Infantry Regiment, Hampton Legion, South Carolina

Brief History
In April 1861, Confederate President Jefferson Davis wanted to raise a "legion of honor". Wade Hampton was authorized to create a legion, which would include six companies of infantry, four companies of cavalry, and a company of artillery. By May 1861, Hampton had completed the organizing of the legion and it became known as Hampton Legion, South Carolina. After the initial enlistment of one year, Hampton Legion separated into different units.

The infantry battalion kept the name Infantry Battalion, Hampton Legion, South Carolina Volunteers. It received more companies and by November 1862 it became the Infantry Regiment, Hampton Legion. This unit was active at First Manassas and later was assigned to W. Hampton's, Hood's, and Jenkins' Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. It was involved in various conflicts from Seven Pines to Sharpsburg, moved to North Carolina, then served with Longstreet at Chickamauga and Knoxville. In May, 1864, the unit was reorganized, mounted, and called the Hampton Legion Cavalry and Mounted Infantry. The Hampton Legion Mounted Infantry was paroled at the Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia on April 9, 1865.

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 Washington Light Infantry and Washington Light Infantry Volunteers) Many men from Charleston District ( Charleston) (Company roster on pages 181-223 ). Captain James Conner
 * Company B - (also known as the Watson Guards) Many men from Edgefield (Edgefield) and Abbeville Districts (Counties) (Company roster on pages 224-263 ) Mustered in June 12, 1861 at Camp Hampton, Columbia. Captain M. W. Gary
 * Company C - (also known as the Manning Guard(s)) Many men from Clarendon District (Clarendon County); a few men also from Sumter, Marlboro, Chesterfield and Lancaster Districts (Counties). (Company roster on pages 264-302 ) Mustered in June 19, 1861 Captain B. Manning
 * Company D - (also known as the Gist Rifles, Gist Guards, and Gist Riflemen) Many men from Anderson (Williamston area) and Pickens Dsitricts (Counties); also a few men from Greenville, Spartanburg, and Union Districts (Counties) - (Company roster on pages 303-341 ) Mustered in June 15, 1861 at Camp Hampton, Columbia. Captain H.J. Smith
 * Company E - (also known as the Bozeman Guards) Many men from Greenville (Fork Shoals area) District (Greenville County); a few men came from Laurens, Spartanburg and Anderson Districts (Counties) - (Company roster on p ges 342-374 ) Mustered in June 19, 1861 at Camp Hampton, Columbia. Captain T.L. Boseman
 * Company F - (also known as the Davis Guards) Many men from Greenville, Anderson and Laurens Districts (Counties); a few men also from Chester, Horry, York, Pickens, Union, Richland and Fairfield Districts (Counties) - (Company roster on pages 375-407 ) Mustered in June 13, 1861 at Camp Hampton, Columbia. Captain W.M.L. Austin; Captain J.S. Austin
 * Company G - (also known as the Claremont Rifles) Many men from Sumter (many from Stateburg area) District (County) and Darlington District (County); a few men came from Kershaw, Barnwell, Orangeburg, York, Clarendon, Richland, Laurens, and Pickens Districts (Counties). (Company roster on pages 408-436 . Mustered in August 26, 1861. Captian James G. Spann
 * Company H - (was first used to designate the German Artillery Volunteers until fall of 1861 when they changed. Then Company H later was known as the South Carolina Zouave Rifles, Zouave Vounteers) Many men from Orangeburg and Charleston Districts (Counties);a few men were from Marlboro, Richland and Edgefield Districts (Counties) and from England and Scotland. (Company roster on pages 437-463 ) Mustered in October 26, 1861 Captain L.C. McCord
 * Company I - Many men from Greenville District (County), a few men from Anderson and Pickens Districts (Counties) - (Company roster on pages 464-489 ) Mustered in April 14, 1861 as the 4th South Carolina Volunteers.
 * Company K - Many men from Andeson District (County); a few men from Greenville, Pickens and Spartanburg Districts (Counties) - (Company roster on pages 490-515 ) Mustered in April 14, 1861 (South Carolina Battalion: Captain John H. Bowen
 * Black Men who Served - (Roster on pages 517-523 )

Company names, nicknames, county of origin taken from Seigler's and Sturkey's books.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 2,686 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 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). (Accessed December 2010)


 * Confederate States of America. Army. Washington Light Infantry Regiment, 25th (Main Author). Rolls of the Washington Light Infantry in Confederate Service: to Which is Appended the Mortuary of the Three Companies ( Charleston, S.C.: W.L.I. Veterans, 1888), 17 pages. Includes roster on pages 5-12.Contains rolls of the following three companies: Company A, Hampton Legion Infantry; Company A, Washington Light Infantry Regiment, 25th; and Company B, Washington Light Infantry Regiment, 25th. Microfiche copy at and Microform copy at Other Libraries.


 * 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.


 * Sturkey, O. Lee. Hampton Legion Infantry C.S.A. (Wilmington, North Carolina: Broadfoot Pub. Co., c2008). Includes index.