The following section contains information on the Organization, Composition, History, etc., of the South Carolina State Militia from 1860 to 1866. As well as the Reserves Regiments of 1862, the State Troops of 1863-1864, the Reserve Battalions of 1864-1865, the Local Defense Troops and other troops organized by the State during the War.

If you have any additional information, corrections, photo's, artifacts, etc., that you would like to share please contact the Webmaster.

At the time of the secession of South Carolina in December 1860, the South Carolina State Militia was divided into two classes, the Common Militia and the Volunteer Militia. The Common Militia was organized into forty-six regiments of infantry, who were largely unarmed, untrained and not uniformed; these units, composed of "Beat Companies," would hold occasional yearly "Musters" which were much more along the lines of a County Fair then any actual military training camp.

The Volunteer Militia of the State consisted of around eighty (80) companies of men who were organized, uniformed, armed and who at least in theory were drilled on a regular basis. These included companies like the Charleston Zouave Cadets, Richland Volunteer Rifle Company, Beaufort Volunteer Artillery; many of which were not only military organizations, but semi-social clubs.

The whole of the Common and Volunteer militia was organized into Brigades and Divisions under officers elected by their units and appointed by the Governor. In September 1864, the State Militia was organized into ten (10) Brigades, each composed of from five to six regiments on paper.

With the organization of troops for Confederate Service the States Militia was heavily taxed, many of the companies and members enrolling for active service. The remaining Beat Companies were greatly reduced, and in some cases ceased to exist altogether, other than on paper. Others, however, continued to take an active part, and with the advance of Federal forces into South Carolina in January 1865 the remnants of the State Militia Regiments and Companies assembled and took part in the various actions throughout the State, a great many being captured and appearing in the records of the prisoners of war.

With the end of the War an attempt was made to reconstitute the State Militia, however, in 1866 the Federal Authorities banned the State Militia, and from 1866 to 1872 there was no officially organized or recognized Militia.

The following troops were organized at various times during the war for Local Defense or other such duty as might be required of them. Sometime formed from exempt men, disabled soldiers, government employees, etc., they would serve normally in a specific area as an auxiliary force.

With the dispatching of large numbers of troops to the Eastern and Western Theater in 1862, and the increased Federal activities along the South Carolina coastline, the Confederate Authorities found themselves in desperate need of reinforcements. In response to this need the South Carolina Executive Council called into service all those men between the ages of thirty-five (35) and fifty (50) not already on active service. Organized in late 1862 for ninety (90) days service, the men were mustered into service in November 1862, and assigned to duty between Charleston and Savannah to prevent incursions from Federal forces operating out of Beaufort. Upon the expiration of their term of service the regiments were mustered out of service in February 1863.

With the departure of a large number of troops along the South Carolina Coastline for service in Mississippi in May 1863 the need for troops to assist in the defense of the coastline became urgent. As a result, President Jefferson Davis requested Governor Milledge L. Bonham's assistance, to which call five (5) regiments of State Troops were organized between June and August 1863 for the period of six month's service. Assigned to duty from Charleston to Pocotaligo, the regiment performed the routine of guard duty and camp life throughout the winter of 1863. With the expiration of the six months term of service, the regiments were relieved from their duties, and in February 1864 were mustered out of service.

In 1864 with the need of additional manpower the State once again called up its Reserves for active service; enrolling those eligable men between the ages of sixteen (16) and sixty-five (65). These units were not initially intended to be deployed on the battlefield or in the defensive works, but were instead used as post garrisons, in rounding up deserters, as guards over the Union Prisoners of War held at Columbia, Florence & Charleston, and other such duties. However, with the advance of the Union Army into South Carolina, these units moved north towards the North Carolina border. Before crossing the State line those members too old, too young or disabled were discharged, the remaining members continued North and were consolidated into other South Carolina Regiments on April 9th, 1865, at Smithfield, North Carolina.