5th Regiment, South Carolina Militia

Brief History
The 5th Regiment, South Carolina Militia was probably organized from companies which had been organized years previous to the beginning of the Civil War for state service. According to South Carolina's Military Organizations During the War Between the States, it states the following: "It was the South Carolina Militia and the South Carolina Regular Army that held the line around Charleston Harbor and along the coast during the first few months of 1861 until additional battalions and regiments of volunteers could be raised and prepared for duty.” The 5th Regiment Militia was also known as the 45th State Militia. See also South Carolina Militia.

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.

The 5th Regiment, South Carolina Militia was made up of men from Pickens District (County).


 * Smith's Company No. 3 (also know as Beat Company 3, also known as 35th State Militia) - Roster, (accessed 6 Apr 2011).


 * King's Company No. 4 (also know as  Beat Company 4, also known as 45th State Militia) - Roster,(accessed 6 Apr 2011).


 * The Pickensville Silver Greys

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 121 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)


 * "South Carolina 5th Militia (Infantry)".The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina. Eastern Digital Resources an Internet site, accessed 12/16/2010. Gives some references for this military unit.


 * 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 4 Companies listed (as stated above).


 * 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.