15th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry

United States     U.S. Military      South Carolina      South Carolina Military      South Carolina in the Civil War      15th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry

Brief History
15th Infantry Regiment completed its organization in September, 1861, at Lightwoodknot Springs, near Columbia, South Carolina. Its members were raised in the counties of Richland, Union, Lexington, Kershaw, Fairfield, and Williamsburg. After serving on James Island, the unit moved to Virginia and was assigned to General Drayton's, Kershaw's, Kennedy's, and Conner's Brigade.



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.


 * Company A - (also known as Columbia rigles) Many men from Richland District ( Richland County). Mustered in September 5, 1861 Lightwood Knot Springs.
 * Company B - (also known as Gist Guards) Many men from Union District (Union County). Mustered in September 5, 1861 Lightwood Knot Springs.  Companies A and D became Company B April 9 1865.
 * Company C - (also known as Lexington Guards) Many men from Lexington District (County). Mustered in September 10, 1861 Lightwood Knot Springs. Became Company H april 9, 1865.
 * Company D - (also known as Kershaw Guards and Mount Tabor Company) Many men from Kershaw District  (Kershaw County)  and Union District ( Union County).  Mustered in September 6, 1861. On April 9th, 1865 combined with Companies A &amp; B and became Company B.
 * Company E - (also known as Monticello Guards) Many men from Fairfield District (Fairfield County. Mustered in September 6, 1861, Lightwood Knot Springs. Combined with Companies H &amp; I and became Company E April 9, 1865.
 * Company F- (also known as Thicketty Rifles) Many men from Union District ( Union County). Mustered in September 7, 1861, Lightwood Knot Springs. Combined with G and became Company I  April 9, 1865.
 * Company G - (also known as Williamsburg Riflemen) Many men from Williamsburg District (Williamsburg Count. Mustered in September 16, 1861 Lightwood Knot Springs. Combined with Company F and became Company I April 9, 1865.
 * Company H - (also known as Mount Tabor Company) Many men from Union District  (Union County). Mustered in September 16, 1861.  Combined with Company E &amp; I  to form Company E April 9, 1865.
 * Company I - (also known as Dutch Fork Guards) Many men from Lexington District (Lexington County).Mustered in October 1861, Lightwood Knot Springs.  Combined with Companies E &amp; H to become Company E April 9, 1865.
 * Company K - (also known as Dorn's Invincibles) Many men From Edgefield District (County and Abbeville District (County).  Mustered in October 2, 1861, Lightwood Knot Springs.  Became Company A  April 9, 1865.
 * Black men who received pensions for service.  Pages 325-326

Company names and County of origin from: Clary, James B. A History of the 15th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment : 1861-1895 (Wilmington, North Carolina : Broadfoot Pub. Co., c2007), 602 pages. Produced in cooperation with the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Book found at

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. 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).


 * The 15th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment, (accessed 7 Apr 2011). This regiment was a part of Kershaw's Brigade - This website includes historical sketches, Field and Staff, and a bibliography.


 * Nichols, Wesley. Autobiography and Civil War recollections of Wesley Nichols, Leesville, S.C. (Leesville, S.C. : Twin-County News Print, 1915), 27 pages. Includes a description of activities of the 15th South Carolina Infantry Regiment. Microfiche copy at and Other 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 15th South Carolina Volunteer Regimental companies are found on pages 568-573. Digital copies at Google Books and Internet Archives. Book found at and Other Libraries.