The 3rd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment
By: Mac Wyckoff
E-mail: mwyckoff@erols.com
The 3rd South Carolina suffered under poor leadership at the regiment and company level during the first year of the war. However, at the reorganization on May 13, 1862 the men elected James Drayton Nance as their colonel. They also elected younger and more aggressive men as their other officers at both regiment and company level. Nance, a graduate of The South Carolina Military School (now called The Citadel), brought discipline and improved the efficiency and morale of the men. Under Nance's leadership, the regiment developed into one of the real elite units of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. They paid a high price in casualties. A shocking 45 percent of the men did not survive the war with another 697 surviving one or more wounds. Few, in any, regiments of either side suffered more losses.
The unit was among the ten regiments organized under the direction of Governor Pickens in early 1861 as a result of act passed by the South Carolina General Assembly on December 17, 1860. The regiment was activated on April 13, 1861 and ordered to rendezvous in Columbia as quickly as possible. By April 17th, all twelve companies had arrived in Columbia. The regiment was mustered into Confederate service while at Columbia on June 6, 1861. Since Confederate regulations allowed for only ten companies, two companies joined other regiments. The regiment departed for Virginia on June 15, 1861.
The men elected James Henderson Williams as their colonel even though he was in Arkansas, He was highly respected and had military experience in both the Seminole and Mexican wars, but did not join the regiment until May 1st. A lack of testimony by the soldiers either for or against Williams makes it hard to evaluate his performance. However, a letter of April 17, 1862 from Adjutant William D. Rutherford to his brother-in-law Captain James D. Nance indicates that the regiment had serious morale problems and lacked leadership at the company. The elevation of Nance to colonel and the new leadership at the company level led to drastic improvements. Heavy losses in the regimental and company command structure during the middle and later part of the war finally caught with the unit. The death of Nance at the Wilderness on May 6, 1864 led to a rapid decline in the efficiency level.
The regiment underwent a consolidation with the 3rd South Carolina Battalion and 8th South Carolina on April 9, 1865, the day that General Lee surrendered his army at Appomattox. The regiment surrendered with general Joseph Johnston at the Bennett House near Durham, North Carolina on April 26, 1865 and the survivors were given paroles on May 2, 1865 at Greensboro, North Carolina.
ENGAGEMENTS:
Mitchell's Ford, VA, July 18,
1861
1st Manassas, VA, July 21, 1861
Held Yorktown Line, VA,
Mid-April- May 3, 1862
Williamsburg, VA, May 4-5, 1862
Skirmish
near Fair Oaks, VA, June 18, 1862
Savage Station, VA, June 29, 1862
Malvern Hill, VA, July 1, 1862
Maryland Heights, MD, September
12-13, 1862
Antietam, MD, September 17, 1862
Fredericksburg, VA,
December 11-15, 1862
Chancellorsville, VA, May 1-5, 1863
Gettysburg, PA, July 2-3, 1863
Chickamauga, GA, September 20,
1863
Campbell Station, TN, November 16, 1863
Knoxville, TN,
November 17-18, 1863
Fort Sanders, TN, November 29, 1863
Bean
Station, TN, December 14, 1863
Wilderness, VA, May 6-7, 1864
Spotsylvania, VA, May 8-21, 1864
North Anna, VA, May 23-25,
1864
Cold Harbor, June 1-12, 1864
Petersburg, VA, June 18,
1864
Deep Bottom, VA, July 27-28, 1864
Charlestown, WV, August
26, 1864
Berryville, VA, September 13, 1864
Hupp's Hill, VA,
October 13, 1864
Cedar Creek, VA, October 19, 1864
Held
Salkehatchie Line, January-February, 1865
Averasboro, NC, March 16, 1865
Bentonville, NC, March 19-21, 1865
ENROLLMENT AND CASUALTIES
Documents in the
19th century were poorly kept and many have not survived. What remains are
partial, often conflicting or ambiguous, and sometimes incorrect records.
Enrollment-1343, plus some who served in the regiment after the
consolidation of the regiments of Kershaw's Brigade on April 9, 1865 and some
bogus names in the Compiled Service Records at The National Archives.
