The South Carolina Line was a formation within the Continental Army. The term "South Carolina Line" referred to the quota of numbered infantry regiments assigned to South Carolina at various times by the Continental Congress. These, together with similar contingents from the other twelve states, formed the Continental Line. The concept was particularly important in relation to the promotion of commissioned officers. Officers of the Continental Army below the rank of brigadier general were ordinarily ineligible for promotion except in the line of their own state.
Units belonging to the State Line
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The following units belonged to the South Carolina State troops initially and were transferred to the Continental Army on the dates indicated. The original commanders, their ranks, and the dates the units were established and disbanded are included.[1][2]
| Unit | Date established | Disbanded | Continental Line, Date | Original Commander, Rank | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Regiment (Infantry) | June 6, 1775 | May 12, 1780 | Yes, November 4, 1775 | Christopher Gadsden, Col | [3] |
| 2nd Regiment (Infantry) | June 6, 1775 | May 12, 1780 | November 4, 1775 | William Moultrie, Col | [4] |
| 3rd Regiment (Rangers) | June 6, 1775 | May 12, 1780 | July 24, 1776 | William Thomson, LTC | [5] |
| 4th Regiment (Artillery) | November 14, 1775 | May 12, 1780 | June 18, 1776 | Owen Roberts, LTC | [6] |
| 5th Regiment (Rifles) | February 22, 1776 | Feb. 1780 | March 25, 1776 | Isaac Huger, Col | [7] |
| 6th Regiment (Rifles) | February 28, 1776 | Feb. 1780 | March 25, 1776 | Thomas Sumter, LTC | [8] |
All of the State Troops that became Continental Line were effectively decimated during the Siege of Charleston—either by action or by surrender on May 12, 1780.
Engagements
editBetween July 1775 and May 1780, the six regiments participated in engagements in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.[1]
| Date | Battle/Skirmish | State | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul. 9, 1775 | Bloody Point | SC | x | |||||
| Jul. 12, 1775 | Fort Charlotte | SC | x | |||||
| Sep. 15, 1775 | Fort Johnson | SC | x | x | ||||
| Sep. 18, 1775 | Battle of Sullivan's Island | SC | x | x | ||||
| Oct. 31, 1775 | Congaree River | SC | x | |||||
| Nov. 3, 1775 | Mine Creek | SC | x | |||||
| Nov. 11-12, 1775 | Hog Island Channel | SC | x | |||||
| Nov. 19-21, 1775 | Ninety-Six | SC | x | |||||
| Dec. 22, 1775 | Battle of Great Cane Brake | SC | x | |||||
| Dec. 23-30, 1775 | Snow Campaign | SC | x | |||||
| Jun. 26, 1776 | Cherokee Indian Towns | SC | x | |||||
| Jun. 28, 1776 | Breach Inlet Naval Battle | SC | x | |||||
| Jun. 28, 1776 | Fort Moultrie | SC | x | |||||
| Jun. 28, 1776 | Battle of Fort Moultrie/Sullivan's Island | SC | x | x | x | x | x | |
| Jul. 15, 1776 | Lyndley's Fort | SC | x | |||||
| Jul. 21, 1776 | Spencer's Inlet | SC | x | |||||
| Aug. 1, 1776 | Seneca Town | SC | x | x | x | |||
| Aug. 8-11, 1776 | Cherokee Towns | SC | x | x | x | |||
| Aug. 10, 1776 | Tugaloo River | SC | x | |||||
| Aug. 12, 1776 | Tamassee | SC | x | x | ||||
| Aug. 12, 1776 | The Ring Fight | SC | x | |||||
| Sep. 1776 | St. Augustine Expedition | FL | x | x | ||||
| Sep. 19, 1776 | Coweecho River | NC | x | |||||
| Oct. 14, 1776 | Altamaha River | GA | x | |||||
| Feb. 23 - Mar. 15, 1777 | Fort McIntosh | GA | x | |||||
| Mar. 7, 1778 | Barbados | SC | x | |||||
| May - July 1778 | Florida Expedition | SC | x | |||||
| Dec. 29, 1778 | Savannah | GA | x | x | x | x | ||
| Jan. 6-10, 1779 | Fort Morris | GA | x | x | ||||
| Feb. 1, 1779 | Fort Lyttelton | SC | x | |||||
| Feb. 3, 1779 | Battle of Beaufort/Port Royal Island | SC | x | x | x | x | x | |
| Feb. 21, 1779 | Georgetown | SC | x | |||||
| Mar. 3, 1779 | Battle of Brier/Briar Creek | GA | x | x | x | x | ||
| Mar. 6, 1779 | Georgetown | SC | x | |||||
| Apr. - Jul. 1779 | Prevost's March | SC | x | |||||
| Apr. - May, 1779 | Prevost's March on Charleston | SC | x | |||||
| Apr. 19, 1779 | Savannah | GA | x | |||||
| Apr. 29, 1779 | Purrysburg | SC | x | |||||
| May 1779 | Prevost's March on Charleston | SC | x | |||||
| May 3, 1779 | Coosawhatchie | SC | x | x | x | |||
| May 11–13, 1779 | Charleston Neck | SC | x | x | x | |||
| Jun. 20, 1779 | Battle of Stono Ferry | SC | x | x | x | x | x | |
| Jul. 21, 1779 | Ebenezer | GA | x | |||||
| Jul. 23, 1779 | Savannah River | SC | x | |||||
| Sep. 16 - Oct. 18, 1779 | Siege of Savannah | GA | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| Mar. 12, 1780 | Two Sisters' Ferry | SC | x | |||||
| Mar. 28 - May 12, 1780 | Siege of Charleston | SC | x | x | x | x | ||
| Mar. 29-30, 1780 | Gibbes' Plantation | SC | x | |||||
| Apr. 8, 1780 | Sullivan's Island | SC | x | |||||
| Apr. 12, 1780 | Sullivan's Island | SC | x | |||||
| Apr. 25, 1780 | Sullivan's Island | SC | x | |||||
| May 2, 1780 | Haddrell's Point | SC | x | |||||
| May 7, 1780 | Fort Moultrie | SC | x |
See also
edit- List of South Carolina militia units in the American Revolution for a list of South Carolina militia and State troops.
References
edit- ^ a b Lewis, J.D. "South Carolina in the America Revolution, Provincial and State Troops". Retrieved March 25, 2019.
- ^ Heitman, Francis B. (1914). Historical Register of the Officers of the Continental Army During the War of the Revolution. p. 54. ISBN 9780806301761., via Google Books
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 1st Regiment (Infantry)". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 2nd Regiment (Infantry)". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 3rd Regiment (Rangers)". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 4th Regiment (Artillery)". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 5th Regiment (Rifles)". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 6th Regiment (Rifles)". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- Wright, Robert K. The Continental Army. Washington, D.C.: United States Army Center of Military History, 1983. Available TOC, Book.
- Bibliography of the Continental Army in South Carolina compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History