2nd Battalion, South Carolina Cavalry Reserves

Brief History
The 2nd Battalion, South Carolina Cavalry Reserves (also known as the 8th Battalion, South Carolina Cavalry) was organized on May 30, 1862. The 2nd Battalion was created from several independent cavalry companies. It served for only three months when in August of 1862 it was combined with other companies to create the 3rd Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry.

Joseph H. Crute, Jr.'s book, "Units of the Confederate States Army", contains no history for this unit.

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.

The following named companies were probably companies A, D, E, G, H.

Company B- (also known as the Marion Men of Combahee) -many men from Colleton District(County), a few from Beaufort District (County) (now in Hampton County)

Company C -(alleged) (also known as Spartan Rangers)

Company F - (also known as the Savannah River Guard or Guards) -many men from Barnwell District (County)

Ashley Dragoons or Ashley Rangers - (also known as Captain Colcock's Company, South Carolina Cavalry) - many men from Charleston District (County) and Beaufort District (County)

Barnwell Dragoons - ( also called Lawton's Company, South Carolina Volunteers) - many men from Barnwell District (County)

Calhoon Minute Men - (also known as the Calhoon Mounted Men and Martin's Company, South Carolina Volunteers) -Colleton District (County), a few from Barnwell District (County), Georgia and Virginia.

Beaufort District Troop - (also known as Captain J. H. Howard's Company) -many men from;Beaufort District (County), a few from Barnwell District (County) and Texas

Colleton Rangers - (possibly from Colleton District (County)

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 68 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.


 * Footnote.com (A subscription website, but is available for use at the FamilySearch 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).


 * 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 8 Companies (A-H) mentioned only officers of Company H listed. Locate this book at other libraries.


 * 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.