On January 17, 1775, the SC First Provincial Congress resolved "that the inhabitants be diligently attentive in learning the use of arms; and that their officers be requested to train and exercise them at least once a fortnight." By th end of February of 1775, each parish and district had assembled companies and some regiments of militia, albeit that their readiness varied greatly.

On June 6, 1775, the SC First Provincial Congress resolved "that two regiments of foot, each to consist of seven hundred and fifty rank and file, be forthwith officered, raised, paid, and disciplines, and put under the direction of Congress." That same day, it also resolved "that a regiment of rangers, to consist of four hundred and fifty privates, be also forthwith officered, raised, paid, and disciplined, and put under the direction of the Congress."

These three regiments were South Carolina Provincial Troops and yet many considered them to be a State militia. In some ways they were simply a militia until the SC Second Provincial Congress met and on November 21, 1775 they resolved "that the commissioned officers of the colony regular troops take precedence of officers of equal degree in the militia, without regard to prior dates of commissions in the latter, provided nevertheless, that a 2nd Lieutenant in the regulars shall be subordinate to a 1st Lieutenant in the militia, and so on in gradation in the regulars and militia respectively. The the precedency in the regular forces be according to the number and denomination of the regiments of infantry, and rangers, and the regiment of artillery, according to the custom of the British army. That all corps of regulars take precedence of all corps of militia. And that the regiments of militia shall take precedence in the following manner: Berkeley County, Charles Town, Granville County, Colleton County, Craven County the lower part, Orangeburg, Craven County the upper part, Camden, Ninety-Six North of the Fish-dam Ford and between Enoree, Broad and Saludy Rivers, the New Acquisition South of the Fish-dam Ford, and between Broad and Saludy Rivers North of Enoree, and between Broad and Saludy Rivers."

Also in June of 1775, the SC First Provincial Government acknowledged the need for more than the three regiments of SC State Troops and called for each County and District to go forth and establish their own respective groups of militia as they had been doing before under British rule. Within a month, the following units of "militia" were raised:

Camden District Regiment of Militia - Col. Richard Richardson

Charles Town District Regiment of Horse - Col. William Moultrie

Charles Town District Regiment of Infantry - Maj. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney

Cheraws District Regiment of Militia - Col. George Gabriel Powell

Ninety-Six District Regiment of Militia - Col. John Savage

Orangeburge District Regiment of Militia - Col. William Thomson

Forks of Saluda District Regiment of Militia - Col. Robert Starke

Upper Saluda District Regiment of Militia - Col. Thomas Fletchall

New Acquisition District Regiment of Militia - Col. Thomas Neel

Berkeley County Regiment of Militia - Col. Richard Singleton

Colleton County Regiment of Militia - Col. Joseph Glover

Craven County Regiment of Militia - Col. Job Rothmaler

Granville County Regiment of Militia - Col. Stephen Bull

The two regiments first raised in the Charles Town District became the nucleus for the first two SC State Regiments of Infantry, and the regiment raised by Col. William Thomson in the Orangeburgh District became the nucleus for the third SC State Regiment of Rangers. The remainder of the Charles Town District Regiment of Militia was given to Maj. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney and he was soon promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. The Orangeburgh Regiment of Militia was turned over to Lt. Col. Christopher Rowe.

As one would expect, changes began almost immediately after the formation of these regiments of militia. Col. Thomas Fletchall decided by September that he was "at heart" a Loyalist and was forced to resign. The Upper Saluda Regiment was then given to Lt. Col. John Thomas. Col. John Boddeley soon took over the Berkeley County Regiment of Militia, and Maj. Andrew Williamson took over the Ninety-Six District Regiment of Militia.

In August of 1775, the three regiments of SC Troops went on a recruiting trip to North Carolina, Virginia, and the South Carolina backcountry to try to raise more men to fill their rosters. While away, the leaders in South Carolina established a training station within Charleston for the new recruits to gather and to learn the art of warfare.

