The South Carolina militia units in the American Revolution were established on January 17, 1775 by the South Carolina Provincial Congress. These militia units were subordinate to the South Carolina Council of Safety. Officers were selected by February 1775. In November 1775, the Militia units were renamed regiments. On March 28, 1778, the South Carolina General Assembly consolidated the regiments into four brigades, each led by a Brigadier General.[1]
Militia units
editThe first sixteen militia were established in February 1775. While initially called just militia, they were renamed as regiments in November 1775. When Charlestown fell on May 12, 1780, most of the generals were taken as prisoners by the British and the regiments were left to fend for themselves. Most new regiments were Light Dragoons vice infantry. The known regiments, brigades, and independent units included:[1][2]
| Unit Name | Subordination | Date established | Disbanded | Original Commander, Rank | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Brigade | Council of Safety | March 25, 1778 | May 12, 1780 | Stephen Bull, BG | [3][4] |
| 2nd Brigade | Council of Safety | March 25, 1778 | May 12, 1780 | Richard Richardson, BG | [5][6] |
| 3rd Brigade | Council of Safety | March 25, 1778 | May 12, 1780 | Andrew Williamson, BG | [7][8] |
| 4th Brigade | Council of Safety | March 25, 1778 | May 12, 1780 | Alexander McIntosh, BG | [9] |
| Beaufort District Militia/ Regiment | 1st Brigade (1778–1780) | February 1775 | Stephen Bull, Col | [10][11] | |
| Forks of Saluda District Militia/ Regiment[note 1] | 3rd Brigade | February 1775 | Robert Starke, Col | [12] | |
| Camden District Militia/ Regiment | 2nd Brigade (1778–1780) Col Sumter (backcountry) (1780) |
February 1775 | Richard Richardson, Col | [13][6] | |
| Little River District Militia/ Regiment | 3rd Brigade (1778–1780) | February 1775 | John Lindsay, Col | [14] | |
| Charles Town District Militia/ Regiment | 1st Brigade (1778–1780) | February 1775 | William Moultrie, Col | [15][16] | |
| New Acquisition District Militia/ Regiment | 2nd Brigade (1778–1780) Col Sumter (backcountry) (1780) |
February 1775 | Thomas Neel, Col | [17] | |
| Cheraws District Militia/ Regiment | 4th Brigade (1778–1780) Marion's Brigade (1781) |
February 1775 | George Gabriel Powell, Col | [18] | |
| Upper Saluda District Militia/ Regiment[note 2] | 2nd Brigade | February 1775 | September 1775 | Thomas Fletchall, Col | [19][20] |
| 1st Spartan Regiment | 2nd Brigade (1778–1780) | February 1777 | John Thomas, Sr., Col | [21] | |
| 2nd Spartan Regiment | 2nd Brigade (1778–1780) Col Sumter (backcountry) (1780) |
February 1777 | Thomas Brandon, Col | [22] | |
| Georgetown District Militia/ Regiment | 4th Brigade (1778–1780) | February 1775 | Thomas Screven, Col | [23] | |
| Berkeley County Militia/ Regiment | 1st Brigade (1778–1780) Marion's Brigade (1781) |
February 1775 | Richard Singleton, Col | [24] | |
| Ninety-Six District Militia/ Regiment[note 3] | 3rd Brigade | February 1775 | John Savage, Col | [25] | |
| Upper Ninety-Six Regiment | 3rd Brigade (1778–1780) | March 28, 1778 | Andrew Pickens, Col | [26] | |
| Lower Ninety-Six Regiment | 3rd Brigade (1778–1780) | March 28, 1778 | LeRoy Hammond, Col | [27] | |
| Colleton County Militia/ Regiment | 1st Brigade (1778–1780) | February 1775 | Joseph Glover, Col | [28] | |
| Orangeburgh District Militia/ Regiment | 3rd Brigade (1778–1780) Col Sumter (backcountry) (1780) |
February 1775 | William Thomson, Col | [29] | |
| Craven County Militia/ Regiment[note 4] | Council of Safety | February 1775 | November 1775 | Job Rotmahler, Col | [30] |
