4th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry (Rutledge's)

Brief History
4th Cavalry Regiment, also called Rutledge's Regiment of Cavalry and Rutledge's Cavalry, was organized in January, 1863, by consolidating the 10th and 12th Battalions South Carolina Cavalry. Some of these Cavalry companies existed prior to the war as Militia Companies. An earlier date, 16 December 1862, has also been suggested for organization.

The 10th Cavalry Battalion [also called 3rd Battalion] was organized during late spring of 1862 with five companies. The unit served in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and in January, 1863, merged into the 4th South Carolina Cavalry Regiment. The 12th Cavalry Battalion was also known as the 4th Battalion prior to its merger into the 4th Cavalry Regiment. The 4th Cavalry Regiment surrendered on April 26, 1865.

See also: 10th Battalion, South Carolina Cavalry and 12th Battalion, South Carolina Cavalry (4th Squadron)

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 - (may have been known as Charleston Light Dragoons) - many men from Chesterfield District (County), Darlington District (County) and Lancaster District (County); a few men from Horry District (County), Marlboro District (County) and Kershaw District (County) - Roster, (accessed 8 Apr 2011).


 * Company B - (also known as the Palmetto Rangers) - many men from Chesterfield District (County) and Fairfield District (County)**


 * Company C - (also known as the Calhoun Troop) - Oconee area, Pickens District (County) (areas that are now in Pickens and Oconee Counties) and Anderson District (County) Pendleton area


 * Company D - (also known as Santee Mounted Riflemen and St. James Mounted Riflemen ) - many men from Georgetown District (County), a few men from Charleston District (County), Clarendon District (County), Beaufort District (County) and Horry District (County)


 * Company E -many men from Marlboro District (County), a few men from Horry District (County), Georgetown District (County), Williamsburg District (County), Marion District (County) and Darlington District (County) - Roster


 * Company F - (also known as the E. M. Dragoons) - many men from Marion District (County), a few men from Williamsburg District (County), Georgetown District (County), and Clarendon District (County)


 * Company G - (also known as the Evans Light Dragons) - many men from Orangeburg District (County) and Colleton District County)


 * Company H - (also known as the Catawba Rangers) - many men from Lancaster District (County)


 * Company I - (also known as the Williamsburg Light Dragoons) - meny men from Williamsburg District (County), Georgetown District (County), and Clarendon District (County); a few men from Horry District (County)


 * Company K - (also known as the Charleston Light Dragoons and may have been known as the Charleston Light Hussars ) - many men from Charleston District (County) - Roster, (accessed 8 Apr 2011).

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 2,024 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.


 * 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)


 * "4th Cavalry Regiment". The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina. Eastern Digital Resources an Internet site, accessed 12/03/2010. Lists a brief Regiment History and Company Rosters.


 * "South Carolina Cavalry - Fourth South Carolina Cavalry Regiment". South Carolina's Service in the War Between the States, Steve Batson's Internet site, accessed 12/01/2010. This website lists officers of the regiment, company county of orgin and nickkname.


 * "4th Regiment South Carolina Cavalry", Wikipedia, Internet site, accessed 12/07/2010. Gives a brief history of the regiment and lists the officers and companies.


 * "4th Regiment, SouthCarolina Cavalry (Rutledge's)". The Civil War- The South Carolina Calvery. Internet site, accessed 12/08/2010. Contains a history of the regiment.

Books and Films


 * 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.


 * Seigler, Robert S. South Carolina's Military Organizations During the War Between the States. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press, c2008, 215-226. . 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.


 * 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 rosters for the 4th South Carolina Cavalry on pages 46-48. Book found at  and Other Libraries.


 * Elmore, Albert Rhett. Incidents of service with the Charleston Light Dragoons  (Nashville, Tenn., 1916) Incidents of service with the Charleston Light Dragoons -K Company. Book at WorldCat.org


 * Stokes, William and Lloyd Halliburton  Saddle soldiers : the Civil War correspondence of General William Stokes of the 4th South Carolina Cavalry ( Orangeburg, S.C. : Sandlapper Pub. Co., ©1993), 265 pages. The night after the commander of the 4th South Carolina Regiment sent his men home, he burned the wagon with the regiment's records rather than have it fall into enemy hands. Lloyd Halliburton has reconstructed the story from General Stokes' personal correspondence and memorabilia. Book atWorldCat.com


 * Wells, Edward Laight. Hampton and his cavalry in '64 ( Richmond, Va., B.F. Johnson pub. company, 1899), 429 pages. Includes a description of activities of Hampton's Brigade in the South Carolina Cavalry. Book at WorldCat.org
 * Wells, Edward L. A sketch of the Charleston Light Dragoons, from the earliest formation of the Corps, (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1990).  Includes a roster.  Available online at Google Books and Internet Archive, (accessed 16 Apr 2011).  Also at the FamilySearch Library,