4th Battalion, South Carolina Cavalry

United States   U.S. Military    South Carolina    South Carolina Military    South Carolina in the Civil War    South Carolina Civil War Confederate Units 1st through 4th      4th Battalion, South Carolina Cavalry

Brief History
The 2nd Cavalry Regiment was organized during the summer of 1862 by consolidating the 4th South Carolina Cavalry Battalion and the Cavalry Battalion of Hampton's South Carolina Legion. In May, 1864, the Infantry Battalion of Hampton's South Carolina Legion was mounted and united with the 2nd Cavalry. It was then redesignated the Hampton South Carolina Cavalry Legion. This battalion was also called "the Richland Cavalry".

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.

The service records of soldiers on Footnote.com state: "The Battalion was mustered in the field as the 3d Battalion South Carolina Cavalry but was officially designated as the 4th Battalion South Carolina Cavalry in August 22, 1862. It was consolidated with the Cavalry Battalion of the Hampton Legion and two independent companies and formed the 2d Regiment South Carolina Cavalry."

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.


 * A Company: Captain w.K. Easley; Captain John Westfield; F Company 2nd SC Cavalry Regiment.
 * B Company: Captain Frank Hampton
 * C Company: Captain A.H. Dean; Captain George B. Dean; E Company 2nd SC Cavalry Regiment
 * D Company, Wassamassaw Cavalry: Captain J.C. McKewn; D Company 2nd SC Cavalry Regiment. Assignment: James Island, May - June 1862.
 * E Company
 * F Company
 * G Company
 * H Company, Catawba Rangers: Captain James D. McCutcheon; Captain William J. McIlwain; Captain John C. Foster; organized on 28 Dec 1861; reorganized on 6 August 1862.

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).
 * 4th Cavalry Battalion. The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina. Eastern Digital Resources an Internet site, accessed 12/01/2010. Lists a very brief regiment history.
 * 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, and dates involving the company and places where they were stationed. There are 4 Companies (A-D) listed. Also a John H. Howard's Company was listed.