3rd Battalion, South Carolina Light Artillery (Palmetto Battalion)

Brief History
The 3rd Battalion, South Carolina Light Artillery was also known the Palmetto Battalion, Palmetto Battalion Light Artillery, and White's Battalion South Carolina Light Artillery). It was organized in November/December of 1861. Its members were from the counties of Allendale, Richland, Charleston, Georgetown, and Kershaw. The battalion started with with three companies and seven others were added at various times, the last about June 21, 1863. known as the Palmetto Battalion Light Artillery, and also White's Battalion South Carolina Light Artillery. For some time the unit served in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, but the companies were frequently detached to serve in other battalions. The 3rd Battalion Light Artillery was dissolved by the end of 1864.

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 Furman Artillery and Earle's Artillery, Campbell's Battery) - many men from Greenville District (County)


 * Company B - (also known as Waites's Light Battery, Captain John Waites's Company and Columbia Flying Artillery) - many men from Richland District (County)


 * Company C - (also known as the Wilson Light Artillery, Culpepper's Light Artilleryand Culpeper Battery) - many men from Darlington District (County); a few men from Williamsburg District (County), Sumter District (County), Marion District (County), Fairfield District (County) and Clarendon District (County)


 * Company D - (also known as the Wagner Light Artillery and Captain C.E. Kanapaux's Company and Kanapaux's Light Artillery) - many men from Charleston District (County)


 * Company E - (also known as the Yeadon Light Artillery) - many men from Kershaw District (County); a few men from Darlington District (County), Sumter District (County), Williamsburg District (County) and Marion District(County) - Roster (one man)


 * Company F - (also known as the Chestnut Light Artillery) - many men fromCharleston District (County), Colleton District (County), Orangeburg District (County), Beaufort District (County), Newberry District (County), Lexington District (County), Laurens District (County), Abbeville District (County) and Anderson District (County)


 * Company G - (also known as the DeSaussure Light Artillery and the DePass Light Battery) - many men from Charlesteon District (County), Kershaw District (County), Sumter District (County) and Clarendon District (County); a few men came from Union District (County), Richland District (County), Lexington District (County) and Pickens District (County) - Roster


 * Company H - many men from Greenville District (County)


 * Company I - (also known as Bowden's Battery Light Artillery) - many men from Greenville District (County)


 * Company K - (also known as Richardson's Company) - many men from Charleston District (County), Kershaw District (County), Sumter District (County) and Clarendon District (County); a few men also from Richland District (County), Lexington District (County), and Pickens District (County)

Information about the companies, their nicknames and counties of origin taken from Seigler's and Hewett's books.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 2,539 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)


 * "3rd (Palmetto) Battalion, Light Artillery". The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina. Eastern Digital Resources an Internet site, accessed 12/01/2010. Lists a brief Regiment History and roster for Company E.


 * South Carolina Artillery Battalions. South Carolina's Service in the War Between the States, Steve Batson's Internet site, accessed 12/01/2010. This website also lists officers of the regiment and companies; and battles the regiment was involved in.


 * "3rd South Carolina Artillery- Company G, DeSaussure Light Artillery". Internet site, accessed 12/02/2010. Contains the roster for Company G and some history on the Battalion.


 * "Palmetto Battalion. Palmetto Battalion - The Civil War Reenactors Organization of South Carolina, Internet site, accessed 12/02/2010. This site gives some history and the account of John Q. Cousart.


 * Ft. Moultrie Palmetto Battalion, (accessed 8 Apr 2011). A Manual for Re-enactors and Living Historians.


 * 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 10 Companies (A-I, K) 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