Smithfield, NC Consolidation
9 April 1865
South Carolina State Troops
Senior Reserves

The battalions served as a source of replacements thru most of their existence, Constantly have boys turning 18 being detached and reassigned to "regular" CSA units. Unit cohesion was difficult to maintain with the needs of the State so great. In addition, battalions were split up with comapnies being sent to perform a task, then comapnies broken down into squads of 10 to 20 troops, acting pretty much indepentant of each other.

After the Batlle of Bentonsville, March 19 thru 21, South Carolina CSA units were a mere shadow of their former greatness. For example, on 23 March 1865 muster, Kershaw's Brigade could muster less than 1,200 men, ready for duty, the 2nd Regiment with 184, the 3rd Regiment with 191, 3rd Battalion with 129, 7th Regiment with 222, 8th Regiment with 52, 15th Regiment with 162. anf the 20th Regiment with 243. Effectively, Kershaw's was not much more than a full regiment.

On 9 April 1965, the final reorganization was done. Some of the battalions appear to have lost their identity when they were merged with old line South Carolina CSA. 3rd Heavy Artillery Regiment (known as The Enlisted men and fighting as infantry in 1865) and units of Kershaw's Brigade, including 2nd (Palmetto) Regiment, 3rd Regiment, 3rd (Lauren's or James') Battalion, 7th Regiment, 8th Regiment, 15th Regiment, and 20th Regiment. These new units are identified as Consolidated or Reorganized and were the 2nd Regiment, 3rd Regiment, and 7th Regiment. When General Joseph E. Johnston, commaner of the Army of Tennessee, confirmed Lee's surrender on 13 April 1865, he released the South Carolina Reserves from further service.

Senior Reserves <

If you have any information about these troops or these units, please contact me at

Bil Brasington