5th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry (Ferguson's)

Brief History
5th Cavalry Regiment (also known as Ferguson's Regiment, Dunovant's Regiment, and the "Fighting Fifth") was organized in January, 1863, by consolidating the 14th and 17th Battalions South Carolina Cavalry. For a time it served in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, then in March, 1864, moved to Virginia, assigned to Butler's Brigade. The 5th Cavalry surrendered with the Army of Tennessee 26 April 1865. Also involved in the consolidation were Captains Harlan's and Whilden's Independent Companies, South, Carolina Cavalry.

For more information about the 5th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry and its history, see:


 * 5th SC Cavalry Regiment - Brief History, (accessed 7 Apr 2011).

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 rosters may only have one name:

Company A - (may have been called the St. Matthews Troop) - many men from Orangeburg District (County) (St. Matthews Parish and Elloree) - Roster, (accessed 7 Apr 2011). Also see Company A, (accessed 7 Apr 2011), includes a roster and historical notes.

Company B - (also known as the Dixie Rangers) - many men from Charleston District (County) - Roster, (accessed 7 Apr 2011). Also see Company B, (accessed 7 Apr 2011), includes a roster and historical notes.

Company C - (also known as the Beech Hill Rangers) - many men from Colleton District (County), Beech Hill Section, St. Paul's Parish - Roster, (accessed 7 Apr 2011). Also see Company C, (accessed 7 Apr 2011), includes roster and historical notes.

Company D - (also known as South Carolina Rangers) - many men from Charleston District (County) - Roster, (accessed 7 Apr 2011). Also see Company D, (accessed 7 Apr 2011), roster and historical notes.

Company E - (also known as the St. James Mounted Riflemen) - many men from Charleston District (County) and Georgetown District (County) - Roster, (accessed 7 Apr 2011). Also see Company E, (accessed 7 Apr 2011), includes roster and historical notes.

Company F - (also known as the Lexington Light Dragoons) - many men from Lexington District (County), Dutch Fork area - Roster, (accessed 7 Apr 2011). Also see Company F, (accessed 7 Apr 2011), includes roster and historical notes.

Company G - (also known as the Willington Rangers) - many men from Charleston District (County) - Roster, (accessed 7 Apr 2011). Also see Company G, (accessed 7 Apr 2011), includes roster and historical notes.

Company H - (also known as the Santee Guerillas) - many men from Sumter District (County) and Clarendon District (County) - Roster, (accessed 7 Apr 2011). Also see Roster, (accessed 7 Apr 2011); and Company H, (accessed 7 Apr 2011), which includes a roster and historical notes.

Company I - many men from Barnwell District (County), and Orangeburg District (County) - Roster, (accessed 7 Apr 2011). Also see Company I, (accessed 7 Apr 2011), includes a roster and historical notes.

Company K - (also known as the Mountain Rangers) - many men from Spartanburg District (County) and Union District (County); a few from York District (County), Newberry District (County), Laurens District (County) - Roster, (accessed 7 Apr 2011). Also see Company K, (accessed 7 Apr 2011), includes roster and historical notes.

Company B - Dismounted Battalion (also known as Stud Horse) - Roster, (accessed 7 Apr 2011).

Field and Staff, (accessed 7 Apr 2011). Also see, Field &amp; Staff, (accessed 7 Apr 2011).

(Sources for nicknames and counties of origin: )

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,757 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 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)


 * "5th Cavalry 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 H Roster.


 * 5th SC Cavalry Regiment 1861-1865. Compiled by Lewis F Knudsen, Jr. Internet site, accessed 12/16/2010. This site gives a history of this military unit (5th SC Cavalary Regimental History), its engagements and lists the rosters, counties, and nicknames.


 * "South Carolina Cavalry - Fifth South Carolina Cavalry Regiment". 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.


 * "5th SC Cavalary Regiment, 1861-1865". Compiled by Lewis F. Knudsen Jr. eHistory Internet site, accessed 12/17/2010. Site contains an excellelnt history of the unit, Regiment rosters by surname, information about the companies, counties of orgin, nicknames, and battles involved in.


 * "CSA - 5th South Carolina Cavalry". Roberts Family Tree Internet site, accessed 12/17/2010. Site gives a brief history of the unit.
 * 5th SC Cavalary Regiment. eHistory Archive. Internet site, accessed 12/30/2010.  Gives a brief history of this regiment.


 * Barr, James Michael and Thomas D Mays.Let Us Meet in Heaven : 'the Civil War Letters of James Michael Barr, 5th South Carolina Cavalry. (Abilene, Tex. : McWhiney Foundation Press, ©2001), 279 pages. Book at WorldCat.


 * 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.


 * Mulligan, Alfred B. My dear mother and sisters : Civil War letters of Capt. A.B. Mulligan, Co. B 5th South Carolina Cavalry--Butler's Division--Hampton's Corps 1861-1865. Edited by Olin Fulmer Hutchinson, Jr. Spartanburg, South Carolina : Reprint Company, 1992, c1991. . Worldcat


 * Mulligan A B and Olin Fulmer Hutchinson. "My Dear Mother and Sisters" : Civil War letters of Capt. A.B. Mulligan, Co. B, 5th South Carolina Cavalry--Butler's Division--Hampton's Corps, 1861-1865. (Spartanburg, S.C. : Reprint Co., 1992), 201 pages. The war letters of Alfred B. Mulligan, a Charleston merchant who served in the Carolinas and Virginia until Oct. 1864. Book at and Other Libraries


 * Seigler, Robert S. South Carolina's Military Organizations During the War Between the States. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press, c2008, 227-238. . 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.