Columbia Local Defense Regiment South Carolina State Troops

Historical Notes:
Columbia Local Defense Regiment South Carolina State Troops was raised in Columbia in June 1864 and consisted of those whose worked in the factory were considered more valuable to the defense of the State than deployment into the field. A report from Chestnut indicates that total strength was approximately 800. The regiment was also called the "First Regiment of Detailed Men" and was raised for the defense and protection of Columbia. No roster appears to exist and it is unclear who served exactly when. The only indication that I have found for any service is that they appear to have left Columbia and made it to Cheraw. There is a unit there "of old men unable for the rigors of the march" who turned their weapons over to the Boy troops form The Arsenal. Whether this unit was from Columbia or not is hard to say but its location makes it likely.

I know Captain R. D. Seen was listed as Post Commandant of the section of the Jail where the Union POW's were kept. It is not clear whether he was part (he pre-dates its formation) of the Local Defense Battalion or if he or any of his Company were at Camp Sorghum or Camp Lunancy. The lack of information on the Jail or its POW's lead me to believe they were not. Officers:
Officers elected 27 June 1864

Sloan, John Bales Earle, Colonel, born 1829 and died 1906, previously commanded the 4th Infantry before it was disbanded in 1862. Resigned 13 July 1864

Radcliffe, T. M., Lieutenant Colonel. Resigned August 1864

Sharp, Thomas R., Major and Assistant Quarter Master. Resigned 30 July 1864

Sloan, Radcliffe, and Sharp all resigned their offices in the regiment when the Quartermaster General determined they were incompatible with their appointments in the Quartermaster Deptartment.

After above resigniations:

Thomas, John Peyre, Captain, commandant at The Arsenal, Columbia, SC was promoted to the rank of Colonel and Captain Benjamin F. Evans was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel

Assignments:

Columbia Military Prison

Richland County Jail Service Captain Rufus D. Senn - Richland District

Battles:
The Carolinas Campaign Roster:

Company 1 - Company 1 - Captain C. C. McPhail - operatives at the Arsenal

Company 2 - Captain Benjamin F. Evans - operatives at Evans and Cogswell Co. and at Stebbins and Bayne and Co. Captain Evans was a partner in Evans & Cogswell, Confederate Printers and Lithographers, and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel after the resignation of Thomas W. Radcliffe.

Company 3 - Captain John Judge - operatives at John Judge and Co. and Kraft, Goldsmith and Kraft

Company 4 - Captain J. J. Chisolm - operatives etc at the Quartermaster, Commissary and Medical Departments, Central Bureau, and C. F. Jackson's

Company 5 - Captain S. G. Jamison - operatives at S. G. Jamison. William Giese, and Grant and Valory

Company 6 - Captain L. F. Robertson - operatives at W. Y. Leitch, the Banks, Depository, Post Office, Naval Powder Mills, Henry Hunt, Deputy Marshal.

Company 7 - Captain W. B. Smith - operatives at S. C. Railroad Co. and workshops

Company 8 - Captain Thomas R. Sharp - operatives at Charlotte and S. C. Railroad Co.

Company 9 - Captain Edward A. Keatinge - operatives at Keatinge and Bull and John Alexander. "The Ball Guard". It is also referred to as Company F.

Company 10 - Captain J. B. LaSalle - *probably* operatives at the S.C. Railroad

Source:
The page is based on a page by Bil Brasington that was previously on line at http://www.geocities.com:80/sc_seedcorn/BnColaLD.htm Bibliography for Research: