List of South Carolina militia units in the American Revolution

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Siege of Charleston
BG Francis Marion, 2nd Brigade commander
BG Francis Marion, 2nd Brigade commander
BG Richard Richardson, 2nd Brigade commander
BG Richard Richardson, 2nd Brigade commander
Portrait of BG Thomas Sumter
BG Thomas Sumter, 1st and 6th Brigade commander
Portrait of Col William Moultrie
Col William Moultrie, Charles Town District Regiment commander
Col Andrew Pickens, Ninety-Six Regiment commander
Col Andrew Pickens, Ninety-Six Regiment commander

The South Carolina militia units in the American Revolution were established on January 17, 1775 by the South Carolina Provincial Congress. These militia units were subordinate to the South Carolina Council of Safety. Officers were selected by February 1775. In November 1775, the Militia units were renamed regiments. On March 28, 1778, the South Carolina General Assembly consolidated the regiments into four brigades, each led by a Brigadier General.[1]

Militia units[]

The first sixteen militia were established in February 1775. While initially called just militia, they were renamed as regiments in November 1775. When Charlestown fell on May 12, 1780, most of the generals were taken as prisoners by the British and the regiments were left to fend for themselves. Most new regiments were Light Dragoons vice infantry. The known regiments, brigades, and independent units included:[1][2]

South Carolina militia units in the American Revolution
Unit Name Subordination Date established Disbanded Original Commander, Rank Refs
1st Brigade Council of Safety March 25, 1778 May 12, 1780 Stephen Bull, BG [3][4]
2nd Brigade Council of Safety March 25, 1778 May 12, 1780 Richard Richardson, BG [5][6]
3rd Brigade Council of Safety March 25, 1778 May 12, 1780 Andrew Williamson, BG [7][8]
4th Brigade Council of Safety March 25, 1778 May 12, 1780 Alexander McIntosh, BG [9]
Beaufort District Militia/ Regiment 1st Brigade (1778–1780) February 1775 Stephen Bull, Col [10][11]
Forks of Saluda District Militia/ Regiment[note 1] 3rd Brigade February 1775 Robert Starke, Col [12]
Camden District Militia/ Regiment 2nd Brigade (1778–1780)
Col Sumter (backcountry) (1780)
February 1775 Richard Richardson, Col [13][6]
Little River District Militia/ Regiment 3rd Brigade (1778–1780) February 1775 John Lindsay, Col [14]
Charles Town District Militia/ Regiment 1st Brigade (1778–1780) February 1775 William Moultrie, Col [15][16]
New Acquisition District Militia/ Regiment 2nd Brigade (1778–1780)
Col Sumter (backcountry) (1780)
February 1775 Thomas Neel, Col [17]
Cheraws District Militia/ Regiment 4th Brigade (1778–1780)
Marion's Brigade (1781)
February 1775 George Gabriel Powell, Col [18]
Upper Saluda District Militia/ Regiment[note 2] 2nd Brigade February 1775 September 1775 Thomas Fletchall, Col [19][20]
1st Spartan Regiment 2nd Brigade (1778–1780) February 1777 John Thomas, Sr., Col [21]
2nd Spartan Regiment 2nd Brigade (1778–1780)
Col Sumter (backcountry) (1780)
February 1777 Thomas Brandon, Col [22]
Georgetown District Militia/ Regiment 4th Brigade (1778–1780) February 1775 Thomas Screven, Col [23]
Berkeley County Militia/ Regiment 1st Brigade (1778–1780)
Marion's Brigade (1781)
February 1775 Richard Singleton, Col [24]
Ninety-Six District Militia/ Regiment[note 3] 3rd Brigade February 1775 , Col [25]
Upper Ninety-Six Regiment 3rd Brigade (1778–1780) March 28, 1778 Andrew Pickens, Col [26]
Lower Ninety-Six Regiment 3rd Brigade (1778–1780) March 28, 1778 , Col [27]
Colleton County Militia/ Regiment 1st Brigade (1778–1780) February 1775 , Col [28]
Orangeburgh District Militia/ Regiment 3rd Brigade (1778–1780)
Col Sumter (backcountry) (1780)
February 1775 William Thomson, Col [29]
Craven County Militia/ Regiment[note 4] Council of Safety February 1775 November 1775 , Col [30]
Upper Craven County Regiment 4th Brigade (1778–1780)
Marion's Brigade
November 1775 , Col [31]
Lower Craven County Regiment 4th Brigade (1778–1780)
Marion's Brigade (1781)
November 1775 , Col [32]
Fairfield Regiment 2nd Brigade (1778–1780)
Col Sumter (backcountry) (1780)
February 1775 , Col [33]
Granville County Militia/ Regiment 1st Brigade February 1775 June 1780 , Col [34]
Upper Granville County Regiment 2nd Brigade June 1780 , LTC, Col [35]
Lower Granville County Regiment 2nd Brigade June 1780 , LTC [36]
Kingstree Regiment[note 5] 4th Brigade (1780)
Marion's Brigade (1781)
December 1779, January 1780 Archibald McDonald [37]
Kershaw Regiment Col Sumter (backcountry) (1780) June 1780 James Postell, Col [38]
Turkey Creek Regiment Col Sumter (backcountry) (1780) May 1780 Edward Lacey, Col [39]
Polk's Regiment of Light Dragoons North Carolina's Mecklenburg County Regiment
South Carolina State Troops[note 6]
July 1780 William Polk, Col [40][41]
Hampton's Regiment of Light Dragoons Col Sumter (backcountry) (1780)[note 7] July 1780 Henry/Wade Hampton, Col [42]
Hill's Regiment of Light Dragoons Col Sumter (backcountry) (1780)[note 8] July 1780 William Hill, Col [43]
1st Brigade (after fall of Charleston) Council of Safety Aug 1780 Thomas Sumter, Col/BG [44]
2nd Brigade (after fall of Charleston) Council of Safety Aug 1780 Francis Marion, Col/BG [45]
3rd Brigade (after fall of Charleston) Council of Safety July 1781 Andrew Pickens, BG [26][46]
Horry's Light Dragoons 2nd Brigade February 16, 1781 Peter Horry, LTC [47][48][49][50]
Maham's Light Dragoons[note 9] 2nd Brigade Mar 1781 Hezekiah Maham, Maj [52][53][51]
Hammond's Light Dragoons Regiment 3rd Brigade[note 10] April 1781 Samuel Hammond LTC/Col [54]
4th Brigade (after fall of Charleston) Council of Safety September 1781 John Barnwell BG [55]
Independent Company of Rangers Independent 1775 1776 John Bowie, CPT [56]
Independent Company of Rangers Independent 1775 Robert Ellison, CPT [57]
Independent Company of Rangers Independent 1775 1776 Benjamin Tutt, CPT [58]
Independent Company of Rangers Independent 1775 1780 Ezekiel Polk, CPT [59]
Indian Field Company Independent 1775 John Fullerton, CPT [60]
Catawba Indian Company of Rovers Independent 1775 1776 Samuel Boykin, CPT [61]
Charles Town Artillery Company Independent 1775 Owen Robert, CPT [62]
Racoon Company Independent 1776 1780 John Allston, CPT [63]
Indian Company of Rovers Independent 1776 John Withers, LT/CPT [64]
Charles Town Artillery Company Independent 1778 1780 Sims White, CPT [65]
Independent Company Independent 1781 1781 William Clay Snipes, Maj [66]

