20th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry

Brief History
The 20th Infantry Regiment, South Carolina Infantry was organized at Orangeburg, South Carolina, during the winter of 1861-1862. It was also called Keitt's Regiment. Many of the men were recruited in Sumter, Orangeburg, and Calhoun counties. In the spring of 1864 it moved to Virginia and was assigned to General Kershaw's, Kennedy's, and Conner's Brigade. On April 9, 1865 the 20th Regiment was consolidated with the 2nd Infantry Regiment and parts of the1st, 2nd, 6th, and 7th Battalions of Blanchard's South Carolina Reserves to form the (new) 2nd Regiment. The 2nd Infantry Regiment surrendered on April 26, 1865 with the Army of Tennessee near Greensboro, North Carolina.



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.

Original organization:

A Company - (later Company G) many men from Sumter District (County): Captain Stephen M. Boykin until April 1862. Promoted to Major on April 4th 1862; Captain R. L. Herriot became Captain of the Company which is then known as Company G (see below).

B Company - many men from Lexington District (County): Captain Jas. M. Jones

C Company - many men from Lexington District (County): Captain G. Leaphart

D Company - many men from Anderson District (County): Captain J.A. Cowan

E Company - many men from Orangeburg District (County): Captain P.A. McMichael

F Company - many men from Orangeburg District (County): Captain R.V. Danelly

G Company - many men from Newberry District (County): Captain J.M. Kinard

H Company - many men from Lexington District (County): Captain E. Kinsler

I Company - many men from Lexington District (County): Captain W.D.M. Harkins

K Company - many men from Pickens District (County): Captain J.M. Partlow

This regiment was reorganized on 29 April 1862:

A Company - many men from Anderson District (County) and Pickens District (County): Captain Jno. M. Partlow; Captain C.H.A. Woodin; Captain Jno. Lee

B Company - many men from Orangeburg District (County): Captain P.A. McMichael

C Company - (also known as the Evans Guards ) many men from Lexington District (County), Dutch Forak area: Captain G. Leaphart; Captain G.T. Haltiwanger

D Company - (also known as the Bull Swamp Guards ), many men from Orangeburg District (County) (North and Neeses near Bull Swamp area): Captain R.V. Donnelly

E Company - many men from Laurens District (County) and Abbeville District (County): Captain N.A. Cowan.

F Company - (Also known as the Kinard Phalanx), many men from Newberry District (County) and a few men from Laurens District (County): Captain John M. Kinard; Captain William M. Kinard. .

G Company - (Also known as the Spring Hill Volunteers) ), many men from Sumter District (County): Captain S.M. Boykin when it was known as Company A; Captain A.L. Herriot Retired August 1863, succeeded by Captain Alexander Moseley, son of Catherine McLeod and John C. Moseley; Sergeant William A. McLeod, son of Angus McLeod and Eliza Ann Arrants (afterwards wife of Col. S. M. Boykin of this Regiment) - ;

H Company - many men from Orangeburg District (County) and Lexington District (County): Captain Edward Kinsler; Captain S.M. Roof

I Company - many men from Marlboro District (County): Captain A.D. Sparks

I Company - (Also known as the Edisto Guards). many men from Orangeburg District (County) and Lexington District (County): Captain Elbert Gunter.

K Company - (Also known as the Lesington Volunteer Rifle Company and the Lexington Riflemen). many men from Lexington District (County): Captain W.D.M. Harman.

L Company - (Also known as the Ripley Rangers), many men from Marlboro District (County): Captain A.D. Sparks; Captain C.P. Bolton. Men also from Lexington District (County) and Marion District (County). Calvary Company Organized April 1862 - Captain AD Sparks – Retired January 7th 1865, Captain C. P. Bolton - Afterwards became Company E of the 19th Battalion South Carolina Calvary – Special Order 301 Paragraph 2; December 20th 1864.

M Company - (also known as the Emmett Guards, Captain Keitt's Company Mounted Riflemen, and the Mounted Riflemen) - many men from Newberry District (County), Richland District (County), Anderson District (County) and Marlboro District (County). Attached: Keitt's Cavalry, Keitt's Mounted Riflemen. Afterwards Company B, 19th Battalion South Carolina Calvary Special Order 301 Paragraph 2; December 20th 1864.

N Company - (possibly called the Peterkin Rangers), some of its men from Marlboro District (County) DISBANDED on an unknown date but subsequently the men of this company served with the Hampton Legion Calvary (formerly Infantry) in various companies

O Company - (also known as Venning's Company) DISBANDED on an unknown date but subsequently the men of this company served with the Hampton Legion Calvary (formerly Infantry) in various companies

Lt Artillery Company – Captain Henry Buist – never organized but attached to the 20th and mustered with the 20th.

Information on the Companies, their nicknames, counties of origin and officers taken from the20th South Carolina Volunteers website and Seigler's book. .

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 3,252 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. Family History Library book 973 M2crua,, 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 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)


 * 20th S C Volunteer Infantry Regiment, (accessed 7 Apr 2011). This website includes history, engagements and organization.


 * Carr, Benjamin B. History of Co. E, 20th N.C. Regiment, 1861-'65 : Confederate Greys. Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1990..


 * Dickert, D. Augustus. History of Kershaw's Brigade : With Complete Roll of Companies, Biographical Sketches, Incidents, Anecdotes, etc.  (Dayton, Ohio : Morningside Bookshop, 1976), 583 pages. Rosters for the 20th South Carolina Volunteer Regimental companies are found on pages 576-583. Digital copies at Google Books and Internet Archives. Book found at and Other Libraries.


 * 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.This book lists 15 Companies, A-O plus a named company, "Company Artillery". Dates of service were from December 1861 to June 1864. It also lists some of the nicknames and former company names.


 * 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.