Killed or Mortally Wounded in Action- 298
Died of Disease or
Accident-298
Wounded (many more than
once)-697
ORGANIZATION
Colonels
James Henderson
Williams-Elected April 13, 1861, Resigned at reorganization May 13,
1862.
James Drayton Nance -Elected at reorganization May 13, 1862. Killed
at Wilderness May 6, 1864.
William Drayton Rutherford -Promoted May 6,
1864. Killed at Hupp's Hill October 13, 1864. No one promoted to colonel.
Rutherford Todd was promoted to lieutenant colonel and commanded regiment from
October 13, 1864 through April 9, 1865.
Eli Thomas Stackhouse- He
commanded the 8th South Carolina. At the consolidation of the 3rd, 8th, and 3rd
South Carolina Battalion on April 9, 1865, he took command of 3rd South
Carolina. Paroled at Greensboro May 2, 1865.
Lieutenant
Colonels
Barham Bobo Foster-Elected April 13, 1861. Resigned March 1,
1862, health having "completely given away."
Benjamin Conway Garlington
-Elected at reorganization May 13, 1862. No record of who held this office
between March 1 and May 13, 1862. Killed at Savage Station June 29, 1862.
William Drayton Rutherford-Promoted July 1, 1862. Promoted to colonel
May 6, 1864. Robert Clayton Maffett-Promoted May 6, 1864. Captured at Halltown
August 26, 1864. Died at Ft. Delaware Prison April 26, 1865, the day that
General Johnston surrendered. Rutherford Pressley Todd- Promoted October 13,
1864. Paroled at Greensboro May 2, 1865. Apparently no one filled this position
except on at acting basis until Todd was promoted on October 13th.
Majors
James M. Baxter-Elected April 13, 1861. Promoted lieutenant colonel
March 1, 1862. Benjamin Conway Garlington-Promoted March 1, 1862. Elected
lieutenant colonel at reorganization May 13, 1862.
William Drayton
Rutherford-Elected at reorganization May 13, 1862. Promoted to lieutenant
colonel July 1, 1862.
Robert Clayton Maffett -Promoted July 1, 1862.
Promoted to lieutenant colonel May 6, 1864. Rutherford Pressley Todd-Promoted
May 6, 1864. Promoted to lieutenant colonel October 13, 1864. Jonathan King
Griffin Nance-Promoted October 13, 1864. Paroled Greensboro May 2,
1865.
Adjutants
William Drayton Rutherford-Elected April 13,
1861. Elected major at reorganization on May 13, 1862.
Young John Pope
-Promoted May 16, 1862.
Quartermasters-
John J. McGowan. Elected
April 13, 1861. Resigned at reorganization May 13, 1862. George Washington
Shell-Appointed May 27, 1862. Promoted division quartermaster in 1863, exact
date unstated.
No record of who replaced Shell.
Commissaries
Hunt, J. Hamilton-Elected April 13, 1861. Resigned at reorganization May
13, 1862.
Rufus N. Lowrance-Promoted June 1, 1862. No record of when he
departed.
Henry Drayton Shell-Detailed June 22, 1863. Promoted assistant
surgeon between March 19 and May 21, 1864.
No record of who replaced
Shell.
Surgeons
David Edwards (Edmunds) Ewart-Elected April 13,
1862. Tendered his resignation July 1, 1862. Failling health. Resigned March 18,
1863.
George G. Farnandis-Appointed January 13, 1863. Apparently
departed by April 1, 1863.
James Evans-Promoted April 1, 1863. Paroled
Greensboro on May 2, 1865.
Assistant Surgeons
Jonathan Francis
Dorroh-Elected April 13, 1861. Resigned August 1, 1862.
James
Evans-Acting since August 1, 1862, but not commissioned until October 1, 1862.
Promoted Surgeon April 1, 1863.
G.W. Hunter-Appointed July 15, 1862.
Sick or on furlough most of the time. Listed as AWOL December 13, 1862. No
further record on him.
Thomas Chapman Brown-Promoted January 27, 1864.
Paroled Greensboro May 2, 1865.
Henry Drayton Shell-promoted between
March 19 and May 21, 1864.
The above information on assistant surgeons
is a good example of confusing Civil War records.