| Upper Craven County Regiment | 4th Brigade (1778–1780) Marion's Brigade |
November 1775 | George Hicks, Col | [31] | |
| Lower Craven County Regiment | 4th Brigade (1778–1780) Marion's Brigade (1781) |
November 1775 | Job Rothmahler, Col | [32] | |
| Fairfield Regiment | 2nd Brigade (1778–1780) Col Sumter (backcountry) (1780) |
February 1775 | Joseph Kershaw, Col | [33] | |
| Granville County Militia/ Regiment | 1st Brigade | February 1775 | June 1780 | Benjamin Garden, Col | [34] |
| Upper Granville County Regiment | 2nd Brigade | June 1780 | William Harden, LTC, Col | [35] | |
| Lower Granville County Regiment | 2nd Brigade | June 1780 | William Stafford, LTC | [36] | |
| Kingstree Regiment[note 5] | 4th Brigade (1780) Marion's Brigade (1781) |
December 1779, January 1780 | Archibald McDonald | [37] | |
| Kershaw Regiment | Col Sumter (backcountry) (1780) | June 1780 | James Postell, Col | [38] | |
| Turkey Creek Regiment | Col Sumter (backcountry) (1780) | May 1780 | Edward Lacey, Col | [39] | |
| Polk's Regiment of Light Dragoons | North Carolina's Mecklenburg County Regiment South Carolina State Troops[note 6] |
July 1780 | William Polk, Col | [40][41] | |
| Hampton's Regiment of Light Dragoons | Col Sumter (backcountry) (1780)[note 7] | July 1780 | Henry/Wade Hampton, Col | [42] | |
| Hill's Regiment of Light Dragoons | Col Sumter (backcountry) (1780)[note 8] | July 1780 | William Hill, Col | [43] | |
| 1st Brigade (after fall of Charleston) | Council of Safety | Aug 1780 | Thomas Sumter, Col/BG | [44] | |
| 2nd Brigade (after fall of Charleston) | Council of Safety | Aug 1780 | Francis Marion, Col/BG | [45] | |
| 3rd Brigade (after fall of Charleston) | Council of Safety | July 1781 | Andrew Pickens, BG | [26][46] | |
| Horry's Light Dragoons | 2nd Brigade | February 16, 1781 | Peter Horry, LTC | [47][48][49][50] | |
| Maham's Light Dragoons[note 9] | 2nd Brigade | Mar 1781 | Hezekiah Maham, Maj | [52][53][51] | |
| Hammond's Light Dragoons Regiment | 3rd Brigade[note 10] | April 1781 | Samuel Hammond LTC/Col | [54] | |
| 4th Brigade (after fall of Charleston) | Council of Safety | September 1781 | John Barnwell BG | [55] | |
| Independent Company of Rangers | Independent | 1775 | 1776 | John Bowie, CPT | [56] |
| Independent Company of Rangers | Independent | 1775 | Robert Ellison, CPT | [57] | |
| Independent Company of Rangers | Independent | 1775 | 1776 | Benjamin Tutt, CPT | [58] |
| Independent Company of Rangers | Independent | 1775 | 1780 | Ezekiel Polk, CPT | [59] |
| Indian Field Company | Independent | 1775 | John Fullerton, CPT | [60] | |
| Catawba Indian Company of Rovers | Independent | 1775 | 1776 | Samuel Boykin, CPT | [61] |
| Charles Town Artillery Company | Independent | 1775 | Owen Robert, CPT | [62] | |
| Racoon Company | Independent | 1776 | 1780 | John Allston, CPT | [63] |
| Indian Company of Rovers | Independent | 1776 | John Withers, LT/CPT | [64] | |
| Charles Town Artillery Company | Independent | 1778 | 1780 | Sims White, CPT | [65] |
| Independent Company | Independent | 1781 | 1781 | William Clay Snipes, Maj | [66] |
Notes:
- ^ The Forks of Saluda District Regiment was renamed the Lower District Regiment in November 1775. It was also referred to as the Dutch Forks Regiment
- ^ The Upper Saluda District militia was renamed the Spartan Regiment in September 1775. In November 1775, the Spartan Regiment was split into 1st Spartan Regiment and 2nd Spartan Regiment in February 1777[19][20]
- ^ The Ninety-Six District militia was split into Upper Ninety-Six Regiment and Lower Ninety-Six Regiment on March 28, 1778.
