7th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry

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Brief History[edit | edit source]

The 7th Regiment South Carolina Infantry was mustered into State service for twelve months April 15, 1861, with nine companies, B to K, and accepted into the Confederate States service June 4, 1861. (1st) Company L was added July 2 1862. The regiment was reorganized with twelve companies A to M, May 14, 1862, Comanies A and M being formed of men who had previously served in other companies of the regiment. About April 9, 1865, the 7th Regiment South Carolina Infantry was consolidated with the 15th Regiment South Carolina Infantry and a part of Blanchard's South Carolina Reserves and formed the new 7th Regiment South Carolina Infantry, which was paroled at Greensboro, NC, May 2, 1865.[1][2]

The 7th South Carolina is known as "the Bloody Seventh" because of its bloodshed in numerous Civil War battles as part of Kershaw’s Brigade. While much of the first year was spent near the front in Northern Virginia and on the Virginia Peninsula between the York and James Rivers, the men of the 7th only saw minor skirmishing. It was time well spent learning their trade as soldiers. The weak died or were sent home as they were of no value to the army. The survivors spent countless hours learning Civil War drills and maneuvers, suffered the rigors of long marches, witnessed the dangers of combat and became accustom to a lack of sufficient food and clothing [3].

An excellent history on this regiment, it's companies, and the changes at the reorganization in 1862 is found in Robert S. Seigler's book, South Carolina's Military Organizations During the War Between the States. The 7th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry surrendered with the Army of Tennessee on April 26, 1865 near Greensboro, North Carolina.[4]

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin[edit | edit source]

Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

Some of the rosters may be for the 1st organization. The 2nd rosters listed contains only a couple of names[2]:

Company A - many men from Edgefield District (County) - Roster
Company B - Roster
Company C - Roster
Company D - (also known as Hester's Company) - many men from Edgefield District (County) - Roster
Company E - (also known as The Dendy Company) - many men from Edgefield District (County)- Roster, Roster
Company F - (also known as the Granteville Volunteers and Davis Volunteers) - many men from Aiken District (County) Graniteville area - Roster, Roster
Company G - (possibly from Edgefield District (County) - Roster, Roster
Company H - (also known as Joe Johnston's Riflemen) - many men from Edgefield District (County) - Roster
Company I - many men from Edgefield District (County) - Roster, Roster
Company K - (possibly from Edgefield District (County) - Roster, Roster
Company L - (also known as All Saints Riflemen) - many men from Horry District (County) - Roster
Company M - many men from Edgefield District (County) - Roster
Field and Staff


First organization Companies as listed on Batson's site[5] and in Seigler's book[4]:


After the reorganization in 1862 the following companies were a part of the 7th Infantry Regiment[4]:

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 2,546 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Other Sources[edit | edit source]

  • Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of South Carolina. Microfilm publication M267. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Services, 1958. These records have been indexed and digitized and are available at Footnote.com (A subscription website, but is available for use at the Family History Library and some Family History Centers). It has digital Civil War soldier service records and brief regiment histories (located at the bottom of some of the muster rolls). (Accessed December 2010)
  • "7th Infantry Regiment". The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina. Eastern Digital Resources an Internet site, accessed 12/14/2010. Lists a brief Regiment History and Company Rosters. There is also "Historical Sketch" of the regiment written by John A. Chapman. This is taken from his book, History of Edgefield County from the earliest settlements to 1897. (Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1958), p. 207. Located at the Family History Library film 162293, with an index in book 975.73 H2c index, FHL Collection. (Microreproduction of original published: Newberry, South Carolina : E. H. Aull, 1897. 521, vi p.) Some of the rosters are also taken from Chapman's book.
  • "Seventh South Carolina Infantry Regiment". South Carolina's Service in the War Between the States, Steve Batson’s Internet site, accessed 12/16/2010. This website also lists officers of the regiment and companies; and battles the regiment was involved in. The site gives the county of organization and nicknames listed. It also lists the Companies as they were before the reorganization. Refers also to a book, Upper Battalion, 10th S.C. Militia, Vol. III, page 352, that gives a roster of Company G (not available at the FHL or on Worldcat).
  • Clarmont Rifles. Old Sumter District, South Carolina SCGenWebsites and Palmetto State Roots Websites, accessed 2 January 2019.
  • Calhoun, Charles M. Liberty dethroned. A Concise History of Some of the Most Startling Events Before, During, and Since the Civil War (Greenwood, S C: 1903), 379 pages. Book at FHL 921.73 G791g and WorldCat Libraries.
  • Dickert, D. Augustus. History of Kershaw's Brigade : With Complete Roll of Companies, Biographical Sketches, Incidents, Anecdotes, etc. (Dayton, Ohio : Morningside Bookshop, 1976), 583 pages. Rosters for the 7th South Carolina Regimental companies are found on pages 557-562. Digital copies at Google Books and Internet Archives. Book found at FHL 975.7 M2d 1976 and Other Libraries.
  • Gray, Charles Martin. The old soldier's story : autobiography of Charles Martin Gray, Co. A, 7th Regiment, U.S.I., embracing interesting and exciting incidents of army life on the frontier in the early part of the present century. Edited by Betsy R. Bloomer. (North Augusta, South Carolina : B.R. Bloomer, c2005) Book at FHL 921.73 G791g and Other Libraries WorldCat.
  • Hewett, Janet B., ed. Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Wilmington, North Carolina: Broadfoot Pub. Co., c1994-2001. FHL book 973 M29u ser. 1 supp. pt. 2 v. 64 & 65. Lists officers, companies, and dates involving the company and places where they were stationed. There are 12 Companies (A-I, K-M) listed. Available at these libraries: Worldcat.
  • McDaniel, J. J. Diary of battles, marches and incidents of the Seventh S.C. Regiment. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1990),Microfiche at FHL 6082635. Digital copy at Internet Archive . Book at WorldCat. Includes a description of activities of the 7th South Carolina Infantry Regiment (Confederate) in the following battles or localities.
  • Seigler, Robert S. South Carolina's Military Organizations During the War Between the States. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press, c2008. FHL book 975.7 M2sr v. 2. This book has an overview about the creation of the military units for service during the Civil War. There are four volumes which are divided into areas of the State. There is information about the different military units including dates of organization and service, company officers, battle engagements, company names and places of origin, and a few pictures. This book is also available through other libraries.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of South Carolina, microfilm publication M267. (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Services, 1958). These records have been indexed and digitized and are available at Footnote.com (A subscription ($) website, but is available for use at the Family History Library and some Family History Centers). It has digital Civil War soldier service records and brief regiment histories (located at the bottom of some of the muster rolls). (Accessed December 2010)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "7th Infantry Regiment". The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina. Eastern Digital Resources an Internet site, accessed 12/14/2010. Lists a brief Regiment History and Company Rosters.
  3. ↑ The 7th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment History, (accessed 7 Apr 2011)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Robert S. Seigler. South Carolina's Military Organizations During the War Between the States. (Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press, c2008.), v. 2, p 155-172.FHL book 975.7 M2sr v. 2. The book goes into greater detail about the companies and the different military units they served in. Also the book may give more information about the different units this Battalion served with.
  5. ↑ "Seventh South Carolina Infantry Regiment". South Carolina's Service in the War Between the States, Steve Batson’s Internet site, accessed 12/16/2010. This website also lists officers of the regiment and companies; and battles the regiment was involved in. The site gives the county of organization and nicknames listed. It also lists the Companies as they were before the reorganization. Refers also to a book,Upper Battalion, 10th S.C. Militia, Vol. III, page 352, that gives a roster of Company G (not available at the FHL or on Worldcat).

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