3rd Regiment, South Carolina State Troops (6 months 1863-64)

Brief History
In concern for further assault from the Federal troops, the Confederate President, Jefferson Davis, requested that the governor supply men for 'local defense and special services'. In the summer of 1863 a call went out for enlistments which resulted in five regiments being created and they became known as the South Carolina State Troops. The initial enlistment was to be for 6 months but the men could be called upon to serve longer.

The 3rd Regiment South Carolina State Troops was mustered into Confederate States service for six months from August 1, 1863 for local defense and State Service. Companies F to K, being below the minimum strength, were disbanded December 27, 1863. The rest of the companies mustered out the end of January an first part of February 1864.

Eastern Digital Resources Internet site states the following:


 * There were evidently two regiments formed known as the 3rd Infantry Regiment, State Troops. The first regiment was organized for six months in state service to date from August 1, 1863. One company mustered out on January 31, 1864 and the other disbanded on February 1, 1864.


 * The other unit was made up mostly of boys around the age of 16. Most of the officers were older men. This unit may have also been a part of the 3rd SC State Troops organized for protection of Florence. The existence of Company I below, indicates that at least 9 companies were formed. This unit was formed in September of 1864 and served until the end of the war.

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.

Counties the men may have come from: Chesterfield, Darlington, Horry, Marion, Sumter, Clarendon, Marlboro, Williamsburg, Richland, and Georgetown.


 * Company I - Roster


 * Another Internet site lists the following rosters and counties as part of the 3rd Battalion State Troops, but these actually may be part of another Regiment (some rosters have only a few names):
 * Company A - Union District/County - Roster
 * Company B - Fairfield District/County - Roster
 * Company C - York District/County - Roster
 * Company D - York District/County - Roster
 * Company E - Chester District/County - Roster
 * Company F - Roster
 * Company G - Greenville District - Roster
 * Company H - Roster
 * Company I - Greenville District - Roster
 * Company K - Greenville District - Roster

Information about the companies, their counties and origin is taken from the websites and Seigler's book.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 485 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)


 * "3rd Regiment State Troops (Infantry)". The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina. Eastern Digital Resources an Internet site, accessed 12/02/2010. Lists a brief Regiment History and Company Rosters.


 * "Third (3rd) Battalion South Carolina State Troops-Senior Reserves", Internet site, accessed 12/02/2010. Lists the rosters with a few names.


 * "South Carolina Reserve and Miscellaneous Units in the War of the Rebellion". Internet site, accessed 12/06/2010. Lists some of the Troop and Reserve units, a few companies, officers and some dates of service. Counties listed come from this reference.


 * "History of Company I, 3rd Regiment S. C. Troops" by John Q. Cousart. The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina. Eastern Digital Resources an Internet site, accessed 12/02/2010.


 * The following Company may or may not be a part of this regiment: "3rd Battalion of State Troops-Senior Reserves-Company D-York County". Internet site, accessed 12/02/2010.  This site has a roster of officers and soldiers. It appears many also served in the 5th South Carolina Infantry Regiment or State Troops.


 * "3rd South Carolina State Troops - Jun 1862-Jan 1863". Internet site, accessed 12/06/2010.  Gives the roster for Company A.  The Soldiers and Sailors system lists men from this page as being a part of the 3rd Regiment, South Carolina Reserves (90 day 1862-63).


 * "South Carolina Infantry Regiments". Internet site, accessed 12/07/2010. Gives a roster for Company I and a history as stated above by John Q. Cousart.


 * 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 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.