South Carolina 3rd Cavalry Regiment
Historical Notes:
In Rivers account of "The Raising of the Troops for Confederate Service" he states that in August of 1862, the 3rd Cavalry Battalion was made up of 320 men and that "ten companies of the preceeding list" were then combined under Col. Colcock to form the 3rd Cavalry Regiment. He does not identify what ten companies were combined, but we can assume the regiment was full force of a thousand men or more.
Crute states that the men of this unit were from Marion, Colleton, Beaufort, Barnwell, and Calhoun counties and included men of the 8th Cavalry Regiment.
The unit was assigned to the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and confronted the Federals in various conflicts in South Carolina. Much of the time it did not serve as one command but in detachments of one, two, five, or six companies. One detachment was involved in the defense of Savannah, then the regiment saw action in the campaign of the Carolinas. It surrendered with the Army of Tennessee.
Officers:
Colonel:
Charles J. Colcock
Lieutenant Colonel:
Thomas J. Johnson
Major:
John Jenkins
Staff:
Thomas Hutson Colcock (Lt.Adj.)
Thomas Corde (Capt.)
T.M. Hutson (Surg.)
N.F. Kirkland (Asst. Surg.)
A.W. Lourey (Capt.)
J.G. Williams (Chap.)
Assignments:
3rd Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida (July 1862 – July 1864)
2nd Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida (Company I] (March – November 1863)
1st Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida [Company K] (March – May 1863)
6th Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida [Company I] {December 1863 – May 1864)
McLaws’ Division, Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida (July 1864 – January 1865)
Robertson’s Brigade, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida [Company B] (November 1864)
Harrison’s Command. Taliaferro’s Brigade, Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida [Company B] (December 1864)
Jenkins’ Command, Taliaferro’s Brigade, Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida [Companies I & K] (December 1864)
Chesnut’s Command, Taliaferro’s Brigade, department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida [Companies C & E} {December 1864)
Source: Compendium of the Confederate Armies. Stewart Sifakis. New York. Facts on File.
Battles:
10/22-10/23-62 Coosawhatchie
6/4/63 Expedition to Bluffton
12/28/63 John’s Island
08/17/64 South Newport
11/30/64 Honey Hill
11/12/64 The Siege of Savannah
1/1/65 The Carolinas’ Campaign
4/26/65 Bentonville.
Roster:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 2082 men.
Company A. - Marion County. Men of Combahee
Company B. - Colleton County. Colleton Rangers
Company C. - Beaufort County. Beaufort District Troop
Company D - Barnwell County. Barnwell Dragoons
Company E – Hampton County. Calhoun Mounted Men
Company F. - Barnwell/Hampton County. St. Peter’s Guards
Company G. – Charleston County. German Hussars
Company H. – Charleston County. Ashley Dragoons
Company I. – Colleton County/Sea Islands. Rebel Troop
Company K. – Barnwell County. Savannah River Guards
Bibliography for Research:
Crute states that the men of this unit were from Marion, Colleton, Beaufort, Barnwell, and Calhoun counties and included men of the 8th Cavalry Regiment.
The unit was assigned to the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and confronted the Federals in various conflicts in South Carolina. Much of the time it did not serve as one command but in detachments of one, two, five, or six companies. One detachment was involved in the defense of Savannah, then the regiment saw action in the campaign of the Carolinas. It surrendered with the Army of Tennessee.
Charles J. Colcock
Lieutenant Colonel:
Thomas J. Johnson
Major:
John Jenkins
Staff:
Thomas Hutson Colcock (Lt.Adj.) Thomas Corde (Capt.) T.M. Hutson (Surg.) N.F. Kirkland (Asst. Surg.) A.W. Lourey (Capt.) J.G. Williams (Chap.)
2nd Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida (Company I] (March – November 1863)
1st Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida [Company K] (March – May 1863)
6th Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida [Company I] {December 1863 – May 1864)
McLaws’ Division, Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida (July 1864 – January 1865)
Robertson’s Brigade, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida [Company B] (November 1864)
Harrison’s Command. Taliaferro’s Brigade, Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida [Company B] (December 1864)
Jenkins’ Command, Taliaferro’s Brigade, Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida [Companies I & K] (December 1864)
Chesnut’s Command, Taliaferro’s Brigade, department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida [Companies C & E} {December 1864)
Source: Compendium of the Confederate Armies. Stewart Sifakis. New York. Facts on File.
6/4/63 Expedition to Bluffton
12/28/63 John’s Island
08/17/64 South Newport
11/30/64 Honey Hill
11/12/64 The Siege of Savannah
1/1/65 The Carolinas’ Campaign
4/26/65 Bentonville.
Company A. - Marion County. Men of Combahee
Company B. - Colleton County. Colleton Rangers
Company C. - Beaufort County. Beaufort District Troop
Company D - Barnwell County. Barnwell Dragoons
Company E – Hampton County. Calhoun Mounted Men
Company F. - Barnwell/Hampton County. St. Peter’s Guards
Company G. – Charleston County. German Hussars
Company H. – Charleston County. Ashley Dragoons
Company I. – Colleton County/Sea Islands. Rebel Troop
Company K. – Barnwell County. Savannah River Guards