3rd Battalion, South Carolina Infantry (Lauren's) (James')

Brief History
3rd Infantry Battalion [also called Lauren's Battalion and James' Battalion] was organized in November, 1861, at Camp Hampton, near Columbia, South Carolina. It contained four companies, with three additional companies joining the unit at White Point. Most of the men were from Laurens County, and a few were recruited in Richland and Fairfield counties. After serving in South Carolina, it was ordered to Virginia and assigned to Drayton's, Kershaw's, Kennedy's, and Conner's Brigade.

The Battalion was reorganized in April 1862 and about April 9, 1865 it was consolidated with the 3rd and the 8th Regiments and part of Blanchard's South Carolina Reserves to form the new 3rd Regiment South Carolina Infantry, Consolidated. It surrendered with the Army of Tennessee on April 26, 1865 near Greensboro, North Carolina and the men were paroled by May 2, 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 -Many men from Laurens District (County) and Abbeville Dsitrict (County) - Roster


 * Company B - (also known as the Williams Company) - many men from Laurens District (County) - Roster


 * Company C - many men from Laurens District (County), a few men from Greenville District (County) and Anderson District (County) - Roster, Roster (one man)


 * Company D - many men from Laurens District (County) a few men from Greenville District (County), Abbeville District (County) and Newberry District (County) - Roster


 * Company E - (also known as the Hunter Guards) - many men from  Laurens District (County) - Roster


 * Company F - (also known as the Harper Rifles) - many men from Richland District (County) and Lexington District (County) - Roster


 * Company G - (also known as the Aiken Guards) - many men from Fairfield District (County) - Roster


 * Field and Staff

Company names, nicknames and counties taken from Seigler's and books, and the website by Batson. Rosters are from Access Genealogy and Eastern Digital Resources.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,103 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 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)


 * "South Carolina Civil War Rosters". Access Genealogy Internet site, accessed 12/17/2010. Lists the company officers and gives the rosters for each company. 3rd Battalion is listed after the 15th Regiment.


 * South Carolina 3rd Infantry Battalion. The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina. Eastern Digital Resources an Internet site, accessed 12/02/2010. Lists a brief Regiment History and roster for Company C.


 * South Carolina Infantry Battalion - Third Battalion. South Carolina's Service in the War Between the States, Steve Batson's Internet site, accessed 12/02/2010. This website also lists officers of the regiment and companies; and battles the regiment was involved in.


 * "The Third South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Battalion, Also Known As the Laurens and/or the James Battalion". eHistory Archive, an Internet site, accessed 12/02/2010. This site gives a history of this Battalion, lists officers and battles.


 * Davis, Sam B. A history of the 3rd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Battalion (James Battalion): 1861-1865. Wilmington, North Carolina : Broadfoot Pub. Co., c2009., book 975.7 M2ds.


 * Dickert, Augustus D. History of Kershaw's Brigade. Newberry: Elbert H Aull Company, 1899. This book as a complete roll of Companies, biographical sketches, and other information. Google Books. FS Library book 975.7 M2d 1976, and ,fiche 6082618 (7 fiche).


 * 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 7 Companies (A-G) listed.


 * 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.


 * Simpson, R.W. Far, Far From Home : The Wartime Letters of Dick and Tally Simpson, Third South Carolina Volunteers  (New York : Oxford University Press, 1994), 316 pages.In April 1861, Dick and Tally Simpson, sons of South Carolina Congressman Richard F. Simpson, enlisted in Company A of the Third South Carolina Volunteers of the Confederate army. Their letters home - published here for the first time - read like a historical novel, complete with plot, romance, character, suspense, and tragedy. Librariesthat have this book.