List of South Carolina militia units in the American Revolution
Siege of CharlestonBG Francis Marion, 2nd Brigade commanderBG Richard Richardson, 2nd Brigade commanderBG Thomas Sumter, 1st and 6th Brigade commanderCol William Moultrie, Charles Town District Regiment commanderCol 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
^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
^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]
^The Ninety-Six District militia was split into Upper Ninety-Six Regiment and Lower Ninety-Six Regiment on March 28, 1778.
^The Craven County militia was split into Upper Craven County Regiment and Lower Craven County Regiment in November 1775.
^The Kingstree Regiment was established in late 1779 or 1780.
^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
^Hampton's Regiment of Light Dragoons became part of the South Carolina State Troops in April 1781
^Hill's Regiment of Light Dragoons became part of the South Carolina State Troops in April 1781
^Maham's Light Dragoons became the 3rd Regiment of State Dragoons in October 1781.[51]
^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]
^Lewis, J. D. "First Brigade". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
^Rowland, Lawrence S. (July 25, 2016). "Stephen Bull". scencyclopedia.org. University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
^Lewis, J. D. "2nd Brigade". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
^ abDebaney, Kendra (October 25, 2016). "Richard Richardson". scencyclopedia.org. University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
^Lewis, J. D. "3rd Brigade". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
^Fore, Samuel K. (July 11, 2016). "Andrew Williamson". scencyclopedia.org. University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
^Lewis, J. D. "4th Brigade". carolana.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
^Roland, Lawrence S. (July 25, 2016). "Stephen Bull". scencyclopedia.org. University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
^ abFore, Samuel K. (January 11, 2017). "Andrew Pickens". scencyclopedia.org. University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
^Hamer, Fritz (May 17, 2016). "Leroy Hammond". University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
^Lockhart, Matthew A. (November 21, 2016). "Thomas Sumter". scencyclopedia.org. University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
^Fore, Samuel K. (August 2, 2016). "Hezekiah Maham". South Carolina Encyclopedia. University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
Graves, William T. (2012). Backcountry Revolutionary James Williams (1740-1780), With Source Documents. Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution Press, Lugoff, South Carolina.
James, William Dobein (1948). A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis Marion and a History of His Brigade From its Rise in June 1780 until Disbanded in December 1782. Continental Book Company.
