South Carolina
THIRTEENTH REGIMENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEERS
OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA
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, South Carolina Volunteers.
Company A was organized of Laurens County Volunteers;
Companies D and G were organized of Newberry County Volunteers;
and 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withdrawn,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 Corp. 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 Spottsylvania 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.
Of 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 of the 13th Regiment:
Seven Days Battles, June 25 to July 1, 1862.
2nd 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.
Contributed by: Blair Wheeler
South Carolina Civil War Pensions Project
Coordinator
– Mark
Anderson
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2009