6th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry (Aiken's Partisan Rangers) (1st Partisan Rangers)

Brief History
THe 6th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry was originally the 16th Battalion South Carolina Cavalry or Partisan Rangers and was organized July 21,1862. It was increased to a regiment about November 1, 1862, by the addition of other companies and designated the 6th Regiment South Carolina Cavalry (also known as Aiken's Regiment, 1st Regular South Carolina Partisan Rangers, and Dixie Rangers).

The 6th Cavalry saw action at Willstown and Pon Pon River in South Carolina, then moved to Virginia with about 1,000 men. Assigned to General Butler's Brigade, the unit participated in The Wilderness and Cold Harbor operations and in various conflicts south of the James River. Later it was engaged in the campaign of the Carolinas assigned to Logan's Brigade. The regiment surrendered with the Army of Tennessee on April 26, 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.

Information about the companies, their nicknames and counties of origin is taken from Seigler's book and Batson's webiste. Rosters for Companies B, E and F are from Eastern Digitial Resouces website.


 * Company A - many men from (also known as Carolina Guerrillas and Captain Milton A. Sullivan's Company) - Laurens District (County), Greenville District (County), Pickens District (County), Abbeville District (County) and Anderson District (County); a few men from Spartanburg District (County)


 * Company B - (also known as the Edgefield Rangers or Edgefield Partisan Rangers) - many men from Edgefield District (County); a few men from Richland District (County), Abbeville District (County), Lexington District (County), Marlboro District (County) and Colleton District (County) - Roster


 * Company C - (also known as Captain P.W. Goodwyn's Company and Partisan Rangers) - many men from Abbeville District (County) and Fairfield District (County); a few men from Spartanburg District (County), Anderson District (County), Orangeburg District (County) and Laurens District (County)


 * Company D - (also known as Captain William M. Hale's Company and Partisan Rangers) -


 * Company E - (also known as the Laurens Partizans, Captian James P. Knight's Company and Partisan Rangers) - many men from Laurens District (County) and Spartanburg District (County) - Roster (one name)


 * Company F - (also known as Cadet Rangers and Cadet Company, The Citadel Company, Captain Moses B. Humphrey's Company) - Roster


 * Company G - (also known as Captain John R. Miot's Company and the Partisan Rangers) - many men from Richland District (County), Abbeville District (County) and Edgefield District (County)


 * Company H - (also known as the Yeadon Rangers and Captain John J. Maguire's Company) - many men from Orangeburg District (County), Charleston District (County), Spartanburg District (County), Richland District (County), Greenville District (County), Sumter District (County), Marion District (County), Pickens District (County), Abbeville District (County) and Colleton District (County)


 * Company I - (also known as Whitner's Troop) - many men from Marion District (County), Sumter District (County) and Darlington District (County); a few men from Williamsburg District (County), Anderson District (County) and Kershaw District (County)


 * Company K - many men from Chesterfield District (County); a few men from Pickens District (County)

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 2,109 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Internet Sites

 * 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)


 * 6th Cavalry 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 rosters for Companies B, E, F.


 * "6th Regiment South Carolina Cavalry". World Lingo, an Internet site, accessed 12/03/2012. Contains a history for this unit, roster of officers, battles engaged in and additional references.


 * "South Carolina Cavalry - Sixth South Carolina Cavalry 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.


 * Bradley Family Papers, 1855-1929. University of South Carolina Digital Manuscript, Internet Site, accessed 12/16/2010. This is a history of Patrick H Bradley, a Colonel in the Civil War, and his involvement with this Regiment.


 * 6th Regiment South Carolina Cavalry. Wikipedia Article. Internet site, accessed 12/16/2010. This article gives a brief history of the regiment, officers and references.

Books

 * Baker, Gary R. Cadets in gray : the story of the Cadets of the South Carolina Military Academy and the Cadet Rangers in the Civil War. Columbia, South Carolina : Palmetto Bookworks, c1989. Book at WorldCat. The Cadet Rangers became designated as Company F, 6th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry.


 * Brooks, Ulysses Robert, Butler and His Cavalry in the War of Secession, 1861-1865, (Columbia, South Carolina : State Co.,, c1909). Available online at Google Books, (available 14 Apr 2011).  Also available at the FamilySearch Library,  or FS Library US/CAN Film 1425645 Item 5 or FS Library US/CAN Fiche 6082610.


 * Calhoun, Charles M.  Liberty dethroned. A Concise History of Some of the Most Startling Events Before, During, and Since the Civil War (Greenwood, S C: 1903), 379 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. Available at these libraries: Worldcat.


 * 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.