16th Regiment, South Carolina Militia

Brief History
"Units of the Confederate States Army" by Joseph H. Crute, Jr. contains no history for this unit.



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.

16th Regiment South Carolina Militia Charleston District, (accessed 6 Apr 2011), 4th Brigade, 2nd Division - This website has links for each company. The rosters are not complete.

Company A - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011).

Company B - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011).

Company D - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011).

Company E - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011).

Company F - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011).

Beat Co. No. 1 - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011).

Beat Co. No. 2 - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011).

Beat Co. No. 3 - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011).

Beat Co. No. 4 - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011).

Beat Co. No. 5 - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011).

Beat Co. No. 6 - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011). This beat encompassed that portion of Ward No. 4 north of Wentworth Street, between Meeting Street and the Ashley River.

Beat Co. No. 7 - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011).

Beat Co. No. 8 - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011).

Jacskon Guards - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011).

Magrath Guard - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011). This company was formed by volunteers from the 16th SC Militia Infantry on 1 January 1861. Most of its members were of Irish descent.

Marion Rifles - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011). This company was composed of volunteers from the Marion Fire Engine Comapny of the Charleston Fire Department, and served with the regiment from 9 November to 12 December 1861.

These Reserve companies were comprised of boys aged 16-18 and men aged 45-60.

Reserve Co. No.1 - (also known as Hibernian Guards) - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011). This company was organized for special city service from the voluntary and alarm members of the Irish Volunteers on 31 December 1860, and performed guard duty at the Charleston Arsenal, 6–26 April 1861. It was transferred to the 1st (Charleston) SC Reserve Infantry on 26 July 1861.

Reserve Co. No. 2 - (also known as Home Guards) - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011). This company was organized in February 1861, and performed guard duty at the Charleston Arsenal from 26 April to 13 May 1861. Most of its members were over age 50. It was transferred to the 1st (Charleston) SC Reserve Infantry on 26 July 1861.

Reserve Co. No. 3 - (also known as Charleston Guards) - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011). This company was transferred to the 1st (Charleston) Reserve Infantry on 26 July 1861.

Reserve Co. No. 4 - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011). This company was transferred to the 1st (Charleston) SC Reserve Infantry on 29 July 1861.

Reserve Co. No. 5 - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011). This company was transferred to the 1st (Charleston) Reserve Infantry on 7 August 1861.

Reserve Co. No. 6 - (also known as Palmetto Reserve Guard) - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011). Most of this company's members were merchant seaman. It was transferred to the 1st (Charleston) Reserve Infantry on 27 August 1861.

Reserve Co. No. 7 - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011). This company was transferred to the 1st (Charleston) Reserve Infantry on 12 September 1861.

Reserve Co. No. 8 - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011). This company was transferred to the 1st (Charleston) Reserve Infantry on 26 September 1861.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 625 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Other Sources

 * Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System can be searched by soldier's name or by regiment; includes regimental rosters and additional history of the regiment. This site uses Joseph H. Crute's book, Units of the Confederate States Army, as their main source for the regiment history. FS Library book 973 M2crua,, WorldCat.


 * Footnote.com (A subscription website, but is available for use at the FamilySearch 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).