 1865 at Greensboro, North Carolina is was most likely not present.

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.

Service records of the soldiers indicate that the first six companies, A-F were created when the unit was organized in 1861. Three more companies were added in the early part of 1862 and another company was added when the regiment was reorganized in June 1862.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,861 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

The Roster links give some different counties of origin. In the second set of rosters there are only a couple of names listed.


 * Company A - (also known as M. T. Owens Cavalry and Albemarle, South Carolina Cavalry, and Abbeville Troop) - many men from Abbeville District (County) - Roster, Roster


 * Company B - (also known as Ferguson Rangers, Spartanburg and Laurens Rangers) - many men from Laurens District (County) and Spartanburg District (County) - Roster


 * Company C - (also known as Edgefield Rangers and Barnwell Rangers) - many men from Edgefield District (County) and Barnwell District (County) - Roster


 * Company D - (also known as Chester Troop) - many men from Chester District (County) - Roster


 * Company E - (also known as James D. Trezevant's Cavalry and the Fort Motte Rangers) - many men from Colleton Disrict (County) and Orangeburg District (County) - Roster


 * Company F - (also known as Allen (or Ellen) Hussars) - many men from Pickens District (County) - Roster


 * Company G - (also known as L. J. Johnson's Cavalry) - many men from Abbeville District (County) - Roster, Roster


 * Company H - (also known as Robin Jones Cavalry) - many men from York District (County) (Rock Hill area) - Roster, Roster


 * Company I - (also known as J.R.P. Cavalry and Round O Troop) - many men from Colleton Disttrict (County), (Some men possibly from York District (County) - Roster


 * Company K - (had been Company D of 1st South Carolina Cavalry Battalion) - many men from York District (County), Chester District (County), Barnwell District (County), Edgefield District (County) and Pickens District (County)  - Roster


 * Field and Staff -

Information about the companies, their nicknames, and counties of origin taken from Seigler's book and the websites by Batson, Lisa Bowes and Eastern Digital Resources. Rosters are also from the websites.

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 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 Cavalry Regiment". The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina by Eastern Digital Resources an Internet site, accessed 11/23/2010. Lists Company Rosters and a brief Regiment History.


 * "South Carolina Cavalry-First South Carolina Cavalry Regiment". South Carolina's Service in the War Between the States an Internet site, accessed Nov 2010. This website lists officers of the regiment and companies; and battles the regiment was involved in and counties where the men came from. See also the First Cavalry Battalion & First Cavalry Battalion (Morgan's) section.


 * "First South Carolina Cavalry". Internet site from the Adair and Holland Genealogy, accessed 11/28/2010. Gives a brief history, battles, companies, nicknames and rosters.  First South Carolina Cavalry Memorials, This site also has some pictures of headstones of soldiers from different companies and a small amount of information about some of the soldiers.  Some descriptions of their involvement in the war see: 1st SC Cavalry part 1 and 1st SC Cavalry part 2.


 * "1st South Caroina Cavalry, Company H, Robin Jones Cavalry, York County, SC", Internet site. Accessed 11/23/2010.


 * Black, John Logan Crumbling Defenses or, Memoirs and Reminiscences of John Logan Black, Colonel C.S.A. (Macon, Ga. 1960), 133 pages. Book at WorldCat.org


 * 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.


 * Rea, D. B.. Sketches from Hampton's Cavalry : embracing the principal exploits of the cavalry in the campaigns of 1862 and 1863. Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1990..


 * 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.