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

United States   U.S. Military    South Carolina    South Carolina Military    South Carolina in the Civil War    South Carolina Civil War Confederate Units 1st through 4th      3rd Battalion, South Carolina Light Artillery (Palmetto Battalion)

Brief History
3rd Artillery Battalion (also known at the Palmetto Battalion, Palmetto Battalion LIght Artillery, and Whit'es Battalion South Carolina LIght Artillery) was organized in November/December, 1861. Its members were from the counties of Allendale, Richland, Charleston, Georgetown, and Kershaw. For some time the unit served in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, but the companies were frequently detached. This Battalion surrendered in May, 1865.

This battalion was formed about November, 1861 with three companies. Seven others were added at various times, the last about june 21, 1863. known as the Palmetto Battalion Light Artillery, and also White's Batttalion South Carolina Light Artillery.

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) - Greenville County
 * Company B (also known as Columbia Flying Artillery)
 * Company C (also known as Culpepper's Light Artilleryand Culpeper Battery)
 * Company D (also known as Wagner Light Artillery)
 * Company E - Roster (one man)
 * Company F (also known as Chestnut Light Artillery)
 * Company G (also known as DeSaussure Light Artillery) - Roster
 * Company H
 * Company I (also known as Bowden's Battery)
 * Company K

Source Material

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