Chaplain
W. D.
Mayfield-Elected April 13, 1861. Resigned May 15, 1862.
No record of who
replaced him.
COMPANIES
Company A
State Guards
This company was enrolled on April 14, 1861 at Laurens and mustered into
Confederate service on June 6, 1861. There is no record of what happened to this
company at the consolidation on April 9, 1865 except that Company B and C had
combined to form a new Company A commanded by Captain Thomas West Gary. The men
came from the Laurens District.
Captains
Benjamin Conway
Garlington-Elected April 13, 1861 Promoted major March 1, 1862.
William
Wood Hance-Elected at the reorganization May 13, 1862. Mortally wounded at
Fredericksburg December 13, 1862. Died January 6, 1863.
Robert E.
Richardson-Promoted January 1, 1863. He was severely wounded at Chickamauga on
September 20, 1863 and hospitalized. He was listed as AWOL on February 29, 1864,
but present on June 30, 1864.
Thomas West Gary-He was captain of Company
B who took over command of Company A at the consolidation on April 9, 1865.
Paroled at Greensboro May 2, 1865.
Company B, Williams Guards
This company was enrolled for service at Newberry on April 13, 1861 and
mustered into Confederate service on June 6, 1861. Consolidated with Company C
to form Company A on April 9, 1865. The men came from the Newberry
District.
Captains
Samuel Newton Davidson-Elected April 14, 1861.
Died of typhoid fever on June 13, 1862. Thomas West Gary-Promoted June 13, 1862.
He took over command of new Company A, the combined old Company B and Company C
at the consolidation on April 9, 1865. He was paroled at Greenboro on May 2,
1865.
Company C, Pickens Guards
This company was enrolled at Fog
Level, now Prosperity, on April 14, 1861 and mustered into Confederate service
on June 6, 1861. Consolidated with Company B to form Company A on April 9, 1865.
At the same time, the men of old Company E became new Company C. The men came
from the Newberry and what is now Prosperity areas.
Captains
Robert Clayton Maffett-Elected April 14, 1861.Promoted to major July 1,
1862.
Chesley W. Herbert -Promoted July 1, 1862. He was slightly wounded
in the left knee at Gettysburg on Jul 2, 1863 and in the same knee seriously at
Wilderness 6, 1864 disabled him for life. He wasn't discharged until February
24, 1865 but it appears that he never returned to company command after May 6,
1864.
John Caldwell Wilson-June 30, 1864 role shows him in command of
the company.
Company D, Cross Anchors
This company was enrolled
at Cross Anchor on April 14, 1861 and mustered into Confederate service on June
6, 1861. Was assigned as a new Company K at the consolidation on April 9, 1865.
On the same day, the previous Company K combined with Company G became the new
Company D. The men came from the Union and Spartanburg
Districts.
Captains
Thomas Barker Ferguson-Elected April 14,
1861. Resigned at the reorganization on May 13, 1862.
F.N.
Walker-Elected at reorganization on May 13, 1862. Severely wounded in arm during
skirmish near Fair Oaks on June 18, 1862 and disabled. It does not appear that
he returned to command the company. The records do not show anyone replacing
him.
John W. Watts-Commanded the new Company D that was formed at the
consolidation on April 9, 1865.
Company E, Quitman Rifles
This
company was enrolled at Newberry on April 14, 1861 and mustered into Confederate
service on June 6, 1861. The company became the new Company C at the
consolidation on April 9, 1865. Captain Burnside of the 3rd South Carolina
Battalion in command of the new Company E. The men came from the Newberry
District.
Captains
James Drayton Nance-Elected April 14, 1861.
Elected colonel at the reorganization on May 13, 1862.
John King Griffin
Nance-Elected at the reorganization on May 13, 1862. Promoted major October 13,
1864.
No record of who commanded the company until the consolidation on
April 9, 1865.
Allen W. Burnside-He was promoted to captain of a company
in the 3rd South Carolina Battalion on July 28, 1864 and took command of Company
E at the consolidation on April 9, 1865. He originally served in the Company G
of the 3rd South Carolina before transferring to the 3rd South Carolina
Battalion. Interestingly, he was the cousin of Union General Ambrose
Burnside.
