South Carolina 7th Reserves 90 days 1862-63 (Infantry)
Historical Notes:
The South Carolina 7th Infantry Regiment Reserves was formed in the spring of 1862 as a “90 days unit.” The following narrative by Col. Rivers describes the organization of this unit.
“In the Governor’s call for the additional forces it was declared that no other companies, battalions, or regiments would be received until this force of 8,000? had been raised. In a short time there were forty-three companies, instead of thirty, at the camps of instruction. From these the 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th regiments were formed.
The 18th and 19th were called into requisition; also the 3d Brigade Infantry, and 2d Brigade Cavalry; and there was formed in Charleston a regiment of reserves embracing nearly all the citizens not enlisted in the war.
On the 2d February, the Secretary of War called on the State to fill up its quota of troops “for the war;” the requisition, six percent of the white population, being estimated at 18,000 men, including those already enlisted. Five additional regiments were called for at once. To complete the requisition and establish a class of reserves for future calls, the Executive Council issued an order for the enrollment of all whites between eighteen and fort-five years of age, and for conscription after 20th March. There was no necessity for conscription. The small number of our young men not already enlisted rushed to arms. The institutions of learning throughout the State were deserted. By the 28th April, the five regiments had been furnished, and the quota of the State exceeded by 4,064 men.
It was estimated that the number of men contributed by the State up to this time to Confederate service exceeded forty-five thousand; and several hundred were lost to the accredited quota of the State by joining the troops of other States. There were also ten regiments of reserves organized, numbering about 8,000 men, between thirty-five and fifty years of age, commanded by Cols. Elford, Sloan, Bacon, Secrest, Wilson, Witherspoon, Williams, Baxter, J. J. Ryan.”
Officers:
Colonel:
Wilson, William Blackburn
Lieutenant Colonel:
Tolleson, J.B.
Major:
McJunkin, William Sartor
2nd Lieutenant:
Pimm, Joseph
Quartermaster:
Johnson (Johnston), David
Culp, B.D.
Chaplain:
Duncan, W.W.
Adjutant:
Kennedy, Benjamin
Surgeon:
Lindsey, J. F.
Assignments:
duty in the Charleston area.
Battles:
Carolinas Campaign SC (FEB - APR 1865)
Bentonville NC (19 - 21 MAR 1865)
Roster:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 827 men.
Company A - Captain Joel Ballenger - Spartanburg District
Company B - Captain J. M. Caldwell - Richland District
Company C - Captain J. E. Cleary - District
Company D - Captain W. M. Grisham - District
Company E - Captain Charles W. Scott - District
Company F - Captain Robert A. Black - York District
Company G - Captain J. J. McDowell - District
Company H - Captain John McCulloch - Spartanburg District
Company I - Captain J. S. Dawson - District
Company K - Captain W. G. Hughes, Sr. - District
Company L - Captain J. H. Van Dike- District
Company M - Captain Clough H. Maybry - District
Bibliography for Research:
“In the Governor’s call for the additional forces it was declared that no other companies, battalions, or regiments would be received until this force of 8,000? had been raised. In a short time there were forty-three companies, instead of thirty, at the camps of instruction. From these the 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th regiments were formed.
The 18th and 19th were called into requisition; also the 3d Brigade Infantry, and 2d Brigade Cavalry; and there was formed in Charleston a regiment of reserves embracing nearly all the citizens not enlisted in the war.
On the 2d February, the Secretary of War called on the State to fill up its quota of troops “for the war;” the requisition, six percent of the white population, being estimated at 18,000 men, including those already enlisted. Five additional regiments were called for at once. To complete the requisition and establish a class of reserves for future calls, the Executive Council issued an order for the enrollment of all whites between eighteen and fort-five years of age, and for conscription after 20th March. There was no necessity for conscription. The small number of our young men not already enlisted rushed to arms. The institutions of learning throughout the State were deserted. By the 28th April, the five regiments had been furnished, and the quota of the State exceeded by 4,064 men.
It was estimated that the number of men contributed by the State up to this time to Confederate service exceeded forty-five thousand; and several hundred were lost to the accredited quota of the State by joining the troops of other States. There were also ten regiments of reserves organized, numbering about 8,000 men, between thirty-five and fifty years of age, commanded by Cols. Elford, Sloan, Bacon, Secrest, Wilson, Witherspoon, Williams, Baxter, J. J. Ryan.”
Wilson, William Blackburn
Lieutenant Colonel:
Tolleson, J.B.
Major:
McJunkin, William Sartor
2nd Lieutenant:
Pimm, Joseph
Quartermaster:
Johnson (Johnston), David
Culp, B.D.
Chaplain:
Duncan, W.W.
Adjutant:
Kennedy, Benjamin
Surgeon:
Lindsey, J. F.
Bentonville NC (19 - 21 MAR 1865)
Company A - Captain Joel Ballenger - Spartanburg District
Company B - Captain J. M. Caldwell - Richland District
Company C - Captain J. E. Cleary - District
Company D - Captain W. M. Grisham - District
Company E - Captain Charles W. Scott - District
Company F - Captain Robert A. Black - York District
Company G - Captain J. J. McDowell - District
Company H - Captain John McCulloch - Spartanburg District
Company I - Captain J. S. Dawson - District
Company K - Captain W. G. Hughes, Sr. - District
Company L - Captain J. H. Van Dike- District
Company M - Captain Clough H. Maybry - District