8th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry

Brief History
The 8th Regiment South Carolina Infantry was also known as the 8th Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers. It was organized for twelve months of service on April 13, 1861 with ten companies, A to K at Marion, South Carolina. It was reorganized for the War, May 13, 1862 with two additional companies, L and M. About April 9, 1865, the 8th Regiment South Carolina infantry was consolidated with the 3rd Regiment South Carolina Infantry, the 3rd Battalion South Carolina Infantry and a part of Blanchard's South Carolina Reserves and formed the new 3rd Regiment South Carolina Infantry. This unit surrendered 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.


 * Company A - (also known as the Darlington Rifles or Darlington Rifleman) - many men from Darlington District (County) - RosterRoster (one name)


 * Company B - (also known as Chesterfield Rifles) - many men from Chesterfield District (County) - Roster


 * Company C - (also known as Chesterfield Guards) - many men from Chesterfield District (County) (the first company to be raised in Chesterfield) - Roster


 * Company D - (also known as Jackson Guards) - many men from Chesterfield District (County) - Roster


 * Company E - (also known as the Timmonsville Minute Men) - many men from Darlington District (County) - Roster


 * Company F - (also known as the Darlington Grays) - many men from Darlington District (County) (from the towns of Society Hill, Doversville, Lydia and Stokes Bridge) - Roster


 * Company G - (also known as the Marlboro Guards and Harrington's Company) - many men from Marlboro District (County) - Roster, Roster


 * Company H - (also known as Jeffrey (or Jeffries) Creek Guards) - many men from Marion District (County) (now in the eastern section of Florence County) - Roster, Roster (one name)


 * Comapny I (also known as the Marion Guards (Seigler states it was a "color company") - many men from Marion District (County) - Roster


 * Company K - (also known as the McQueen Guards) - many men from Marlboro District (County)- Roster, Roster


 * Company L - (also known as the Spartan Band) - many men from Marion District (County) (a few were from Darlington District (County) and North Carolina) - Roster


 * Company M - many men from Darlington District (County)- Roster


 * Field and Staff

The names of companies, nicknames, county of origin are taken from Seigler's book, Steve Batson's website, Access Genealogy website, and from Eastern Digital Resources website. First listed rosters are from the Access Genealogy website and the 2nd roster is listed from Eastern Digital Resources.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,631 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.


 * "The 8th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment". Charles W. Watson, eHistory Internet site, accessed 12/17/2010. Gives a history about the Regiment.  This Regiment was a part of Kershaw's Brigade.


 * "Volunteers in the Confederate Army from Marion County, SC. South Carolina GenWeb Internet site, accessed 12/28/2010. Lists some information about the South Carolina Eighth Regminet Infantry.


 * 8th South Carolina Volunter Infantry. Internet site,accessed 12/28/2010. Lists a brief history, battles, officers and rosters for the companies.


 * Dickert, D Augustus. History of Kershaw's Brigade : With Complete Roll of Companies, Biographical Sketches, Incidents, Anecdotes, etc (Dayton, Ohio: Press of Morningside Bookshop, 1976), 583 pages. Includes a description of activities of Kershaw's Brigade in the South Carolina 8th Infantry Regiment. Includes a roster on pages 545-583. Digital Copies at GoogleandInternet Archives.Book also available through these libraries.


 * 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 12 Companies (A-I, K-M) 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, 63-77. . 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.