2nd Regiment, South Carolina Rifles

Brief History
The 2nd Regiment, South Carolina Rifles was organized as a regiment April 27, 1862. Companies A-F of this regiment were first organized in October and November, 1861, and were temporarily attached to the 1st Orr's Regiment South Carolina Rifles until Deceber 10, 1861, when the 5th (also known as the 1st and as Moore's) Battalion South Carolina Rifles was formed of these companies. About January 11, 1862, Company G was added to the battalion, which was increased to a regiment April 27, 1862, by the addition of Companies H, K, L and designated the 2nd Regiment South Carolina Rifles, using the 5th South Carolina Battalion Rifles as its nucleus. The 2nd Regiment, South Carolina Rifles surrendered on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Court House in Virginia.

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 Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,815 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.


 * Company A - many men from Abbeville District (County), a few from Laurens District (County) and Newberry District (County)


 * Company B - many men from Pickens District (County) now Oconee County


 * Company C - many men from Pickens District (County), now inOconee County


 * Company D - many men from Anderson District (County) and Pickens District (County)


 * Company E - many men from Pickens District (County), Anderson District District (County), and Greenville District (County)


 * Company F - many men from Pickens District (County), Anderson District (County), Abbeville District (County)


 * Company G - many men from Anderson District (County), Greenville District (County), and a few from Georgia


 * Company H - many men from Pickens District (County)


 * Company I - many men from Pickens District (Seigler says there was no Company I)


 * Company K - many men from Abbeville District (County), Anderson District (County) and Pickens District (County)


 * Company L (possibly also known as the Butler Guards) - Anderson District (County), a few from Greenville District (County) and Spartanburg District (County)

Company names, nickname, county of origin obtained from: Seigler, Batson

Other Source Material

 * 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)


 * 2nd Infantry Regiment Rifles from The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina. Eastern Digital Resources, accessed 11/15/2010. Lists Company E Roster and a brief Regiment History.


 * Second South Carolina Rifles-Moore's Rifles, South Carolina's Service in the War Between the States; Steve Batson's website, accessed 11/30/2010. This website also lists officers of the regiment and companies; and battles the regiment was involved in.


 * 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 11 Companies (A-I, K-L) listed.


 * 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.