The South Carolina Palmetto Sharpshooters were a sharpshooter unit in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. The regiment served with the

Army of Northern Virginia The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It was also the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most oft ...

from 1862 to 1865. The unit would fight in most of the major battles in the eastern theater, and hard fighting in the western theater with

James Longstreet James Longstreet (January 8, 1821January 2, 1904) was one of the foremost Confederate generals of the American Civil War and the principal subordinate to General Robert E. Lee, who called him his "Old War Horse". He served under Lee as a corps ...

in 1863.

1862

The regiment would be formed from several South Carolina regiments near Richmond in early 1862. The regiment would be commanded by

Micah Jenkins Micah Jenkins (December 1, 1835 – May 6, 1864), was a Confederate general in the American Civil War, mortally wounded by friendly fire at the Battle of the Wilderness. Early life Jenkins was born on Edisto Island, South Carolina. He graduat ...

, and assigned to Andersons Brigade, Longstreet's Division, Magruder's Command. The regiments first action would be at the

battle of Williamsburg The Battle of Williamsburg, also known as the Battle of Fort Magruder, took place on May 5, 1862, in York County, James City County, and Williamsburg, Virginia, as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War. It was the first pitc ...

in May 1862, the regiment would hold Fort Magruder against repeated Federal attacks, losing 29 men and withdrawing under the cover of night. The unit would once again see heavy action at the

battle of Seven Pines The Battle of Seven Pines, also known as the Battle of Fair Oaks or Fair Oaks Station, took place on May 31 and June 1, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, nearby Sandston, as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War. It was t ...

, May 31-June 1. The sharpshooters would assist in taking Casey's Redoubt, suffering heavy casualties. After taking the redoubt, the unit, assisted by several other regiments would clear the fields behind the redoubt. The sharpshooters would suffer heavily, losing 244 men and ten of the twelve color guards shot down. At the

battle of Gaines Mill The Battle of Gaines' Mill, sometimes known as the Battle of Chickahominy River, took place on June 27, 1862, in Hanover County, Virginia, as the third of the Seven Days Battles ( Peninsula Campaign) of the American Civil War. Following the incon ...

the Sharpshooters would charge union positions held by the 16th Michigan and the 82nd Pennsylvania capturing the 16th Michigan's colors, colonel, and a number of men, but at the cost of 96 brave souls. The actions at the

battle of Glendale The Battle of Glendale, also known as the Battle of Frayser's Farm, Frazier's Farm, Nelson's Farm, Charles City Crossroads, New Market Road, or Riddell's Shop, took place on June 30, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, on the sixth day of the Se ...

would be the next bloody test for the Palmetto Sharpshooters. The South Carolinians, along with the rest of the brigade, would charge across open fields towards Federal lines while taking heavy fire from the Pennsylvania Reserves and Union batteries. The unit would charge the batteries while taking devastating canister fire and flanking fire from the northern troops, which prompts the whole brigade to retreat back across the fields. But not without capturing several guns and driving the Union troops back. The Palmetto's would lose 255 men out of 375 on the field. The brigade would participate in the

second Bull Run The Second Battle of Bull Run or Battle of Second Manassas was fought August 28–30, 1862, in Prince William County, Virginia, as part of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of the Northern Virginia Campaign waged by Confederate ...

campaign and the Maryland campaign, repulsing Burnsides attack south of Sharpsburg at the

Battle of Antietam The Battle of Antietam (), or Battle of Sharpsburg particularly in the Southern United States, was a battle of the American Civil War fought on September 17, 1862, between Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and Union G ...

with heavy enlisted and officer loss. these actions produced a combined casualty list of 130. The regiment would not see any major actions during the

battle of Fredericksburg The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. The combat, between the Union Army of the Potomac commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnsi ...

1863

The Palmetto Sharpshooters went into the year 1863 a battered band of rebels, with Joseph Walker in command of the regiment. On March 17 the regiment would be attacked by the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry and a batterie, the Sharpshooters would lose several men wounded and captured. The regiment would miss the

battle of Gettysburg The Battle of Gettysburg () was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, by Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War. In the battle, Union Major General George Meade's Army of the Po ...

and the

battle of Chickamauga The Battle of Chickamauga, fought on September 19–20, 1863, between United States, U.S. and Confederate States of America, Confederate forces in the American Civil War, marked the end of a Union Army, Union offensive, the Chickamauga Campaign ...

. During the

battle of Wauhatchie The Battle of Wauhatchie was fought October 28–29, 1863, in Hamilton and Marion counties, Tennessee, and Dade County, Georgia, in the American Civil War. A Union force had seized Brown's Ferry on the Tennessee River, opening a supply line ...

