The following is a biographical roster of the officers and enlisted men of the Twenty-First (21st) South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment. If you have any corrections, suggestions, or additional information, photographs, etc., that you would like to contribute, submit them to the Webmaster.

The Regimental Field & Staff of the Twenty-First (21st) South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment was organized, elected and mustered into service on January 25th, 1862, at Camp Manigault near Georgetown, South Carolina. The men elected Robert F. Graham of Marion as Colonel, Alonto T. Dargan of Darlington as Lieutenant Colonel and George W. McIver of Darlington as Major. The Regimental staff would undergo various changes throughout the war, Colonel Graham remaining at the head of the regiment throughout its service, and be present with the men when the regiment was surrendered at Durham Station, North Carolina, on April 26th, 1865.

Graham, Robert Fladger: Of Marion District. Enlisted on January 5th, 1861, at Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, for six months' service; mustered into service as Second Lieutenant of Company K of the 1st (Gregg's) South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment on April 23rd, 1861; promoted to First Lieutenant on April 30th, 1861; mustered out of service with the company on July 9th, 1861, at Richmond, Virginia. Enrolled on November 12th, 1861, at Marion, South Carolina, for twelve months' service; elected as Colonel of the 21st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment on January 25th, 1862, at Georgetown, South Carolina; on detached service, in command of the 3rd Sub-Division of the 1st Military District of South Carolina in June 1863; absent, on a leave of absence, from September 1863, the leave being extended on October 3rd, 1863, and again on November 14th, 1863; wounded in action (gunshot wound flesh of left leg and a contusion of the chest) on May 7th, 1864, at Port Walthall Junction, Virginia; admitted to the South Carolina Hospital at Petersburg, Virginia, on May 7th, 1864, suffering from a gunshot wound of the left leg and a contusion of the chest; furloughed for thirty-days from May 27th, 1864, the leave being extended in June 1864; in command of the brigade in January 1865; admitted to General Hospital No. 4 in Richmond, Virginia, on January 16th, 1865; furloughed for thirty days from February 10th, 1865; absent, detached on recruiting service in South Carolina, from February to April 1865; rejoined the brigade on April 10th, 1865; surrendered on April 26th, 1865, at Durham Station, North Carolina; paroled on May 1st, 1865, at Greensboro, North Carolina. [Born on November 12th, 1833, in Marion, South Carolina, the son of James (1809-1879) & Ann Elizabeth Fladger Graham (1810-1873); attended the Mount Zion Institute at Winnsboro, South Carolina, no date; attended the South Carolina College in Columbia, South Carolina, to 1856,

Dargan, Alonzo Timothy: Of Darlington District. Enrolled on December 23rd, 1861, at Darlington, South Carolina, for twelve months' service; mustered into service as Third Lieutenant of Company B on January 1st, 1862, at Georgetown, South Carolina; elected as Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment on January 25th, 1862, original; absent, on a twenty-day sick leave of absence from June 15th, 1863; absent, on a leave of absence, in October 1863; absent, on a twenty-day leave of absence from December 31st, 1863; absent, on a leave of absence, in April 1864; killed in action on May 7th, 1864, at Port Walthall Junction, Virginia. [Born in 1839 in South Carolina, the son of Julius Alfred (1816-1861) & Martha I. Woods Dargan (1820-1885); married Miss Jane Ann Quigley (1843-1936), no date; died on May 7th, 1864, near Petersburg, Virginia; buried at the First Baptist Churchyard in Darlington, Darlington County, South Carolina.] Sources - CSR, GS, MWS

(History of Company B)

