6th Battalion, South Carolina Infantry (Byrd's)

United States   U.S. Military    South Carolina    South Carolina Military    South Carolina in the Civil War    South Carolina Civil War Confederate Units 5th through 14th      6th Battalion, South Carolina Infantry (Byrd's)

Brief History
The 6th (also known as Byrd's) Battalion South Carolina Infantry was organized in May, 1862, with three companies that had formerly served in Manigult's Battalion South Carolina Volunteers. It was consolidated with the 9th Battalion South Carolina Infantry on September 9, 1862 to form the 26th Regiment South Carolina Infantry.

Companies in this Battalion 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 - (also known as Independent Mounted Riflemen) - Marion District -
 * Company B (also known as Chesnut Guards) - Sumter and Clarendon Districts (a few from Williamsburg, Charleston and Darlington Districts).
 * Company C (also known as Kickapoo Riflemen) - Williamsburg, Clarendon, Sumter Districts - Roster (2 names)

Several other references state that the following companies were a part of this Battalion but Seigler's book states that though these units served with this Battalion they were not permanently assigned to it.


 * Pickney's Company A (also known as St. James Santee Mounted Riflemen).
 * Gaillard's Company B (also known as Gaillard's Santee Light Artillery).
 * L. A. Whilden's Company B (also known as St. James Mounted Riflemen).
 * Company C, Trenholm Rifles

This Company listed on:


 * Company A, German Artillery (temporarily attached to the Sixth South Carolina Battalion)

Other Source Material

 * 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).
 * South Carolina 6th Infantry Battalion. 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 C Roster.
 * "South Carolina Infantry Battalions - Sixth Battalion South Carolina Infantry. South Carolina's Service in the War Between the States, Steve Batson’s Internet site, accessed 12/16/2010. This website lists officers of the regiment and Companies A-C.
 * 6th Regiment South Carolina Volunteers- Battalion. 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.
 * 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.
 * 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.