Company F, Unknown name
This company was enrolled at
Boyd's Old Field in the Laurens District on April 14, 1861 and mustered into
Confederate service on June 6, 1861. At the consolidation on April 9, 1865, the
remnants of this command were placed into other companies and a new company was
formed from men in the 3rd South Carolina Battalion. The men came from the
Newberry and Laurens Districts.
Captains
Tandy Walker-Elected
April 14, 1861. Resigned September 11, 1861.
Homes Leonidas
McGowan-Promoted September 4, 1861. He was severely wounded at Savage Station on
June 29, 1862 and it appears he did not return to command. He resigned prior to
December 31, 1862.
Washington Albert "Puts" Williams-Promoted December
11, 1862. Killed at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863.
John B.
O'Neal-Promoted October 7, 1863 to rank from September 20, 1863 even though he
had a leg amputated at Gettysburg where he was captured and died on July 15,
1863!!
No record of who commanded the company after Captain Williams'
death on September 20, 1863. Wesley W. Pitts-Became captain of the new Company F
at the consolidation on April 9, 1865.
Company G, Laurens Briars
This company was enrolled at Laurens on April 14, 1861 and was mustered
into Confederate service on June 6, 1861. Combined with Company K to form a new
Company D during the consolidation on April 9, 1865. Captain B.A. Rogers of
Company K of the 8th South Carolina took command of the new Company G. The men
came from the Laurens area.
Captains
Rutherford Pressley Todd
-Elected on April 14, 1861. Promoted May 6, 1864.
John W. Watts-Promoted
May 6, 1864. Took command of the new Company D that was formed during the
Consolidation on April 9, 1865.
B.A. Rogers-A Captain in the 8th South
Carolina took command at the consolidation on April 9, 1865.
Company H,
Unknown name
This company was enrolled at Dutch Fork on April 14, 1861
and mustered into Confederate service on June 6, 1861. There is no record of
what happened to this company during the consolidation on April 9, 1865 except
it was commanded by 1st Lieutenant David Copeland of Company I. The men came
from the Dutch Fork area of Newberry District and the Lexington
District.
Captains
Drury Nunamaker-Elected April 14, 1861.
Resigned at the reorganization on May 13, 1862.
John Calhoun Summer-
Elected captain during reorganization on May 13, 1862. Killed at Fredericksburg
on December 13, 1862.
George S. Swiggert-Promoted December 13, 1862, but
he was seriously wounded on that day. He returned by August 31, 1863 only to be
severely wounded at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. He did not return and
resigned on March 1, 1864.
David Augustus Dickert -Promoted to rank from
March 16, 1864. Dickert led about 20 men in deserting and going home between
April 15 and 20, 1865.
1st Lieutenant David Copeland commanded the
company at the surrender on April 26, 1865.
Company I, Musgrove
Volunteers
This company was enrolled at Clinton on April 14, 1861 and
mustered into Confederate service on June 6, 1861. There is no record of what
happened to this company during the consolidation on April 9, 1865, except that
Lieutenant Thompson Connor of Company B was promoted to command it. The men came
from the Clinton area and Laurens District.
Captains
B.S.
Jones-Elected April 13, 1861. Resigned at the reorganization on May 13, 1862.
David Mason Henry "Mase"-Elected at reorganization May 13, 1862.
Seriously wounded in the neck, thigh, and lower leg at Savage Station on June
29, 1862 and lingered near death. Finally returned as acting lieutenant colonel
on January 6, 1863. Killed at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863.
Thomas Henry
Pitts-Promoted October 7, 1863 to rank from July 2, 1863, but was absent since
receiving a severe leg wound at Fredericksburg on December 13, 1863. He returned
on the morning on September 20, 1863 only to be wounded again in the leg within
hours during the Battle of Chickamauga. His leg was amputated and he did not
return before resigning on March 16, 1864.
Jared S. Johnson-Promoted
April 5, 1864 although he also had been wounded and permanently disabled at
Chickamauga.
Thompson Connor-He was a lieutenant in Company B who was
promoted to captain of this company at the consolidation on April 9, 1865.
Company K, Blackstock
This company was enrolled on April 14,
1861 at Spartanburg and was mustered into Confederate service on June 6, 1861.