Notes:

  1. ^ The Forks of Saluda District Regiment was renamed the Lower District Regiment in November 1775. It was also referred to as the Dutch Forks Regiment
  2. ^ The Upper Saluda District militia was renamed the Spartan Regiment in September 1775. In November 1775, the Spartan Regiment was split into 1st Spartan Regiment and 2nd Spartan Regiment in February 1777[19][20]
  3. ^ The Ninety-Six District militia was split into Upper Ninety-Six Regiment and Lower Ninety-Six Regiment on March 28, 1778.
  4. ^ The Craven County militia was split into Upper Craven County Regiment and Lower Craven County Regiment in November 1775.
  5. ^ The Kingstree Regiment was established in late 1779 or 1780.
  6. ^ Polk's Regiment of Light Dragoons was a subset of the North Carolina's Mecklenburg County Regiment of militia until in became part of the South Carolina State troops in April 1781
  7. ^ Hampton's Regiment of Light Dragoons became part of the South Carolina State Troops in April 1781
  8. ^ Hill's Regiment of Light Dragoons became part of the South Carolina State Troops in April 1781
  9. ^ Maham's Light Dragoons became the 3rd Regiment of State Dragoons in October 1781.[51]
  10. ^ Hammond's Light Dragoons Regiment became part of the South Carolina State Troops in September 1781

Provincial and state units[]

For clarification and comparison purposes, the South Carolina provincial and state troop units are listed below:[67]