- ^ The Craven County militia was split into Upper Craven County Regiment and Lower Craven County Regiment in November 1775.
- ^ The Kingstree Regiment was established in late 1779 or 1780.
- ^ Polk's Regiment of Light Dragoons was a subset of the North Carolina's Mecklenburg County Regiment of militia until in became part of the South Carolina State troops in April 1781
- ^ Hampton's Regiment of Light Dragoons became part of the South Carolina State Troops in April 1781
- ^ Hill's Regiment of Light Dragoons became part of the South Carolina State Troops in April 1781
- ^ Maham's Light Dragoons became the 3rd Regiment of State Dragoons in October 1781.[51]
- ^ Hammond's Light Dragoons Regiment became part of the South Carolina State Troops in September 1781
Provincial and state units
editFor clarification and comparison purposes, the South Carolina provincial and state troop units are listed below:[67]
| Unit | Date established | Disbanded | Continental Line, Date | Original Commander, Rank | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Regiment (Infantry) | June 6, 1775 | May 12, 1780 | Yes, November 4, 1775 | Christopher Gadsden, Col | [68] |
| 2nd Regiment (Infantry) | June 6, 1775 | May 12, 1780 | Yes, November 4, 1775 | William Moultrie, Col | [69] |
| 3rd Regiment (Rangers) | June 6, 1775 | May 12, 1780 | Yes, July 24, 1776 | William Thomson, LTC | [70] |
| 4th Regiment (Artillery) | November 14, 1775 | May 12, 1780 | Yes, June 18, 1776 | Owen Roberts, LTC | [71] |
| 5th Regiment (Rifles) | February 22, 1776 | Feb. 1780 | Yes, March 25, 1776 | Isaac Huger, Col | [72] |
| 6th Regiment (Rifles) | February 28, 1776 | Feb. 1780 | Yes, March 25, 1776 | Thomas Sumter, LTC | [73] |
| Light Dragoons | February 1779 | May 12, 1780 | No | Daniel Horry, Col | [74] |
| 1st Regiment of State Dragoons | April 1781 | 1783 | No | Wade Hampton, I, Col | [75] |
| 2nd Regiment of State Dragoons | April 1781 | 1783 | No | Charles Myddleton, Col | [76] |
| Hampton's Regiment of Light Dragoons | April 1781 | 1783 | No | Henry Hampton, LTC | [42] |
| Polk's Regiment of Light Dragoons | April 1781 | February 1782 | No | William Polk, LTC | [40][41] |
| Hill's Regiment of Light Dragoons | April 1781 | 1782 | No | William Hill, Col | [43] |
| Hammond's Regiment of Light Dragoons | September 1781 | 1782 | No | Samuel Hammond, Col | [54] |
| 3rd Regiment of State Dragoons | October 1781 | 1783 | No | Hezekiah Maham, LTC | [77] |
| 4th Regiment of State Dragoons | October 1781 | 1782 | No | Peter Horry, LTC | [50] |
See also
edit- South Carolina in the American Revolution
- Southern Campaigns: Pension Transactions for a description of the transcription effort by Will Graves
- Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War
- South Carolina Line: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th Regiments
- List of North Carolina militia units in the American Revolution
- List of United States militia units in the American Revolutionary War
References
edit- ^ a b Lewis, J.D. "South Carolina Militia". carolana.com. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
- ^ Southern Campaigns: Pension Transactions by William Graves
- ^ Lewis, J. D. "First Brigade". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Rowland, Lawrence S. (July 25, 2016). "Stephen Bull". scencyclopedia.org. University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J. D. "2nd Brigade". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ a b Debaney, Kendra (October 25, 2016). "Richard Richardson". scencyclopedia.org. University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
- ^ Lewis, J. D. "3rd Brigade". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Fore, Samuel K. (July 11, 2016). "Andrew Williamson". scencyclopedia.org. University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J. D. "4th Brigade". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J. D. "Beaufort District Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Roland, Lawrence S. (July 25, 2016). "Stephen Bull". scencyclopedia.org. University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J. D. "Forks of Salud District Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J. D. "Camden District Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J. D. "Littler River District Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J. D. "Chrles Town District Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Talbert, Roy Jr. (January 8, 2019). "William Moultrie". scencyclopedia.org. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J. D. "New Acquisition District Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J. D. "Cheraws District Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ a b Lewis, J. D. "Upper Saluda District Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ a b Lewis, J. D. "Upper Spartan Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "1st Spartan Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "1st Spartan Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J. D. "Georgetown District Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J. D. "Berkeley County Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "Ninety Six District Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ a b Fore, Samuel K. (January 11, 2017). "Andrew Pickens". scencyclopedia.org. University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Hamer, Fritz (May 17, 2016). "Leroy Hammond". University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "Colleton County Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "Orangeburgh District Militia". carolana.com. