Holcombe Legion Cavalry Battalion

Historical Notes:
The Holcombe Legion, South Carolina was organized November 21, 1861. The Holcombe Legion organized with a cavalry and infantry battalion but no artillery companies. The four-company cavalry battalion served for a time with the legion but was assigned to the Department of Richmond, and eventually became part of the 7th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry on March 18, 1864. The infantry battalion was formed with eight companies, later increased to ten. During the war it was attached to Evans', Elliot's, and Wallace's Brigade. A portion of Holcombe Legion was present at the surrender on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia Officers:
Colonels:
• Alexander C. Haskell
• William Pinkney Shingler - Colonel May 30, 1864
Lieutenant Colonel:
• Isaac G. McKissic
Major:
• E.M. Boykin
Assistant Surgeon:
• Muldrow, Robt. M. - AS Rel June 24/ 64
Assistant Commissary Sergeant:
• Bryan, W. H. - A.C.S.
• Dinkins, ?. W. -
Adjutant:
• Wardlaw, S. W. - Adjt.
• Chamlers, E. P. Adjt.
• Blackburn, J.D. ??????
Assignments:
As Holcombe’s Legion:
3rd Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida (May-June 1862)
2nd Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida (June-July 1862)
Unattached, Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia (September - December 1862)
Wise's Brigade, Elzey's Command, Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia (December 1862 - April 1863)
Wise's Brigade, Department of Richmond (April - September 1863)
Hunton's Brigade, Department of Richmond (September 1863 - March 1864)
The South Carolina 7th Cavalry Regiment was organized by the increase in the Calvary Battalion of the Holcombe Legion to a regiment on March 18, 1864, per S.O. #65, Adjutant and Inspector's General's Office.
Battles:
As part of Holcombe's Legion:
Edisto Island, SC – March 29, 1862.
Seven Pines, Virginia (May 31, 1862)

As part of the SC 7th Cavalry:

Petersburg Siege, Virginia (June 1864 - April 1865)
New Market Heights, Virginia (29 September 1864)
Ropers' Farm, Virginia (30 September 1864)
Sayler's Creek, Virginia (6 April 1865)
Appomattox Court House, Virginia (9 April 1865)
Roster:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 939 men.

Company A (also known as the Claremont Cavalry) - Sumter and Clarendon Districts (Counties); a few men from Chesterfield District (County)

Company B (also known as the Congaree Mounted Guard, Congaree Mounted Riflemen and the Congaree Cavaliers) - Richfield, Fairfiled, Sumter and Lexington Districts (Counties); a few men from Union, York, Chester and Newberry Districts (Counties)

Company C (also known as the Newberry Rangers) - Newberry, Laurens and Edgefield Districts (Counties); a few men from Union District (County)

Company D (also known as the McKissick Rangers) - Union, York, Newberry and Chester Districts (Counties); a few men rom Spartanburg and Greenville Districts (Counties)

Company E (also known as the Kirkwood Rangers, the Kirkwood Cavalry, and the Kirkwoods; it may have also been called the Camden Rangers) - Kershaw (Camden area) and Chesterfield Districts (Counties); a few men came from Darlington, Charleston, Fairfield, Sumter and Richland Districts (Counties)

Bibliography for Research: