17th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry

Brief History
The 17th Infantry Regiment began forming as early as November 1861 and was mustered into State service on December 18, 1861. The regiment was fully organized and mustered into Confederate service on May 1, 1862 at John's Island, South Carolina. It served on the coast of South Carolina, then moved to Virginia. During the war it was brigaded under Generals Evans, Elliott, and Wallace. General Avery and some of the men surrendered with the Army of Virginia at the Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.

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.

Company A - (designated as the right color company ) - Many men from Chester District (Company), Richburg area. Captain Bill's roll on pages 28-38 and Death rolls on pages 39-41

Company B - (also known as the York Rangers) - Many men from (Fairfield District (County)

Company C - (also known as the Defenders of Right and possibly as the Broad River Light Infantry ) - Many men from York District (County) Roster on pages 43-44

Company D - (also known as the Palmetto Rifles and the Palmettoes ) - Many men from Chester District (County). Roster on pages 42-43 and from Fairfield District (County)

Company E - (also known as the Indian Land Tigers, the Indian Land Rifles and York Rangers) - York District (County)

Company F - (also known as the Carolina Rifles, the color company ) - Many men from York District (County) Roster on pages 44-45

Company G - Many men from the Barnwell District (County)

Company H - Many men from the Barnwell District (County)

Company I - (also known as the Lancaster Tigers) Many men from (Lancaster District (County)

Company K - (also knowns as the Lacy Guards) - York District (County)

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 2,074 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. FS Library book 973 M2crua,, WorldCat.


 * 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)


 * Edwards, W. H. A Condensed History of Seventeenth Regiment S.C.V., C.S.A. : From its Organization to the Close of the War   ( Columbia, S.C. : R.L. Bryan, 1908), 55 pages. Microfiche copies at  and Other Libraries.


 * Edwards, William Henry and Stevens, Robert J. Captain Bill: The Records and Writings of Captain William Henry Edwards (and Others), Company A, 17th Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers, Confederate States of America, a History and Genealogy of Chester County, S.C. in Five Volumes. ( Richburg, S.C.] (P.O. Box 336, Richburg 29729) : Chester District Genealogical Society, ©1985), 5 vols. Richburg, S.C.: Chester District Genealogical Society, 1985.  Includes indexes and a condensed history of the 17th regiment including military records.  Available at the FamilySearch Library,  and Other Libraries.


 * Elliott, Charles Pinckney, Elliott's brigade : how it held the Crater and saved Petersburg : a story of the bloodiest hand-to-hand conflict of the war as told by Col. McMaster - laying and firing the mine, (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1990). Available at the FamilySearch Library,


 * 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. Locate this book at other libraries. This book lists 10 Companies, A-K, and was in service from November 1861 to February 1865.


 * Logan, David Jackson, Samuel N Thomas and Jason H Silverman. "A rising star of promise" : the Civil War odyssey of David Jackson Logan, 17th South Carolina Volunteers, 1861-1864  (Campbell, Calif. : Savas Pub. Co., ©1998), 255 pages. A merchant in York County, South Carolina, Logan served as a lieutenant in the 17th South Carolina Volunteers and with Nathan "Shanks" Evans' South Carolina Tramp Brigade. This collection includes Logan's letters home to his wife Sallie, the articles he wrote for the Yorkville Enquirer, and his detailed journal. Book available at WorldCat 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.