15th Battalion, South Carolina Heavy Artillery (Lucas')

Brief History
The 15th Battalion, South Carolina Artillery began it's organization in early 1861. It was also known as Lucas's Battalion, the 15th Heavy Artillery Battalion and the Dismounted Dragoons. The 15th Battalion actually was to be a unit of cavalry under Davie DeSaussure but there was a lack of funds to supply the unit. Desassure resigned and by June 1861, J.J. Lucas was appointed to take over the unit and it was mustered into Confederate service on June 6, 1861 as an infantry at Fort Pickens, James Island, on the Stono, near Charleston. But soon after this time, the unit was coverted to an artillery. It originally organized with two companies and a third joined a few months later (Companies A and B mustered into service on 6 June 1861 at James Island; C Company added on 15 November 1861, which was Captain Child's Company, South Carolina Light Artillery). Several other units were also attached to this battalion for short periods of time. In early 1865 the 15th Battalion was converted to an infantry and fought in the North Carolina Campaign under A. Rhett's Brigade. It 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 Corktree website.


 * Company A - Some men probably came from Chester District (County)


 * Company B


 * Company C (also known as Captain Child's Light Artillery, Winder's Light Artillery)


 * Gist Guard Artillery (temporarily attached in 1862)


 * Mathewes Artillery (temporarily attached in 1862)


 * Melcher's Battery (temporarily attached in 1862)

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 775 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., 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)


 * 15th South Carolina Artillery Battalion, Lucas' Artillery Battalion, (accessed 8 Apr 2011)


 * 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 6 Companies 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.