19th Battalion, South Carolina Cavalry

Brief History
The 19th Battalion, South Carolina Cavalry (also called Kirk's Battalion) was formed on 20th of December 1864 by consolidating five independent cavalry companies (two were from Kirk's Squadron Partisan Rangers, Keitt's Company of Mounted Riflemen, Company B of Boykin's Squadron Mounted Rifles and Captain Sparks's Company. In February 1865, two more companies were added, Captains Fair and A.C. Earle's Companies. The 19th Battalion was involved in the North Carolina campaign. It surrendered with the Army of Tennessee in April 1865.

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.

Information about the companies, their nicknames and counties of origin is taken from Seigler's book and another undocumented source.


 * Company A - (also known as Kirk's Company and possibly May River Troop) - Men possibly from Beaufort District (County) - Captain M.J. Kirk


 * Company B - (also known as Keitts Cavlary and Captain E.S. Keitts Mounted Riflemen) - many men from Richland District (County), Newberry District (County), Anderson District (County) and Marlboro District (County); a few men from Orangeburg District (County), Charleston District (County), Fairfield District (County), Edgefiled District (County), Abbeville District (County), Lexington District (County), and Spartanburg District (County)


 * Company C (possibly known as May River Troop, previously Company B of Kirk's Squadron) - many men from Beaufort District (County), Barnwell District (County), and Colleton District (County); a few men from Union District (County), and Charleston District (County)


 * Company D (also known as Captain J.J. Steele's Company, previously Company B of Boykin's Squadron)


 * Company E - (also known as the Ripley Rangers, previously Captain Spark's Company) - many men from Lexington District (County), Marion District (County), and Marlboro District (County); a few men from Sumter District (County), Chesterfield District (County), Darlington District (County), Andeson District (County), and Union District (County) - Assignment: Trapier's Brigade, January -  February 1865.


 * Company F -


 * Captain A.C. Earle's Company - many men from Anderson District (County) and Pickens District (County); a few men from Greenville District (County)

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 718 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., WorldCat.


 * 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).


 * 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. Locate this book at other libraries. There are six companies listed (A-F).


 * 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.