Historical Sketch And Roster Of The Holcombe Legion Infantry
Rigdon, John C.
Synopsis "Historical Sketch And Roster Of The Holcombe Legion Infantry"
The Holcombe Legion, South Carolina was organized November 21, 1861 with a cavalry and infantry battalion but no artillery companies. The infantry battalion was formed with eight companies, later increased to ten. During the war it was attached to Evans', Elliot's, and Wallace's Brigade. The Holcombe Legion fought in the Second Battle of Bull Run (or Second Manassas), South Mountain and Antietam (or Sharpsburg), all in August and September 1862. The legion suffered 24 dead and 131 wounded at Second Manassas, and DuBose wrote, "The Holcombe Legion was practically destroyed as a regiment; when we gathered up the remains there were about a hundred men." The legion served as skirmishers for a delaying force at the Battle of South Mountain. In September 1863, it mustered 276 men. It participated in the 1864 Siege of Petersburg and the 1865 Appomattox Campaign. A portion of Holcombe Legion was present at the surrender on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia.The Spartanburg District supplied most of the men for Companies A, B, C, E, I, and K of the Holcombe Legion. One or more of the companies might have been organized at Cowpens.-Company A (also known as Smith's Riflemen and the Palmetto Riflemen) - Spartanburg District (County)-Company B (also known as the Batesville Volunteers) - Spartanburg District (County)-Company C (also known as the Morgan Rifles) - Spartanburg Dstrict (County)-Company D (also known as the Stevens Guards) - Barnwell District (County)-Company E (also known as the Spartan Guards, possible the Camden Rangers) - Spartanburg and Laurens Districts (Counties)-Company F (also known as the Ripley Guards) -Abbeville and Laurens Districts (Counties)-Company G - Newberry District (County), a few men from Fairfield, Abbeville, Laurens, Union and Greenville Districts (Counties)-Company H (also known as the Frog Level Scouts) - Newberry (Frog Level now Prosperity township) District (County)-Company I (also known as the Fort Prince Guards) - Spartanburg District (County)-Company K (also known as the Lucas Guards) - Kershaw (Camden area) District (County)