Unit Date established Disbanded Continental Line, Date Original Commander, Rank Ref
1st Regiment (Infantry) June 6, 1775 May 12, 1780 Yes, November 4, 1775 Christopher Gadsden, Col [68]
2nd Regiment (Infantry) June 6, 1775 May 12, 1780 Yes, November 4, 1775 William Moultrie, Col [69]
3rd Regiment (Rangers) June 6, 1775 May 12, 1780 Yes, July 24, 1776 William Thomson, LTC [70]
4th Regiment (Artillery) November 14, 1775 May 12, 1780 Yes, June 18, 1776 Owen Roberts, LTC [71]
5th Regiment (Rifles) February 22, 1776 Feb. 1780 Yes, March 25, 1776 Isaac Huger, Col [72]
6th Regiment (Rifles) February 28, 1776 Feb. 1780 Yes, March 25, 1776 Thomas Sumter, LTC [73]
Light Dragoons February 1779 May 12, 1780 No Daniel Horry, Col [74]
1st Regiment of State Dragoons April 1781 1783 No Wade Hampton, I, Col [75]
2nd Regiment of State Dragoons April 1781 1783 No Charles Myddleton, Col [76]
Hampton's Regiment of Light Dragoons April 1781 1783 No Henry Hampton, LTC [42]
Polk's Regiment of Light Dragoons April 1781 February 1782 No William Polk, LTC [40][41]
Hill's Regiment of Light Dragoons April 1781 1782 No William Hill, Col [43]
Hammond's Regiment of Light Dragoons September 1781 1782 No Samuel Hammond, Col [54]
3rd Regiment of State Dragoons October 1781 1783 No Hezekiah Maham, LTC [77]
4th Regiment of State Dragoons October 1781 1782 No Peter Horry, LTC [50]

See also[]

References[]

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  2. ^ Southern Campaigns: Pension Transactions by William Graves
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  4. ^ Rowland, Lawrence S. (July 25, 2016). "Stephen Bull". scencyclopedia.org. University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  5. ^ Lewis, J. D. "2nd Brigade". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Debaney, Kendra (October 25, 2016). "Richard Richardson". scencyclopedia.org. University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  7. ^ Lewis, J. D. "3rd Brigade". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  8. ^ Fore, Samuel K. (July 11, 2016). "Andrew Williamson". scencyclopedia.org. University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
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  11. ^ Roland, Lawrence S. (July 25, 2016). "Stephen Bull". scencyclopedia.org. University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  12. ^ Lewis, J. D. "Forks of Salud District Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  13. ^ Lewis, J. D. "Camden District Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  14. ^ Lewis, J. D. "Littler River District Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  15. ^ Lewis, J. D. "Chrles Town District Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  16. ^ Talbert, Roy, Jr. (January 8, 2019). "William Moultrie". scencyclopedia.org. Retrieved December 23, 2019.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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  18. ^ Lewis, J. D. "Cheraws District Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  19. ^ Jump up to: a b Lewis, J. D. "Upper Saluda District Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  20. ^ Jump up to: a b Lewis, J. D. "Upper Spartan Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
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  22. ^ Lewis, J.D. "1st Spartan Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  23. ^ Lewis, J. D. "Georgetown District Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  24. ^ Lewis, J. D. "Berkeley County Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  25. ^ Lewis, J.D. "Ninety Six District Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b Fore, Samuel K. (January 11, 2017). "Andrew Pickens". scencyclopedia.org. University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  27. ^ Hamer, Fritz (May 17, 2016). "Leroy Hammond". University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
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  29. ^ Lewis, J.D. "Orangeburgh District Militia". carolana.com. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  30. ^ Lewis, J. D. "Craven County Regiment". csrolana.com. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  31. ^ Lewis, J.D. "Upper Craven County Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  32. ^ Lewis, J.D. "Lower Craven County Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
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  36. ^ Lewis, J.D. "Lower Granville County Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  37. ^ Lewis, J.D. "Kingstree Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  38. ^ Lewis, J. D. "Kershaw Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  39. ^ Lewis, J. D. "Turkey Creek Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
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  43. ^ Jump up to: a b Lewis, J. D. "Hill's Regiment of Light Dragoons". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  44. ^ Lockhart, Matthew A. (November 21, 2016). "Thomas Sumter". scencyclopedia.org. University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
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  46. ^ Lewis, J. D. "South Carolina's 3rd Brigade". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  47. ^ Lewis, J.D. "Horrys Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  48. ^ Lewis, J.D. "Peter Horry". carolana.com. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
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  52. ^ Fore, Samuel K. (August 2, 2016). "Hezekiah Maham". South Carolina Encyclopedia. University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
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  60. ^ Lewis, J.D. "John Fullerton, Captain". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
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  62. ^ Lewis, J.D. "Robert Owen, Captain". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
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  64. ^ Lewis, J.D. "John Withers, Captain". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
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  66. ^ Lewis, J.D. "William Clay Snipes, Major". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
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  70. ^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 3rd Regiment (Rangers)". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
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  72. ^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 5th Regiment (Rifles)". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  73. ^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 6th Regiment (Rifles)". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
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  77. ^ Lewis, J.D. "3rd Regiment of State Dragoons". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.

Bibliography[]

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