6th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry

Brief History
The 6th Regiment South Carolina Infantry entered the State service on April 11, 1861, for twelve months and was mustered into the Confederate States service during June and July, 1861. Subsequently it was broken up and a number of men re-enlisted into the Palmetto Regiment South Carolina Sharp Shooters, the 5th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry, the 13th Battalion South Carolina Infantry and the 17th Regiment South Carolina Infantry.

In February, 1862, the remainder re-enlisted for two years of the war and were re-organized intot six companies which were joined on March 27, 1862, by a company of reenlisted men from the 9th Regiment South Carolina Infantry. These seven companies formed the 1st South Carolina Battalion of Re-enlisted Volunteers, which was increasd to a regiment April 22, 1862, by the addition of three more companies of re-enlisted men from the 9th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry and designated the 6th Regiment South Carolina Infantry. A number of re-enlisted men from the old 5th Regiment South Carolina Infantry and a few recruits were also assigned to the various companies.

Another good source for a history on the 6th Reigment, South Carolina Infantry is found in Robert S. Seigler's book, ''South Carolina's Military Organizations During the War Between the States. '' The 6th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry surrendered on April 9, 1865 at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia.

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.

Seigler's book states that when the 6th Infantry Regiment was formed there were some companies that were a part of it until it was officially mustered into Confederate service. These companies were:


 * The Cedar Creek Rifle Company - many men from Fairfield District (County)


 * The Boyce Guards - many men from Fairfield District (County)


 * The Fairfield Fencibles - many men from Fairfield District (County)


 * The Chester Blues - many men from Chester District (County)


 * The Chester Guards - many men from Chester District (County)


 * The Little River Guards - many men from Fairfield District (County)


 * The Buckhead Guards - many men from Fairfield District (County)


 * The Catawba Guards - many men from Chester District (County), Richburg area


 * The Pickens Guards - many men from Chester District (County), Hopewell area


 * The Calhoun Guards - many men from Chester  District (County), Chester area


 * Monticello Guards - many men from Fairfield District (County)

The following companies were a part of the Regiment when it was mustered into Confederate service. Some of the above companies apparently took on an alphabetical letter designation. These companies are also listed in Seigler's book. At the reoganization in 1862 some of the companies stayed with this regiment and others were attached to different regiments, hence there are two listings of some companies. Rosters may list only one name.

Company A - (also known as Calhoun Guards) - many men from Chester District (County). Roster, (accessed 5 Apr 2011). Source: "The Bulletin" Chester District Genealogical Society Vol. XI Number IV December 1988.

Company B - (also known as Catawba Guards and Catawba Light Infantry) - many men from Ft. Mill, York District (County),  Fairfield District (County) , Chester District (County),Chester and Richburg areas.

Company C - (also known as Buckhead Guards) - many men from Kershaw District (County) and Fairfield District (County), Buckhead area. - Roster

Company D - (also known as Boyce Guards) - many men from Fairfield District (County) - Roster, also see South Carolina Local Defense Units, (accessed 5 Apr 2011).

Company D - (also known as Black Mingo Rifles)

Company E - (also known as Chester Guards) - many men from Darlington District (County), Sumter District (County) , and Western Chester District (County) - Roster, (accessed 5 Apr 2011). Source: "The Bulletin" Chester District Genealogical Society Vol. XI Number IV December 1988.

Company F - (also known as Chester Blues-see Batson's Internet site for futher info) - many men from Chester District (County) - Roster, (accessed 14 Apr 2018). Source: "The Bulletin" Chester District Genealogical Society Vol. XI Number IV December 1988.

Company G - (also known as Boyce Guards and Pickens Guards) - many men from Chester District (County), also see South Carolina Local Defense Units, (accessed 5 Apr 2011). Roster, (accessed 5 Apr 2011). Source: "The Bulletin" Chester District Genealogical Society Vol. XI Number IV December 1988.

Company H - (also known as Little River Guards and Buckhead Guards and Alston Riflemen, York Volunteers or Guards ) - many men from Fairfield District (County) and Richland District (County) , and York District (County), Fort Mill area.

Company I - (also known as Limestone Light Infantry, Limestone Springs Infantry) - many men from Spartanburg District (County), Limestone Springs area, some from Union District (County), York District (County) and Fairfield Districts (County)

Company K - (also known as the Carolina Mountaineers ) - many men from Pickens District (County), and Greenville District (County)

After the reorganization in 1862 the following companies were a part of the 6th Infantry Regiment :

Company A - (also known as the Catawba Guards and Catawba Light Infantry) - Chester District (County)

Company B - (also known as the Alston Riflemen) - York District (County), Fairfield District (County), and Lancaster District (County)

Company C - (many men came from the 9th Regiment) - many men from Kersahw District (County), Sumter District (County), Richland District (County), Spartanburg District (County), Colleton District (County), and Darlington District (County)

Company D - (many from the 9th Regiment) -many men from Edgefield District (County), Barnwell District (County), Colleton District (County), and Orangeburg District (County)

Company E - many men from Sumter District (County) and Darlington District (County)

Company F - (also known as the Chester Blues) - many men from Chester District (County)

Company G - (also known as the Boyce Guards) - many men from Fairfield District (County)

Company H - (also known as the Buckhead Guards) - Fairfield District (County) and Richland Districts (Counties)

Company I - (also known as the Chester Guards) - many men from Chester District (County)

Company K - (also known as the Dixie Guards) - many men from Spartenburg District (County)

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 2,572 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.


 * 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).


 * 6th Infantry Regiment. The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina. Eastern Digital Resources an Internet site, accessed 12/15/2010. Lists a brief Regiment History and Company Rosters for C and D (only one name each).


 * "Sixth South Carolina Infantry Regiment". South Carolina's Service in the War Between the States, Steve Batson’s Internet site, accessed 12/16/2010. 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. Company F and Company K also had other names and more information about them.


 * Boulware Family Papers. University of South Carolina Digital Manuscript. Internet site, accessed 12/16/2010.  Gives an account of Muscoe Boulware, Jr. and his involvement with the South Carolina 6th Regiment Infantry.


 * 6th Regiment South Carolina Volunteers- Infantry. Internet site, accessed 12/20/2010.  Lists the counties of origin, officers, and gives a history of this unit.  It also gives information about a current re-enactment group under this Regiment, a history of the unit military flag and links to other information about the Civil War.


 * Coker, James Lide. History of Company G, Ninth S.C. Regiment, Infantry, S.C. Army and of Company E, Sixth S.C. Regiment, Infantry, S.C. Army. Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1990. Microfiche at . Book at WorldCat.


 * Croom, Wendell D. The war-history of Company "C", (Beauregard volunteers) Sixth Georgia regiment (infantry) : with a graphic account of each member. Atlanta [Georgia] : Georgia Department of Archives and History, 1964. Film at .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.


 * 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.
 * Woodward, Thomas W. Address of Maj. Thomas W. Woodward : delivered before the Survivors' Association of the Sixth Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers, at Chester, S.C., on 9th August, 1883; Fort Sumter to Dranesville. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1990). Microfiche at . Book at WorldCat libraries.