Wilds, Samuel Hugh: Of Darlington District. Enrolled on November 12th, 1861, at Darlington, South Carolina, for twelve months' service; mustered into service as Captain of Company B on January 1st, 1862, at Georgetown, South Carolina; absent, on a sick leave of absence, in December 1863; wounded in action (left thigh) on August 21st, 1864, at Weldon Railroad, Virginia; admitted to General Hospital No. 4 in Richmond, Virginia, on August 22nd, 1864, suffering from a gunshot wound of the exterior and upper portion of the left thigh; furloughed for thirty days from September 15th, 1864; absent, wounded, from August to November 1864; absent, without leave, in December 1864; promoted to Major on January 28th, 1865, to rank from October 10th, 1864, vice Major Read was retired; captured in action on February 20th, 1865, at Town Creek, North Carolina; taken as a prisoner of war to Fort Anderson, North Carolina, on February 21st, 1865; transferred to the prisoner of war camp at Point Lookout, Maryland, on February 27th, 1865, arriving on February 28th, 1865; transferred to the Old Capital Prison in Washington, D.C., on February 28th, 1865, arriving on March 1st, 1865; transferred to the prisoner of war camp at Fort Delaware, Delaware, on March 24th, 1865, arriving on March 25th, 1865; released by order of the President on July 24th, 1865, at Fort Delaware, Delaware, at the time he was described as being 6 ft. 2 in. tall, of a fair complexion, with blue eyes and dark hair. [Born on November 20th, 1819, in Darlington, South Carolina; attended the South Carolina College at Columbia, South Carolina, to 1840, when he graduated; married Miss Anna Rosamund Ellison (1828-1866), no date; died on October 29th, 1867, at Darlington, South Carolina; buried at the Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Darlington, Darlington County, South Carolina.]

In December 1861 John H. Read organized a company of volunteers at Georgetown, South Carolina, for active service, and on December 20th, 1861, the men were in camp at Camp Manigault near Georgetown. Completing their organization the company was mustered into Confederate States service on January 1st, 1862, at Company A of the Twenty-first (21st) South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment, for twelve months' service, the men electing Read as their Captain. On May 1st, 1862, the company was reorganized and re-enlisted to serve for the duration of the war, the men re-electing Captain Read as their Commanding Officer. He would command the company until his promotion to Major in June 1864, at which time Lieutenant Thomas Ford was promoted to Captain, and remained in command until his capture, with the balance of the company, on January 15th, 1865, at Fort Fisher, North Carolina. On March 10th, 1865, the remnants of the company were consolidated as a temporary regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James H. Rion, and with them they surrendered on April 26th, 1865, at Durham Station, North Carolina, being paroled and disbanded on May 1st, 1865, at Greensboro, North Carolina.

The Wild's Rifles were organized in August & September 1861 by Samuel H. Wilds with volunteers from Darlington District, South Carolina, and reported at Camp Manigault near Georgetown, South Carolina, in December 1861. On January 1st, 1862, the company was mustered into Confederate States service as Company B of the Twenty-First (21st) South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment, for twelve months' service, under the command of Captain Samuel H. Wilds. Serving with the regiment along the South Carolina coast, the company re-enlisted on May 1st, 1862, for the duration of the war, with the men re-electing Captain Wilds as their Company Commander. On January 28th, 1865, Wilds was promoted to Major of the regiment, and First Lieutenant Clements assumed command of the company, possibly being promoted to Captain although the record is unclear as to the official date. Remaining in command for only a few days, Clements was captured with the balance of the company on January 15th, 1865, and spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner of war. On March 10th, 1865, the remnants of the company were consolidated as a temporary regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James H. Rion, and with them they surrendered on April 26th, 1865, at Durham Station, North Carolina, being paroled and disbanded on May 1st, 1865, at Greensboro, North Carolina.

The "Clarendon Guards" were organized in December 1861 by Edgar N. Plowden with volunteers from Clarendon District, South Carolina, with the men electing Plowden as Captain. Joining Graham's Regiment at Camp Manigault near Georgetown, South Carolina, they were musted into Confederate States service on January 1st, 1862, as Company C of the Twenty-First (21st) South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Serving with the regiment, it received permission on July 13th, 1862, to be transferred out of the regiment - which consisted of eleven companies, and on July 22nd, 1862, it was assigned united with the companies of the Eleventh (11th) South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Battalion to create the Twenty-Fifth (25th) South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Joining the regiment at its camp at Wappoo Cut near Charleston, South Carolina, it was designated as Company I of the new regiment.

