7th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry

Brief History
The 7th Regiment South Carolina Infantry was mustered into State service for twelve months April 15, 1861, with nine companies, B to K, and accepted into the Confederate States service June 4, 1861. (1st) Company L was added July 2 1862. The regiment was reorganized with twelve companies A to M, May 14, 1862, Comanies A and M being formed of men who had previously served in other companies of the regiment. About April 9, 1865, the 7th Regiment South Carolina Infantry was consolidated with the 15th Regiment South Carolina Infantry and a part of Blanchard's South Carolina Reserves and formed the new 7th Regiment South Carolina Infantry, which was paroled at Greensboro, NC, May 2, 1865.

The 7th South Carolina is known as "the Bloody Seventh" because of its bloodshed in numerous Civil War battles as part of Kershaw’s Brigade. While much of the first year was spent near the front in Northern Virginia and on the Virginia Peninsula between the York and James Rivers, the men of the 7th only saw minor skirmishing. It was time well spent learning their trade as soldiers. The weak died or were sent home as they were of no value to the army. The survivors spent countless hours learning Civil War drills and maneuvers, suffered the rigors of long marches, witnessed the dangers of combat and became accustom to a lack of sufficient food and clothing.

An excellent history on this regiment, it's companies, and the changes at the reorganization in 1862 is found in Robert S. Seigler's book, South Carolina's Military Organizations During the War Between the States. The 7th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry surrendered with the Army of Tennessee on April 26, 1865 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.

Some of the rosters may be for the 1st organization. The 2nd rosters listed contains only a couple of names :


 * Company A - many men from Edgefield District (County) - Roster


 * Company B - Roster


 * Company C - Roster


 * Company D - (also known as Hester's Company) - many men from Edgefield District (County) - Roster


 * Company E - (also known as The Dendy Company) - many men from Edgefield District (County)- Roster, Roster


 * Company F - (also known as the Granteville Volunteers and Davis Volunteers) - many men from Aiken District (County) Graniteville area - Roster, Roster


 * Company G - (possibly from Edgefield District (County) - Roster, Roster


 * Company H - (also known as Joe Johnston's Riflemen) - many men from Edgefield District (County) - Roster


 * Company I - many men from Edgefield District (County) - Roster, Roster


 * Company K - (possibly from Edgefield District (County) - Roster, Roster


 * Company L - (also known as All Saints Riflemen) - many men from Horry District (County) - Roster


 * Company M - many men from Edgefield District (County) - Roster


 * Field and Staff

First organization Companies as listed on Batson's site and in Seigler's book :


 * Company A (also known as Seccession Guards, Perryman's Company, the Abbeville Volunteers or Guards) - many men from Abbeville District (County), Greenwood, ninety Six, New Market towns
 * Company B (also known as Southern Guards or Cokesbury Minutemen) - many men from Abbeville District (County)
 * Company C (also known as Davis Guards) - many men from Abbeville District (County)
 * Company D (also known as Hester's Guards or Company)- many men from Abbeville District (County)
 * Company E (also known as Mount Willing Guards) - many men from Edgefield District (County)
 * Company F (also known as Davies Guard) -many men from Edgefield District (County),  Possibly Trenton area.
 * Company G (also known as Brook's Grey's) - many men from Edgefield District (County)
 * Company H (also known as Ninety-Six Riflemen or Rifles) - many men from Edgefield District (County)
 * Company I (also known as Red Hill Guard) - Edgefield District (County), Red Hill area.
 * Company K (also known as Ruffin Guards) - Edgefield District (County)
 * Company L (also known as Horry Volunteers or Guards) - Horry District (County)

After the reorganization in 1862 the following companies were a part of the 7th Infantry Regiment :


 * Company A (also known as the Ninety Six Reflemen) Abbeville District (County) and Edgefield District (County)
 * Company B - Abbeville District (County), Anderson District (County), Union District (County)
 * Company C - Abbeville District (County), Edgefield District (County), Spartanburg District (County)
 * Company D - Abbeville District (County)
 * Company E - Edgefield Disrict (County)
 * Company F - Edgefield District (Graniteville, now a part of Aiken County)
 * Company G - Edgefield District (County)
 * Company H - Edgefield District (County) and Horry District (County)
 * Company I - Edgefield District (County)
 * Company K - Edgefield District (County)
 * Company L - Horry District (County)
 * Company M (also known as the Saluda Riflemen) - Edgefield District (County)

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 2,546 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 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)
 * "South Carolina Civil War Rosters". Access Genealogy Internet site, accessed 12/20/2010. Lists the company officers and gives the rosters for each company.


 * "7th Infantry Regiment". The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina. Eastern Digital Resources an Internet site, accessed 12/14/2010. Lists a brief Regiment History and Company Rosters. There is also  "Historical Sketch" of the regiment written by John A. Chapman.  This is taken from his book, History of Edgefield County from the earliest settlements to 1897. (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1958), p. 207.  Located at the Family History Library film 162293, with an index in book 975.73 H2c index, . (Microreproduction of original published: Newberry, South Carolina : E. H. Aull, 1897. 521, vi p.) Some of the rosters are also taken from Chapman's book.


 * "Seventh South Carolina Infantry Regiment". South Carolina's Service in the War Between the States, Steve Batson’s Internet site, accessed 12/16/2010. This website also lists officers of the regiment and companies; and battles the regiment was involved in. The site gives the county of organization and nicknames listed. It also lists the Companies as they were before the reorganization. Refers also to a book, Upper Battalion, 10th S.C. Militia, Vol. III, page 352, that gives a roster of Company G (not available at the FHL or on Worldcat).
 * Clarmont Rifles. Old Sumter District, South Carolina SCGenWebsites and Palmetto State Roots Websites, accessed 11/30/2010.


 * "The 7th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment". Mac Wyckoff, eHistory Internet site, accessed 12/17/2010. Lists information about the Regiment, companies, and officers and roster.


 * Calhoun, Charles M.  Liberty dethroned. A Concise History of Some of the Most Startling Events Before, During, and Since the Civil War (Greenwood, S C: 1903), 379 pages. Book at  and  WorldCat Libraries.
 * 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 7th South Carolina Regimental companies are found on pages 557-562. Digital copies at Google Books and Internet Archives. Book found at  and Other Libraries.


 * Gray, Charles Martin. The old soldier's story : autobiography of Charles Martin Gray, Co. A, 7th Regiment, U.S.I., embracing interesting and exciting incidents of army life on the frontier in the early part of the present century. Edited by Betsy R. Bloomer. (North Augusta, South Carolina : B.R. Bloomer, c2005) Book at and Other Libraries WorldCat.


 * 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 12 Companies (A-I, K-M) listed. Available at these libraries: Worldcat.


 * McDaniel, J. J. Diary of battles, marches and incidents of the Seventh S.C. Regiment. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1990),Microfiche at . Digital copy at Internet Archive . Book at WorldCat. Includes a description of activities of the 7th South Carolina Infantry Regiment (Confederate) in the following battles or localities.


 * 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.