1st Regiment, South Carolina Infantry (Butler's) (1st Regulars)

Brief History
The 1st Regiment, South Carolina Infantry was also known as Butler's 1st Regiment, South Carolina Infantry, 1st South Carolina Infantry Regulars, 1st Regulars or Enlisted Men and several variations of those names. This regiment first served in the Army of the State of South Carolina with ten companies but it was accepted into the service of the Confederate States in May, 1861, with only eight companies, A to H. Companies I and K were added early in 1862. Although called an infantry regiment it acted as artillery. In May 1863, the 1st Regiment was designated the 3rd Regiment South Carolina Artillery or 3rd Heavy Artillery Regiment, but this designation was not confirmed although the regiment continued to serve as artillery. This regiment surrendered with Johnston's forces at Durham Station on April 26,1865.

Companies in this Regiment with County 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 2,735 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

The men were recruited in Charleston, Columbia, and Cheraw, and the counties of Greenville,Lancaster, Chesterfield, and Anderson.

In 1862 there was a reorganization of many military units which affected these companies. See Steve Batson's internet site: "South Carolina's Service in the War Between the States", South Carolina Artillery-Third Artillery Regiment-First S.C. Regulars for further information about these companies and their reorganization into other companies and military units. This website also lists officers of the regiment and companies; and battles the regiment was involved in.

Information about the companies, their nicknames, and counties of origin is taken from Seigler's book. The rosters are taken from the Eastern Digital Resources website.Companies after May 1861:


 * Company A - (also called Company B and Beauregard Artillery), (accessed 8 Apr 2011) - many men from Edgefield District (County), Laurens District (County), Chesterfield District (County), Lancaster District (County), Charleston District (County), Darlington District (County), Spartanburg District (County), Abbeville District (County) and Calhoun Distirct (County); some men from Memphis, Tennessee and Charlote, North Carolina - Roster


 * Company B - (also called Company E) - Greenville District (County), Anderson District (County), Richland District (County), Columiba area. - Roster


 * Company C - man from various areas of South Carolina, Virginia, and Memphis, Tennessee - Roster


 * Company D - (also known as the Calhoun Light Infantry) - men from various areas of South Carolina, Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee and Georgia - Roster


 * Company E - (also called Company K and Captain Black's Company) - many men from throughout the state, especially the Charleston area - Roster


 * Company F - many men  from throughout the state and Memphis, Tennessee - Roster


 * Company G - many men from throughout the state; Memphis, Tennessee, and Baltimore, Maryland - Roster


 * Company H - many men from the upper part of the state and  a few from Memphis, Tennessee - Roster


 * Company I - many men from throughout the state, especially Anderson District (County); a few from Georgia - Roster


 * Company K - (also known as River's Battery) - many men from throughout the state - Roster


 * Field &Staff

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)


 * Historical Survey on the First South Carolina Infantry (Regulars), by John Christiansen. SouthernGuard.org Internet site, accessed 12/02/2010.


 * SC 1st Infantry Regiment Butler's from The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina. Eastern Digital Resources, accessed 11/15/2010.


 * Historical Survey on the First South Carolina Infantry (Regulars), by John Christiansen. Southern Guard.org Internet site, accessed 12/02/2010.


 * "South Carolina Artillery-Third Artillery Regiment-First S.C. Regulars". South Carolina's Service in the War Between the States, Internet site, accessed 12/02/2010. This website also lists officers of the regiment and companies; and battles the regiment was involved in.


 * Brooks, Ulysses Robert. Butler and his Cavalry in the War of Secession, 1861-1865 (publisher:"Columbia, S.C., The State Co"1909), 591 pages. Digital copies at google.com and Internet Archive. Book at WorldCat.org


 * 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 10 Companies (A-I, K) listed.


 * Lynch, Harriet Powe, ed. Reminiscences &amp; Sketches of Confederate times. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1990). Google Books,, fiche 6082625 (1 fiche).


 * Salley, Alexander Samuel. South Carolina Troops in Confederate Service, Vol 1 (The State Co., Columbia, SC 1913), 783 pages. Volume 1 covers the 3 regiments known as the First Infantry Regiment (Butler's, Gregg's, Hagood's). It includes brief regimental histories, rosters of the various companies, and compiled service records of the members. A total of 4,542 men are detailed. Digital Copy at Google.com


 * 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.