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J. D. "Craven County Regiment". csrolana.com. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "Upper Craven County Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "Lower Craven County Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Downey, Tom (January 17, 2017). "Joseph Kershaw". scencyclopedia.org. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "Granville County Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Fore, Samuel K. (May 17, 2016). "William Harden". scencyclopedia.org. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "Lower Granville County Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "Kingstree Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J. D. "Kershaw Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J. D. "Turkey Creek Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ a b Lewis, J.D. "Polk's Regiment". carolana.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2019. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
- ^ a b McFarland, Daniel M. (1994). "William Polk". NCPedia. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
- ^ a b Lewis, J. D. "Hampton's Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ a b Lewis, J. D. "Hill's Regiment of Light Dragoons". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lockhart, Matthew A. (November 21, 2016). "Thomas Sumter". scencyclopedia.org. University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J. D. "South Carolina's Second Brigade". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J. D. "South Carolina's 3rd Brigade". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "Horrys Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "Peter Horry". carolana.com. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
- ^ Salley, A.S., ed. (April 1, 1937). "South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Peter Horry". Retrieved March 25, 2019.
- ^ a b Talbert, Roy Jr. (September 30, 2016). "Peter Horry". scencyclopedia.org. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ a b Lewis, J.D. "Mahams Light Dragoons". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Fore, Samuel K. (August 2, 2016). "Hezekiah Maham". South Carolina Encyclopedia. University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "The American Revolution in South Carolina, Hezekiah Maham". Retrieved March 25, 2019.
- ^ a b Lewis, J.D. "Hammond's Light Dragoons Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "South Carolina Fourth Brigade". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "Francis Bowie, Captain". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "Robert Ellison, Captain". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "Benjamin Tutt, Captain". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "Ezekiel Polk, Captain". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "John Fullerton, Captain". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "Samuel Boykin, Captain". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "Robert Owen, Captain". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "John Allston, Captain". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "John Withers, Captain". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "Sims White, Captain". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "William Clay Snipes, Major". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "South Carolina in the America Revolution, Provincial and State Troops". Retrieved March 25, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 1st Regiment (Infantry)". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 2nd Regiment (Infantry)". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 3rd Regiment (Rangers)". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 4th Regiment (Artillery)". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 5th Regiment (Rifles)". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 6th Regiment (Rifles)". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "SC Light Dragoons". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "1st Regiment of State Dragoons". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "2nd Regiment of State Dragoons". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "3rd Regiment of State Dragoons". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
Bibliography
edit- Buchanan, John (1997). The Road to Guilford Courthouse: The American Revolution in the Carolinas. New York: Wiley.
- Edgar, Walter (2001). Partisans and Redcoats: The Southern Conflict That Turned the Tide of the American Revolution. New York: Morrow. ISBN 9780380977604.
- Edgar, Walter (2016). "South Carolina Encyclopedia, Revolutionary War". scencyclopedia.org. University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- Graves, William T. (2012). Backcountry Revolutionary James Williams (1740-1780), With Source Documents. Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution Press, Lugoff, South Carolina.
- James, William Dobein (1948). A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis Marion and a History of His Brigade From its Rise in June 1780 until Disbanded in December 1782. Continental Book Company.
- Lossing, Benson J. (1852). The Pictorial Field-Book of The Revolution. Vol. 2. Harper and Brothers.
- McCrady, Edward (1901–1902). The History of South Carolina in the Revolution. 2 vols. New York: Macmillan. ISBN 9780722245897.
- Moultrie, William (1802). Memoirs of the American Revoloution. David Longworth.
- Russel, David Lee (2000). The American Revolution in the Southern Colonies. McFarland. ISBN 9780786407835. Retrieved March 9, 2019.