South Carolina

The exact number of military units which were formed in South Carolina is unknown. Some units changed names and / or were consolidated or reoganized during the war and a few were disbanded without seeing service.

This list contains 190 known discreet units and is based on the inventory made by the National Archives of the various rosters and service records.

The Compendium of Civil War Regiments by Sifakis identifies 171 units, but my list below shows 191 units. I believe this number is pretty accurate.

From the State of South Carolina, the following units were formed for service in the Civil War:
33 regiments, and 2 battalions of infantry
7 regiments and 1 battalion of cavalry
1 regiment, and 1 battalion of heavy artillery
29 batteries of light artillery

The total loss of the Confederate Armies in killed and mortally wounded will never be definitely known, and can be stated only in round numbers. A summing up of the casualties at each battle and minor engagement--using official reports only, and in their absence accepting Confederate estimates- indicates that 94, 000 men were killed or mortally wounded on the Confederate side during the war. Almost one quarter of these men were from South Carolina. An estimated 23,000 were killed in the war, and 18,666 are known and their names listed in Broken Fortunes.

To understand the full meaning of these figures one must keep in mind the sparse population of these States. The "military population" of South Carolina in 1861 was 55,046.

South Carolina lost in killed over 23 per cent of her entire male population. Add to this the loss by disease, and the maimed or crippled for life, and the result becomes extraordinary in its heroic aspect.

This site, and the books we publish are dedicated to telling the stories of these men and their families.