5th Battalion, South Carolina Rifles

United States   U.S. Military    South Carolina    South Carolina Military    South Carolina in the Civil War    South Carolina Civil War Confederate Units 5th through 14th      5th Battalion, South Carolina Rifles

Brief History
The 5th Battalion, South Carolina Rifles was also known as Moore's Battalion of Rifles. It was also called the 1st Regiment, South Carolina RIfles under the leadership of James L. Orr. By May 1861, James L. Orr and his brother-in-law, Jehu Foster Marshall, were both trying to raise a regiments. Niether could get enough men to form a regiment so they combined their men and created the 5th Battalion, South Carolina Rifles.

Joseph H. Crute, Jr.'s book, "Units of the Confederate States Army", contains no history for this unit. This regiment most likely transferred into another regiment or was combined with another regiment to create a new regiment, or is another name for an existing regiment. Looking at the service records of the soldiers may give clues to the different regiments they may have served in.

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.

Other Source Material

 * 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). There is no history listed for this regiment.