1st Regiment, South Carolina Artillery

Brief History
The 1st Regiment, South Carolina Artillery first organized as the 1st Battalion, South Carolina Artillery in the early part of 1861. On May 24, 1861 the Battalion mustered into Confederate service with 5 companies. Two more companies were added by the end of the year and in February 1862, two more companies. The 1st Battalion Artillery was then reorganized as the 1st Regiment, South Carolina Artillery on March 25, 1862. It was also known as the 1st Regiment Heavy Artillery. This unit was converted to infantry in February 1865. Many of the officers and soldiers were from the Charleston area. The regiment surrendered on April 26, 1865 at Durham Station, North Carolina with the Army of Tennessee.

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.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 3,460 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Information about the companies, their nicknames and counties of origin is taken from Seigler's book, except where noted. The following rosters are taken from the Eastern Digital website and list only a few officers and soldiers:


 * Company A - (also known as Calhoun's Battery; Sumter Light Artillery, Sumter Battery, Preston's Battery, Blake's Battery and other name variations of these) -
 * many men from Richland District (County), Anderson District (County), Laurens District (County), Union District (County), Kershaw District (County); a few men from Charleston District (County), Abbeville District (County), and Spartanburg District (County) - Roster


 * Company B - (also known as the Brooks Flying Artillery) - Roster


 * Company C - many men from Greenville District (County) and Spartanburg District (County) - Roster


 * Company D - Roster


 * Company E -Roster


 * Company F - Roster


 * Company G - men possibly from Charleston District (County) - Roster


 * Company H - Roster


 * Company I - Roster


 * Company K - many men from Fairfield District (County), Lancaster District (County), Union District (County), Spartanburg District (County) and Anderson District (County) ; some men from Edgefield District (County) - 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)


 * 1st Artillery Regiment from The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina (Internet site). Eastern Digital Resources, accessed 11/23/2010.  Lists Company Rosters and a brief Regiment History.


 * South Carolina 1st Artillery Battalion from The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina (Internet Site). Eastern Digital Resources, accessed 11/23/2010. Lists a brief Regiment History.


 * South Carolina Artillery- First Artillery Regiment, Internet site. South Carolina's Service in the War Between the States, accessed 11/23/2010. This website lists officers of the regiment and companies; and battles the regiment was involved in.


 * South Carolina Artillery Battalion, Internet site, accessed 11/23/2010. This website also lists officers of the regiment and companies; and battles the regiment was involved in.


 * 1st South Carolina Heavy Artillery Regiment, (accessed 8 Apr 2011).  This website includes historical notes.


 * 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.


 * Inglesby, Charles. Historical sketch of the first regiment of South Carolina Artillery. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1990).  Includes roster.  , FS Library fiche 6082609 (1 fiche).


 * 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.