13th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: South Carolina, United States
Surnames/tags: South Carolina Civil War

SUMMARY

13th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry was organized in July 1861 at Lightwoodknot Springs, near Columbia, South Carolina. It was part of the Confederate States of America (CSA) during the Civil War. For more information about South Carolina in the CSA, view the South Carolina Resource Page US Civil War: War Between the States.

Many of the men were recruited in Greenville, Newberry, Abbeville, and Spartanburg counties. After three months of instruction at Lightwoodknot Springs, the unit moved to the coast of South Carolina near Pocotaligo.

In April 1862, it was ordered to Virginia and assigned to General Gregg's and McGowan's Brigade. The 13th was prominent in the campaigns of the Army of Northern Virginia from the Seven Days' Battles to Cold Harbor, then continued the fight in the Petersburg trenches and around Appomattox.
It took 413 effectives to Gaines' Mill and 342 to Frayser's Farm, lost 26 killed and 118 wounded at Second Manassas, had 5 killed and 24 wounded at Ox Hill, and lost 3 killed and 52 wounded at Fredericksburg. The unit sustained 91 casualties at Chancellorsville, 130 of 390 at Gettysburg, 63 at The Wilderness, 86 at Spotsylvania, 49 from May 12 to July 1 1864, 42 at Deep Bottom, 32 at Fussell's Mill, and 34 at Poplar Springs Church. It surrendered 13 officers and 183 men.

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Officers

Colonels Benjamin T Brockman, Oliver E. Edwards, and Isaac F Hunt; Lieutenant Colonels P Ludlow Calhoun, T Stabo Farrow, and William Lester; and Majors David R Duncan and Joseph L Wofford.

Formation

Company A - (also known as Martin Guards) - Laurens District (County) (mostly from Hunter and Jackson Towhnships), a few men from Spartanburg District (County) and Edgefield District (County). Mustered in September 4, 1861.
Company B - (also known as Brockman Guards) Spartanburg District (County)(Cashville area). Organized summer 1861. Mustered in September 4, 1861.
Company C - (also known as Forest Rifles and Forest Guards) - Spartanburg District (County). Mustered in September 4, 1861.
Company D - (also known as the Newberry Riflemen) - Newberry District (County) Mustered in September 4, 1861
Company E - (also known the Cherokee Guards) - Spartanburg District (County) Mustered in September 4, 1861
Company F - (also known as Pacolet Volunteers and Pacolet Guards) - Spartanburg District (County) Mustered in September 4, 1861
Company G - (also known as Dekalb Guards) - Newberry District (County). Mustered in September 4, 1861
Company H - (also known as the Hope Guards) - Lexington District (County), - Newberry District (County), Laurens District (County) and York District (County). Mustered in 4 September 1861.
Company I - (also known as the Iron District Volunteers) - Spartanburg District (County). Mustered in September 4, 1861.
Company K - (also known as the Johnston Riflemen or Johnston Rifles) - Lexington District (County) Mustered in September 4, 1861.

History

The 13th Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers was formed in the summer of 1861. The Regiment was the brain child of Oliver Evans Edwards who was born in Spartanburg District on November 9, 1819. In response to a call from President Jefferson Davis about the 1st of July 1861, a large number of infantry companies were formed across South Carolina. Oliver E. Edwards had fought in the First Battle of Manassas. Answering the call of President Davis, Oliver E. Edwards returned to his home county of Spartanburg, South Carolina and with the help of others organized five companies which would later become part of the 13th Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers.

Companies B, C, E, F, and I were all organized of Spartanburg County.

Company A was organized of Laurens County.

Companies D and G were organized of Newberry County Volunteers.

Companies H and K were organized of Lexington County Volunteers.

The men of the above companies left their home counties in August of 1861 and went to a camp of instruction at Lightwood Knot Springs, about 5 miles from Columbia, South Carolina, where the various companies were organized into regiments. Here, the 13th was formed and elected its field-officers: Colonel O.E. Edwards, Lieutenant Colonel P.L. Calhoun, and Major T. Stobo Farrow.
After about three months of instruction at Lightwood Knot Springs, the 13th was ordered to the southern coast of South Carolina, near Pocotaglio where it was brigaded with the 12th and 14th regiments. The 13th was present at the well known bombardment of Hilton Head by the Federal fleet. On the evacuation of the position there, the regiment was successfully withdrawn, after some very muddy wading to the mainland. It was next stationed near Green Pond, near the line of Colleton and Beaufort counties. At this time, the 13th, along with the 12th and 14th regiments, were formed into a brigade under the command of Brig. General Maxey Gregg. The brigade remained on the coast of South Carolina until April of 1862 when it was ordered to Virginia. Its first camp in Virginia was around Milford Station, on the Richmond and Fredericksburg railroad.

As stated, the 13th Regiment was originally part of Gregg's Brigade. After arriving in Virginia, Gregg's Brigade was composed of five South Carolina regiments, to wit: 13th regiment, 12th regiment, 14th regiment, 1st regiment and Orr's regiment of rifles. These five regiments would remain together for the duration of the war as a brigade. Gregg's Brigade eventually became McGowan's Brigade and was a part of A.P. Hill's Division and became part of General Stonewall Jackson's Corp. After Jackson's death at Chancellorsville, the brigade was made a part of the Third Corps.

As a result of a wound received at Chancellorsville, Colonel O.E. Edwards also died. The 13th then was led by Benjamin T. Brockman, also of Spartanburg County. Brockman was promoted to Colonel and he also died of wounds he received at "bloody bend" at the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse on May 12, 1864. After Brockman's death, the regiment for the first time was led by someone other than a Spartanburg County native. Captain Isaac F. Hunt of Company D of Newberry County was made the commander of the 13th and promoted to Colonel.

The 13th Regiment remained a part of the army of northern Virginia until the conclusion of the war. The 13th Regiment was present at the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865. Captain John Wilson Carlisle of Company C later recalled General Custer of the Federal Army passing in front of the 13th waving a white flag as it was getting ready to go into engagement.

In the 13th Regiment, 220 men were killed in battle or died of wounds. 262 died of disease and 678 men received wounds in combat.

Battles

Seven Days Battles, June 25 to July 1, 1862.
Manassas, August 28 to 30, 1862.
Chantilly, September 1, 1862.
Antietam, September 17, 1862.
Shepherdstown Ford, September 20, 1862.
Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862.
Chancellorsville, May 1 to 4, 1863.
Gettysburg, July 1 to 3, 1863.
Falling Waters, July 14, 1863.
Bristoe Campaign, October 9 to 22, 1863.
Mine Run Campaign, November to December 1863.
The Wilderness, May 5 to 6, 1864.
Spotsylvania Court House, May 8 to 21, 1864.
North Anna, May 23 to 26, 1864.
Cold Harbor, June 1 to 3, 1864.
Petersburg Siege, June 1864 to April 1865.
1st Squirrel Level Road, September 30, 1864.
Jones' Farm, September 30, 1864.
1st Pegram's Farm, October 1, 1864.
Five Forks, April 1, 1865.
Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865.

Sources

• National Park Service Soldiers and Sailors Database.

• SC Civil War Units.

• Civil War in the East