, the brigade would cross lookout creek, and drive back Federal skirmishers, with the Palmetto Sharpshooters on the left of the brigade. The brigade would commence a fierce attack against the

149th New York {{Infobox military unit , unit_name = 149th New York Infantry Regiment , image = Flag of New York (1778-1901).svg , image_size = 100 , dates = September 18, 1 ...

, capturing several Yankees, and taking their supply wagons. The attack was called off once the Confederates became aware of the threat of a counterattack against their rear. The Palmetto Sharpshooters would act as a rear guard for the division. 44 men would not return to their tents that night, including Major F.W. Kilpatrick, who was killed in the days fighting. As the months passed by, the regiment would be engaged in a number of small engagements and skirmishes, including hard fighting at the Battle of Cambells Station. December would see the regiment in winter quarters, starving, and with their numbers greatly depleted after a long year of campaigning.

1864

During the

Battle of the Wilderness The Battle of the Wilderness was fought on May 5–7, 1864, during the American Civil War. It was the first battle of Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Virginia Overland Campaign against General Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Arm ...

Jenkins brigade would be held in reserve during the actions against Hancock's Second Corp. Longstreet would launch a counterattack which Jenkins brigade is supposed to lead. However, the brigade would receive heavy friendly fire from Mahone's Virginia brigade, wounding General Longstreet and killing Jenkins. The attack would be tried again during the late afternoon, Jenkins’ Brigade, now under Colonel John Bratton of the 6th South Carolina Infantry, lead the attack against the log fortifications lining the Brock Road. The attack would be repulsed, but a ferocious bush fire would force the defenders back. Bratton's brigade took advantage of the breach and charged Union lines. However, Union artillery concentrated fire on the brigade, driving them back. The next few weeks would see heavy fighting for the Palmetto's during the battles at

Spotsylvania Courthouse Spotsylvania Courthouse is a census-designated place (CDP) and the county seat of Spotsylvania County, Virginia, located 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Fredericksburg. Recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census designated place (CDP), t ...

, North Anna, Totopotomy, and

Cold Harbor The Battle of Cold Harbor was fought during the American Civil War near Mechanicsville, Virginia, from May 31 to June 12, 1864, with the most significant fighting occurring on June 3. It was one of the final battles of Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S ...

. Casualties for the Palmetto's during the

Overland Campaign The Overland Campaign, also known as Grant's Overland Campaign and the Wilderness Campaign, was a series of battles fought in Virginia during May and June 1864, in the American Civil War. Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, general-in-chief of all Union ...

numbered (Note: Casualty figures may be off, as Confederate reports are really scarce, and sometimes not written.): *Wilderness: 8 killed, 65 wounded, Spotsylvania Courthouse: 3 killed, 31 wounded *North Anna: 1 killed, 3 wounded, Totopotomy: 2 killed, 3 wounded *Cold Harbor: 3 killed, 8 wounded, 3 missing The next major action for the Palmetto Sharpshooters would be at the

battle of Darbytown Road The Battle of Darbytown Road was fought on October 13, 1864, between Union and Confederate forces. The Confederates were attempting to retake ground they had lost to Federal forces during battles near Richmond, Virginia (Thus do we reach t ...

, the brigade would assault Federal positions suffering heavily in the process. Brigadier General Bratton would be killed during this action. On December 25 the regiment went into winter quarters, having lost 125 men since August. 1864 was a rough year for the sharpshooters, losing two brigade commanders and a number of officers.

1865

The Palmetto Sharpshooters would miss the actions during the breakthrough at Petersburg, and would frankly not see any more major actions for the rest of the war. The South Carolina Palmetto Sharpshooters surrendered at

Appomattox Court House Appomattox Court House could refer to: * The village of Appomattox Court House, now the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, in central Virginia (U.S.), where Confederate army commander Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union commander Ulyss ...

with the rest of the army on April 9, 1865. The regiment was the largest one in the army at the time of the surrender, numbering 29 officers and 356 men, commanded by Colonel Joseph Walker. Ironically, the South Carolinians shared rations and shook hands with the 16th Michigan, whose colors they had captured at Gaines Mill, two years ago. The regiment would stick together on its march to South Carolina, and would disband once they reached said state. The total casualty figures for the Palmetto Sharpshooters are unknown.

References

1862 establishments in the Confederate States of America 1865 disestablishments in the Confederate States of America Units and formations of the Confederate States Army from South Carolina Military units and formations established in 1862 Military units and formations disestablished in 1865

1862

1863

1864

1865

Further reading

See also

References