Hampton Legion, South Carolina

United States   U.S. Military    South Carolina    South Carolina Military    South Carolina in the Civil War    South Carolina Civil War Confederate Units H through M      Hampton Legion, South Carolina

Brief History
In April 1861, Confederate President Jefferson Davis wanted to raise a "legion of honor". Wade Hampton was authorized to create a legion, which would include six companies of infantry, four companies of cavalry, and a company of artillery. By May 1861, Hampton had completed the organizing of the legion and it became known as Hampton Legion, South Carolina. After the initial enlistment of one year, Hampton Legion separated into different units.

The cavalry battalion fought in the Seven Days' Battles and in the summer of 1862 merged into the 2nd Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry. The artillery units attached to other units or became independent military units. The infantry battalion kept the name Infantry Battalion, Hampton Legion, South Carolina Volunteers. It received more companies and by November 1862 it became the Infantry Regiment, Hampton Legion. This unit was active at First Manassas and later was assigned to W. Hampton's, Hood's, and Jenkins' Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. It was involved in various conflicts from Seven Pines to Sharpsburg, moved to North Carolina, then served with Longstreet at Chickamauga and Knoxville. In May, 1864, the unit was reorganized, mounted, and called the Hampton Legion Cavalry and Mounted Infantry.



Units in this Legion 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.


 * Artillery Battalion, Hampton Legion, South Carolina
 * Cavalry Battalion, Hampton Legion, South Carolinna
 * Infantry Regiment, Hampton Legion, South Carolina

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).


 * Logan, Thomas Muldrup Oration delivered by Gen. T.M. Logan, at the reunion of the Hampton Legion : in Columbia, S.C., 21st July, 1875.  (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1990).  Available online at Internet Archive, (accessed 15 Apr 2011).  Also available at the Family History Library,.


 * 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.