12th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry

Brief History
In June 1861 a call went out for more men to enlist. By July 1861, several unites were organized, one being the 12th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry (or Volunteers). They were at organized near Lightwood Knot Springs, north of Columbia, South Carolina. The men had enlisted for the duration of the war so when there was a reorganization in the spring of 1862, the 12th Regiment was not affected. The unit surrendered with Gregg's Brigade on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox, Virgiia. .



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.


 * A Company - (also known as the Palmer Guards and the Bonham Rifle Volunteers) - many men from York Distrist (County)(Yorkville area), a few men from Union District (County)


 * B Company (also known as the Campbell Rifles) - many men from York District (County) - Roster, Roster


 * C Company (also known as the Cedar Creek Rifles) - many men from Fairfield District (County) - Roster, Roster


 * D Company (also known as the Richland Guards) - many men from Richland (Columbia) District (County), a few men from Fairfield District (County), Chester District (County), Lexington District (County) and Charleston Districts (County)


 * E Company - (also known as Blair Guards) many men from Lancaster District (County)


 * F Company (also known as the Means Light Infantry, Long Run Company and possibly the Monticello Guards) - many men from Fairfield District (County)(Long Run area)


 * G Company (also known as the Bonham Rifles Volunteers and the Bonham Rifles) - many men from Pickens District (County) - Roster (one name)


 * H Company (also known as the Indian Land Guards) - many men from York District (County)(Rock Hill and Yorkville areas)


 * I Company - (also known as the Lancaster Hornets) many men from Lancaster District (County)


 * K Company - (also known as the Grisham Rifles and the McDowell Boys) many men from Pickens District (County)


 * Lancaster Guards Company - Lancaster District (County)

Information about the companies, their nicknames and counties of origin is talen from Seigler's and Boyle's books, and from Batson's website. Rosters are from Eastern Digital Resources and Wikipedia.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 2,106 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.


 * 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., 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 Family History 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)


 * "12th Infantry Regiment". The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina. Eastern Digital Resources an Internet site, accessed 12/22/2010. Lists a brief Regiment History and Company Rosters for B, C, and G.


 * "Twelfth South Carolina Infantry Regiment". South Carolina's Service in the War Between the States, Steve Batson’s Internet site, accessed 12/27/2010. This Internet site lists officers of the regiment and companies; and battles the regiment was involved in. The site gives the county of organization and nicknames listed.


 * 12th South Carolina Infantry. Wikipedia article. Internet site, accessed 12/30/2010. Gives a brief history, company officers and some rosters of enlisted men.


 * 12th South Carolina Infantry Regiment Descendants Association. PetersburgBreakthrough.org. Internet site, accessed 12/30/2010. Gives brief information about the unit, a link to descendants of soldiers from this unit and a listing (added by descendants) of the ancestor soldier. Also there are links to other information.


 * Boyles, J.R. Reminiscences of the Civil War.  (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1990).   Includes a description of activities of the 12th South Carolina Infantry Regiment (Confederate) in the following battles or localities: Mechanicsville, Va.; Gaines Mill, Va.; White Oak Swamp, Va.; Chancellorsville, Va.; Gettysburg, Pa.; POW--David's Island, N.Y.; POW--Johnson's Island, Ohio; POW--Point Lookout, Md.  Available at the Family History Library  Other Libraries, (accessed 15 Apr 2011).


 * Caldwell, James F. J. The history of a brigade of South Carolinians, known first as Gregg's brigade and subsequently as McGowan's brigade. Microfiche of original published: Philadelphia : King &amp; Baird, Printers, 1866. 247 p., Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1990. Google Books,, . The regiments which composed Gregg's Brigade of South Carolina Infantry, as it was commonly known, and which always composed McGowan's Brigade, were the following: the First South Carolina Volunteers, the Twelfth South Carolina Volunteers, the Thirteenth South Carolina Volunteers, the Fourteenth South Carolina Volunteers, and Orr's regiment of rifles, also from South Carolina.


 * 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. Available at these libraries: Worldcat.


 * McCrady, Edward. Gregg's Brigade of South Carolinians in the Second Battle of Manassas : an address before the survivors of the Twelfth Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers, at Walhalla, South Carolina, August 21, 1884 (Richmond : W.E. Jones, Book and Job Printer, 1885), 40 pages. Microfiche at   and copy 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.