In is unknown what happened this company at the consolidation on April 9,l 1865
except that it was commanded by Lieutenant A. H. Fleming of the 3rd South
Carolina Battalion. The men came from the Spartanburg area.
Captains
Benjamin Kennedy-Elected April 14, 1861. Resigned at reorganization on
May 13, 1862.
Seaborn M. Lanford-Elected at reorganization on May 13,
1862. Mortally wounded at Savage Station on June 29, 1862. Died the next day.
No record of who commanded company between Lanford death on June 30,
1862 and Young's return from being wounded at Fredericksburg.
William H.
Young-Promoted December 14, 1862 despite being wounded the previous day at
Fredericksburg. Killed at Gettysburg July 2, 1863.
James Henry
Cunningham-Commanded company as 1st Lieutenant after July 2, 1863 until being
seriously wounded at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863 that resulted in his leg
being amputated. Promoted on October 7, 1863, but died from his wound on October
31, 1863.
John P. Roebuck-Probably commanded company after Cunningham's
wound on September 20, 1863. He was wounded at Knoxville on November 18, 1863
and left behind when the city was evacuated on December 4, 1863. Promoted
between December 31, 1863 and February 29, 1864 although he was probably in
prison for the rest of the war.
James R. Moore-He apparently commanded
company and may have been promoted to captain late in the war. He was wounded
seriously in both legs at Wilderness on May 6, 1864.
A.H. Fleming-An
officer in the 3rd South Carolina Battalion, he took command of company at
consolidation on April 9, 1865.
What happened to this company's command
system is a microcosm of what happened to the regiment's command system during
the war.
SOURCES
Primary
Dickert, David
Augustus. A History of Kershaw's Brigade. Wilmington, NC: Broadfoot Publishing
Co., 1990 reprint. This edition includes an introduction by today's leading
authority on Kershaw's Brigade, a article on the author (a member Kershaw's
Brigade), maps, errata, and index that other editions do not contain.
Simpson, Dick and Tally. Far, Far From Home: The Wartime Letters of Dick
and Tally Simpson, 3rd South Carolina Volunteers. Guy Everson and Edward H.
Simpson, Jr., editor. New York, NT: Oxford University Press, 1994.
The
best source of manuscript material on the 3rd South Carolina exists in The South
Caroliniana Library at the University of South Carolina. See especially the
letters of James Drayton Nance. Other manuscript material exits in university
libraries, local and county archives, in possession of descendants of the
veterans, and the libraries of the Civil War battlefield parks -especially
Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania The war-time newspapers contain letters written
by the soldiers, rosters, casualty lists, obituaries, etc. The University of
South Carolina has these papers on microfilm. See especially the Charleston and
Columbia newspapers. Southern Historical Society Papers and Confederate Veteran
contains obituaries and articles -see especially those by John Coxe in the
latter publication. Recollections and Reminiscences 1861 - 1865 Through World
War I contain much useful information. The Compiled Service Records are on
microfilm at The National Archives in Washington and the State Archives and
History in Columbia. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official
Records of the Union and Confederate Armies contain the surviving reports made
at the regimental and higher command levels.
Secondary
Prushankin, Jeffery S. Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Conway Garlington
Company "A" 3rd South Carolina Infantry C.S.A. Research paper of Villanova
University student in 1995. Salley, Alexander S. (Compiler). South Carolina
Troops in the Confederate Service. Vol. II. Columbia, SC: The State Co., 1914.
Wyckoff, Mac. A History of the 3nd South Carolina: 1861-1865. Fredericksburg,
VA: Sergeant's Kirkland's Museum and Historical Society Inc., 1995. This book is
currently out of print. A second edition in paperback with an addendum to the
roster and additional photos should be out by the summer of 1998. Wyckoff, Mac.
"Kershaw's Brigade at Gettysburg." Gettysburg Magazine. July, 1991. Wyckoff,
Mac. "Kershaw's Brigade at Savage Station." The Peninsula Campaign of 1862:
Yorktown to the Seven Days. Vol. II. William J. Miller, editor. Campbell, CA:
Savas Woodbury Publishers, 1995.