Confederate Regiments & BatteriesSouth Carolina


The 5th South Carolina Cavalry Regiment mustered 1,750 men during the Civil War. Of these, 165 died of wounds or disease and 125 were wounded.

1863
January 18 The 5th South Carolina Cavalry Regiment was created by combining the 14th and 17th South Carolina Cavalry Battalions with two independent companies. Samuel W. Ferguson (West Point Class of 1857) was appointed colonel. Ferguson was in Charleston recovering from an injury as lieutenant colonel of a Mississippi regiment, but his appointment was not confirmed and he returned to his Mississippi regiment withouth joining the 5th South Carolina. Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. Jeffords temporarily took command of the regiment. Most of the companies of the regiment would operate as independent companies until March of 1864.

Company A – (from 14th Cavalry Battalion) – Captain John C. Edwards
Company B – “Dixie Randers” (from 17th Cavalry Battalion) – Captain Alfred B. Mulligan
Company C – “Beech Hill Rangers” (from 17th Cavalry Battalion) – Captain Wheeler G. Smith
Company D – “South Carolina Rangers” (from 17th Cavalry Battalion) – Captain George Tupper
Company E – “Saint James Mounted Riflemen” – Captain Louis A. Whilden
Company F – (from 14th Cavalry Battalion) – Captain Augustus H. Caughman
Company G – “Willington Rangers” (from 17th Cavalry Battalion) – Captain B. Warren Mctureus
Company H – “Santee Guerillas” (from 14th Cavalry Battalion) – Captain Richard M. Skinner
Company I – (from 14th Cavalry Battalion) – Captain Thomas W. Tyler
Company K – “Mountain Rangers” – Captain Joseph G. Harland

January-March Assigned to the 3rd Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
May-July Assigned to the 1st Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
May 24 First Lieutenant Paul D. Rush of Company A died.
June-August Company F assigned to the 4th Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
June-October Company I assigned to the 4th Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
July-October Three companies assigned to the 1st Sub-Division, 1st Military District of South Carolina.
Companies D & H assigned to the 5th Sub-Division, 1st Military District of South Carolina.
Company E assigned to the 2nd Sub-Division, 1st Military District of South Carolina.
All of the above are Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
Two companies assigned to District of Cape Fear, Department of North Carolina.
July 28 John Dunovant, former major of the 1st South Carolina Regular Infntry Regiment, became colonel and took command of the 5tht South Carolina Cavalry Regiment.
July 30 Near Grimblall’s Landing, on James Island.
August-October Company F assigned to 1st Sub-Division, 1st Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
September-April Two companies assigned to District of Cape Fear, Department of North Carolina.
October-November Company D assigned to the 3rd Military District of South Carolina.
Company E assigned to the 1st Military District of South Carolina.
Companies H & K assigned to the 5th Military District of South Carolina.
All of the above are Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
October-January Four companies assigned to Cavalry, Eastern Division, 7th Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
December-March Company D assigned to 2nd Military District of South Carolina.
Company H assigned to 5th Military District of South Carolina.
Both of the above are Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
1864
January-March Companies E & I assigned to 6th Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
January-April Four companies assigned to 7th Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
April Two companies assigned to District of Cape Fear, Department of North Carolina.
May Moved to Virginia mustering 1,200 men and was assigned to Butler’s Brigade, Hampton’s Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
May 5-6
Battle of the Wilderness
May 8-21
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
May 15 Captain Wheeler of Company C resigned.
May 23-26
Battle of North Anna
May 28
Haw’s Shop

Colonel John Dunovant was wounded. Lieutenant Colonel Jeffords took command of the regiment.

June 1-3
Battle of Cold Harbor
June 2
Siege of Petersburg
June 11
Louisa Court House
June 12
Battle of Trevilian Station

First Lieutenant Edward Moore of Company K died.

June 23
Battle of Reames’s Station
July 23 Second Lieutenant William F. Smooke of Comany A died.
July 30 Second Lieutenant Robert W. Gilliam of Company K was killed.
August 22 Colonel Dunovant was promoted to brigadier general and took command of Butler’s Brigade. Lieutenant Colonel Jeffords took command of the regiment.
August 4 Captain Louis A. Wilden of Company E died.
October 1
Vaughan Road

Brigdier General Dunovant was killed. Captain Zimmerman Davis took command of the regiment.

October 27
Burges’s Mill

Lieutenant Colonel Jeffords was killed.

January-April The regiment returned to Colombia, South Carolina and was assigned to Butler’s Brigade, Butler’s Division, Hampton’s Cavalry Command
February-April
Carolinas Campaign
February 24 Captain Joseph G. Harlan of Company K retired.
March 21 Second Lieutenant Patrick H. Caughman of Company F was captured.
April Assigned to Logan’s Brigade, Butler’s Division, Hampton’s Cavalry Command, Army of Tennessee
April 17
Bennett House

The regiment provided the escort for General Johnston when he met with General Sherman at the Bennett House to discuss the surrender of his army.

April 26
Durham Station

The regiment was surrendered with Johnston’s army.