4th Battalion, South Carolina Cavalry

Brief History
The 2nd Cavalry Regiment was organized during the summer of 1862 by consolidating the 4th South Carolina Cavalry Battalion and the Cavalry Battalion of Hampton's South Carolina Legion. In May, 1864, the Infantry Battalion of Hampton's South Carolina Legion was mounted and united with the 2nd Cavalry. It was then redesignated the Hampton South Carolina Cavalry Legion. This battalion was also called "the Richland Cavalry".

Joseph H. Crute, Jr.'s book, "Units of the Confederate States Army", contains no history for this unit. This regiment most likely transferred into another regiment or was combined with another regiment to create a new regiment, or is another name for an existing regiment. Looking at the service records of the soldiers may give clues to the different regiments they may have served in.

The service records of soldiers on Footnote.com state: "The Battalion was mustered in the field as the 3d Battalion South Carolina Cavalry but was officially designated as the 4th Battalion South Carolina Cavalry in August 22, 1862. It was consolidated with the Cavalry Battalion of the Hampton Legion and two independent companies and formed the 2d Regiment South Carolina Cavalry."

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.


 * A Company: Captain w.K. Easley; Captain John Westfield; F Company 2nd SC Cavalry Regiment.
 * B Company: Captain Frank Hampton
 * C Company: Captain A.H. Dean; Captain George B. Dean; E Company 2nd SC Cavalry Regiment
 * D Company, Wassamassaw Cavalry: Captain J.C. McKewn; D Company 2nd SC Cavalry Regiment. Assignment: James Island, May - June 1862.
 * E Company
 * F Company
 * G Company
 * H Company, Catawba Rangers: Captain James D. McCutcheon; Captain William J. McIlwain; Captain John C. Foster; organized on 28 Dec 1861; reorganized on 6 August 1862.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 398 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.


 * 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).


 * 4th Cavalry Battalion. The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina. Eastern Digital Resources an Internet site, accessed 12/01/2010. Lists a very brief regiment history.


 * 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, and dates involving the company and places where they were stationed. There are 4 Companies (A-D) listed. Also a John H. Howard's Company was listed.