Palmetto (1st Palmetto) Sharpshooters (Jenkins Regiment)
Historical Notes:
The Palmetto Sharpshooters was formed in April of 1862 with approx. 1,100 members. It was also known as Jenkin's Brigade after its Colonel, Micah Jenkins, and as Bratton's Brigade. Crute gives the total number of enrollments at 1,650, indicating that approx. 500 joined later during the war. Crute states that the Palmetto Sharpshooters were formed from the 2nd, 5th, and 9th Infantry Regiments. Rivers however, in his account of the raising of the troops gives the following account:
In some cases the company transferred itself to another regiment; as Co. G, 9th S.C.V., Capt. Jas. L. Coker, became Co. E, of 6th S.C.V.; Co. E, of the 4th S.C.V., became Co. B, of the P.S.S. Out of the 4th, 5th, and 9th S.C.V., a regiment of twelve companies was formed, called the Palmetto Sharp Shooters, Co. A. Capt. John W. Goss; Co. B, Capt. F. W. Kilpatrick; Co. C, Capt. Humphreys: Co. D, Capt. A. H. Foster; Co. E, Capt. Colclough; Co. F, Capt. Jos. E. Lee; Co.
G. Capt. J. N. Withers; Co. H, Capt. J. W. Martin; Co. I, Capt F. Garvin, Co. K, Capt. John H. Evans; Co. L, Capt. John Daniels; Co. M, Capt. F. G. Latham.
The Palmetto Sharpshooters served throughout the war in Virginia and surrendered at Appomattox. The regiment accompanied Longstreet to Knoxville, TN, and then returned to Virginia in the spring of 1864.
The regiment lost 9 killed and 74 wounded at Gaines's Mill, and 68% of the 375 engaged at Frayser's Farm. There were 2 casualties at South Mountain, 65 as Sharpsburg, 4 at Fredericksburg, and 44 as Wauhatchie.
At the surrender at Appomattox, the regiment had 29 commissioned officers,
and 356 enlisted men. James M. M. Fall was Adjutant and A. H. Foster
was Capt. Commanding.
On line site dedicated to the Palmetto Sharpshooters
Officers:
Jenkins, Micah - Colonel
Walker, Joseph - Lieut. Colonel
Anderson, William - Major
McKewn, W. Fordham - Sergeant Major
Assignments:
General R.H. Anderson's, Jenkins', and Bratton's Brigade
Battles:
Williamsburg (4 MAY 1862)
Seven Pines (31 MAY - 1 JUN 1862)
Seven Days Battles VA (25 JUN - 1 JUL 1862)
Gaines Mill VA (27 JUN 1862)
Frayser's Farm VA (30 JUN 1862)
2nd Manassas VA (28 - 30 AUG 1862)
South Mountain VA (14 SEP 1862)
Sharpsburg, VA (17 SEP 1862)
Fredericksburg VA (13 DEC 1862)
Wauhatchie (28 - 29 OCT) 1863
Knoxville Siege GA (NOV - DEC 1863)
The Wilderness VA (5 - 6 MAY 1864)
Spotsylvania Court House VA (8 - 21 MAY 1864)
North Anna VA (23 - 26 MAY 1864)
Cold Harbor VA (1 - 3 JUN 1864)
Petersburg Siege VA (JUN 1864 - APR 1865)
2nd Fort Harrison VA (30 SEP 1864)
Williamsburg Road (27 OCT 1864)
Appomattox Court House VA (9 APR 1865)
Roster:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 1858 men.
Company A (also known as the Johnson Rifles) - Union District (County); a few men from York District (County)
Company B (also known as the Calhoun Mountaineers) - Pickens District (area now in Oconee County); a few men from Anderson District (County)
Company C (also known as the Palmetto Riflemen) - Anderson District (County)
Company D (also known as the Morgan Light Infantry) - Spartanburg and Union Districts (Counties)
Company E (also known as the Darlington Sentinels) - Darlington, Sumter, Clarindon and Williamsburg Districts (Counties)
Company F (also known as the Pickens Sentinels) - Lexington District (County)
Company G (also known as the Jasper Light Infantry) - York District (County) and North Carolina
Company H (also known as the Cowpens Guards) -Spartanburg District (County)
Company I (also known as the Pickens Guards) - Pickens District (County); a few men from Anderson, Laurens, Greenville Districts (Counties)
Company K (also known as the Spartan Rifles) - Spartanburg District (County)
Company L (also known as the Confederate Guards) - Anderson District (County); a few men from Laurens and Pickens Districts (Counties)
Company M (also known as the Pacolet Guards) - Spartanburg and Union Districts (Counties)
Bibliography for Research:
In some cases the company transferred itself to another regiment; as Co. G, 9th S.C.V., Capt. Jas. L. Coker, became Co. E, of 6th S.C.V.; Co. E, of the 4th S.C.V., became Co. B, of the P.S.S. Out of the 4th, 5th, and 9th S.C.V., a regiment of twelve companies was formed, called the Palmetto Sharp Shooters, Co. A. Capt. John W. Goss; Co. B, Capt. F. W. Kilpatrick; Co. C, Capt. Humphreys: Co. D, Capt. A. H. Foster; Co. E, Capt. Colclough; Co. F, Capt. Jos. E. Lee; Co. G. Capt. J. N. Withers; Co. H, Capt. J. W. Martin; Co. I, Capt F. Garvin, Co. K, Capt. John H. Evans; Co. L, Capt. John Daniels; Co. M, Capt. F. G. Latham.
The Palmetto Sharpshooters served throughout the war in Virginia and surrendered at Appomattox. The regiment accompanied Longstreet to Knoxville, TN, and then returned to Virginia in the spring of 1864.
The regiment lost 9 killed and 74 wounded at Gaines's Mill, and 68% of the 375 engaged at Frayser's Farm. There were 2 casualties at South Mountain, 65 as Sharpsburg, 4 at Fredericksburg, and 44 as Wauhatchie.
At the surrender at Appomattox, the regiment had 29 commissioned officers, and 356 enlisted men. James M. M. Fall was Adjutant and A. H. Foster was Capt. Commanding.
On line site dedicated to the Palmetto Sharpshooters
Walker, Joseph - Lieut. Colonel
Anderson, William - Major
McKewn, W. Fordham - Sergeant Major
Seven Pines (31 MAY - 1 JUN 1862)
Seven Days Battles VA (25 JUN - 1 JUL 1862)
Gaines Mill VA (27 JUN 1862)
Frayser's Farm VA (30 JUN 1862)
2nd Manassas VA (28 - 30 AUG 1862)
South Mountain VA (14 SEP 1862)
Sharpsburg, VA (17 SEP 1862)
Fredericksburg VA (13 DEC 1862)
Wauhatchie (28 - 29 OCT) 1863
Knoxville Siege GA (NOV - DEC 1863)
The Wilderness VA (5 - 6 MAY 1864)
Spotsylvania Court House VA (8 - 21 MAY 1864)
North Anna VA (23 - 26 MAY 1864)
Cold Harbor VA (1 - 3 JUN 1864)
Petersburg Siege VA (JUN 1864 - APR 1865)
2nd Fort Harrison VA (30 SEP 1864)
Williamsburg Road (27 OCT 1864)
Appomattox Court House VA (9 APR 1865)