Just prior to the transfer Captain Plowden had resigned, and Lieutenant Y.N. Butler was promoted in his place, being in command of the company when it joined the regiment. Butler resigned in June 1863 upon his election as Sheriff of Clarendon District, and Lieutenant Burgess was promoted Captain, and served until his retired due to wounds in August 1864. Lieutenant J.J. Logan was then promoted to Captain, and led the company until his capture on January 15th, 1865, at Fort Fisher, North Carolina, being held as a prisoner of war for the remainder of the war. Following Fort Fisher, the few remaining members of the company were consolidated with the other remnants of Hagood's Brigade on March 10th, 1865, into a temporary consolidated regiment under Lieutenant Colonel James H. Rion, and with them they surrendered on April 26th, 1865, at Durham Station, North Carolina, being paroled and disbanded on May 1st, 1865, at Greensboro, North Carolina.

The Cheraw Guards were organized in December 1861 and January 1862 by Milford G. Tarrh with volunteers from Chesterfield District, South Carolina, and reported in early January 1862 at Camp Manigault near Georgetown, South Carolina. On January 10th, 1862, the company was mustered into Confederate States service as Company D of the Twenty-First (21st) South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment, for twelve months' service, under the command of Captain Tarrh. On May 1st, 1862, the company was reorganized and re-enlisted to serve for the duration of the war, the men re-electing Captain Tarrh to lead them. He would remain in command of the company until March 1865, when due to disability he was retired to the Invalid Corps, and due to the losses sustained during the company's service no other officer was promoted to Captain afterwards. On March 10th, 1865, the remnants of the company were consolidated as a temporary regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James H. Rion, and with them they surrendered on April 26th, 1865, at Durham Station, North Carolina, being paroled and disbanded on May 1st, 1865, at Greensboro, North Carolina.

In December 1861 Benjamin T. Davis organized a company of volunteers from Chesterfield & Darlington District, and reporting at Camp Manigault near Georgetown, South Carolina, in early January 1862, the company soon completed its organization. On January 10th, 1862, they were mustered into Confederate States service as Company E of the Twenty-First (21st) South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment, for twelve months' service, the men electing Davis as the Captain of the company. On May 1st, 1862, the company was reorganized and re-enlisted to serve for the duration of the war, the men re-electing Captain Davis, who would command them until his death on May 28th, 1864, at Bermuda Hundred, Virginia. His brother, Lieutenant Alfred W. Davis assumed command of the company, however, was never promoted to Captain, and was retired to the Invalid Corps in January 1865 due to physical disability, after which time the senior Lieutenant with the company commanded the men. On March 10th, 1865, the remnants of the company were consolidated as a temporary regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James H. Rion, and with them they surrendered on April 26th, 1865, at Durham Station, North Carolina, being paroled and disbanded on May 1st, 1865, at Greensboro, North Carolina.

The Thomas Guards were organized in December 1861 by Rev. J.A.W. Thomas at Bennettsville, Marlboro District, South Carolina, with the volunteers coming from that district. Reporting at Camp Manigault near Georgetown, South Carolina, in early January 1862, the company soon completed its organization and on January 10th, 1862, they were mustered into Confederate States service as Company F of the Twenty-First (21st) South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment, for twelve months' service. The men elected J.A.W. Thomas as their Captain, and when they company was reorganized and re-enlisted to serve for the duration of the war on May 1st, 1862, they re-elected him to lead them, and he would command them throughout the remainder of their service.

On March 10th, 1865, the remnants of the company were consolidated as a temporary regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James H. Rion, and Captain Thomas was placed in command of Company I of the consolidated regiment. The few remaining members of the company surrendered with the regiment on April 26th, 1865, at Durham Station, North Carolina, and were officially paroled and disbanded on May 1st, 1865, at Greensboro, North Carolina.

The Williams Guards was organized in December 1861 & January 1862 at Society Hill with volunteers from Darlington & Chesterfield District's, by E. Cantey Stockton. Reporting at Camp Manigault near Georgetown, South Carolina, in early January 1862, the company completed its organization and was officially mustered into Confederate States service on January 16th, 1862, as Company G of the Twenty-First (21st) South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment, for twelve months' service, the men electing Stockton as their Captain. Captain Stockton resigned his commission in April 1862, to accept an appointment in the Confederate Navy, and in his place Lieutenant Robert Dickinson was promoted to Captain, and when the company was reorganized and re-enlisted on May 1st, 1862, to serve for the duration of the war, the men re-elected him as their Captain.

