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) - many men from Marion District (County)


 * Company B - (also known as Chesnut Guards) - many men from Sumter District (County) and Clarendon District (County (a few from Williamsburg District (County), Charleston District (County) and Darlington District (County)


 * Company C - (also known as Kickapoo Riflemen) - Williamsburg District (County), Clarendon District (County), Sumter District (County) - 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)

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 337 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.


 * 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.


 * 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.