Captain Dickinson's popularity waivered with the men however, and in the Fall of 1862 a petition was circulated within the company calling for his resignation due to his failure to get along with subordinate officers; ordered before an examination board in October 1862, he refused to appear and resigned his commission on December 2nd, 1862. Lieutenant R.W. Reddy was promoted to Captain, however, due to illness he was retired to the Invalid Corps in August 1864, and after that time the company was commanded by the senior Lieutenant on duty with the men at the time. On March 10th, 1865, the remnants of the company were consolidated as a temporary regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James H. Rion, and with them they surrendered on April 26th, 1865, at Durham Station, North Carolina, being paroled and disbanded on May 1st, 1865, at Greensboro, North Carolina.

Organized in December 1861 & January 1862 by Rev. John F.A. Elliott with volunteers from Darlington District, the company reported in mid-January 1862 at Camp Manigault near Georgetown, South Carolina, where it completed its organization. On January 25th, 1862, the company was mustered into Confederate States service as Company H of the Twenty-First (21st) South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment, for twelve months' service, the men electing Elliott as their Captain.

On May 1st, 1862, the company was reorganized and re-enlisted to serve for the duration of the war, and Captain Elliot was re-elected and would led the men until January 27th, 1863, when he died of disease. Lieutenant H.P. was promoted Captain in his place, however, after being charged with forging official documents he was allowed to resign his commission rather than face court martial, and Lieutenant D.G. DuBose was next promoted to Captain. Captain DuBose would lead the company until his capture on January 15th, 1865, at Fort Fisher, North Carolina, being held as prisoner of war until March 1865 when he was paroled and exchanged, however, home on furlough, he never rejoined the company. On March 10th, 1865, the remnants of the company were consolidated as a temporary regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James H. Rion, and with them they surrendered on April 26th, 1865, at Durham Station, North Carolina, being paroled and disbanded on May 1st, 1865, at Greensboro, North Carolina.

In December 1861 and January 1862 Evander M. Woodberry organized a company of volunteers from Marion District, South Carolina, and by early January 1862 had reported at Camp Manigault near Georgetown, South Carolina. On January 9th, 1862, the company was mustered into Confederate States service as Company I of the Twenty-First (21st) South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment, for twelve months' service, the men electing Woodberry as their Captain. Captain Woodberry remained in command only a few months, resigning on March 1st, 1862, due to poor health, and in the election Private Richard G. Howard was elected as Captain. On May 1st, 1862, the company was reorganized and re-enlisted to serve for the duration of the war, and the men re-elected Howard as their Captain, he would lead the company throughout the remainder of its service. On March 10th, 1865, the remnants of the company were consolidated as a temporary regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James H. Rion, and with them they surrendered on April 26th, 1865, at Durham Station, North Carolina, being paroled and disbanded on May 1st, 1865, at Greensboro, North Carolina.

The Timmonsville Minute Men were organized by James W. Owens in December 1861 at Timmonsville, South Carolina, with volunteers from Darlington District, South Carolina. Captain Owens had previously led a pre-war company from Timmonsville by the same name, and at the start of the War the men volunteered for service and were assigned as Company E of the Eighth (8th) South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment, however, the men refused to enter Confederate service, and that company was disbanded and ceased to exist.

Reporting at Camp Manigault near Georgetown, South Carolina, in December 1861, the company completed its organization and on January 1st, 1862, was officially mustered into Confederate States service as Company K of the Twenty-First (21st) South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment, for twelve months' service, the men electing Owens as their Captain. When the company was reorganized and re-enlisted to serve for the duration of the war on May 1st, 1862, the men re-elected Owens as Captain, and he would continue to lead them until his death on May 14th, 1864, at Drewry's Bluff, Virginia. Lieutenant Edward B. Green was promoted to Captain, and assuming command he led the men until his capture on January 15th, 1865, at Fort Fisher, North Carolina, being held as a prisoner of war until March 1865, when he was exchanged, but never rejoined the company, being home on furlough. On March 10th, 1865, the remnants of the company were consolidated as a temporary regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James H. Rion, and with them they surrendered on April 26th, 1865, at Durham Station, North Carolina, being paroled and disbanded on May 1st, 1865, at Greensboro, North Carolina.