As some of the citizens were not settled as to which side of the Revolution they wanted to support, the South Carolina legislature decided to fix the wavering and to intimidate those disaffected by marching a large body of SC State Troops through the interior of the State. On August 10, 1775, Col. William Thomson and his SC 3rd Regiment of Rangers were ordered to send three companies of the Rangers to Orangeburgh, then to the Three Runs area, then down the Savannah River to Purrysburg, then to Pon Pon, and downwards by the high road. He was instructed to send another three companies to Kingstree, Waccamaw, and Pee Dee, then to Georgetown, and finally to Wambaw. He was instructed to send two more companies to Monck's Corner, then to Edisto Saw Mills, then through Horse Shoe and Round O, and finally to Parker's Ferry.

In November of 1775, Col. William Moultrie ordered that Fort Dorchester be established to serve as a backcountry storehouse for ammunition, ordinance, stores, and public records.

On November 13, 1775, the SC Second Provincial Congress resolved "that, as there is a great want of men to manage and fire the artillery in Fort Johnson, and the other fortifications now erected, and such batteries as it may hereafter be thought necessary to erect, a regiment of artillery be forthwith raised and embodyed, to serve either in garrison or otherwise, by land or water, as the service of the colony may require, to consist of three companies of one hundred men each, including non-commissioned officers and gunners."

This regiment of artillery was designated the SC 4th Regiment of Artillery, with command given to Lt. Col. Owen Roberts, seconded by Maj. Barnard Elliott. They were authorized 500 rank and file and were stationed on James Island near the old Fort Johnson. This new regiment was soon busy repairing old batteries - Broughton's, Lyttleton's, Grenville's, and Craven's; and constructing new batteries - Gadsden's, the Exchange, Beal's, and Gibbes'.

On November 18, 1775, the SC Second Provincial Congress resolved "that every company of militia throughout the colony should be assembled, musterd, trained, and exercised once a fortnight." The next day, the Congress agreed to place Col. Thomas Polk of North Carolina and six companies of his men on the South Carolina State payroll, with him reporting to Col. Richard Richardson.

The following week, on November 23rd, the Congress resolved "that where any person hath regularly entered into a volunteer company, he shall not be at liberty to leave the same, without giving his Captain three months notice in writing, of his intention to do so, and without first producing to his said Captain a certificate from some other Captain of the regiment that he hath enrolled himself in another company; unless the commanding Officer of the regiment shall, on sufficient cause to him shewn, make order to the contrary."

The next day, November 24th, the Congress resolved "that the Colonels of the militia in the country, do, at least once in three months, muster their regiments in battalions, not exceeding six companies, nor less than three companies."

In January of 1776, an artillery battery was constructed at Georgetown with six heavy cannon mounted. This battery was led by Capt. Paul Trapier, Jr. as an independent artillery company.

On February 9, 1776, the SC Second Provincial Congress established three "new districts" in the Ninety-Six District - the Lower District (aka Dutch Fork District), the Little River District, and the Upper District (aka the Spartan District). On March 23rd, Congress resolved "that the fork between Saludy and Broad Rivers, be divided into three regiments, according to the divisions of districts by the resolve of Congress of the 9th of February last, one regiment in each said district."

Within a month, three new regiments of militia were raised:

Dutch Fork District Regiment of Militia - Lt. Col. Andrew Pickens

Little River District Regiment of Militia - Lt. Col. James Williams

Spartan District Regiment of Militia - Lt. Col. John Thomas

On February 22, 1776, the SC Second Provincial Congress, under pressure from the Continental establishment, resolved "That a regiment of expert Rifle-men, to take rank as the fifth regiment, under proper field and other officers, be immediately raised, to consist of seven companies; each company to consist of one Captain, two Lieutenants, one Ensign, and one hundred men, including four Sergeants, and four Corporals." That same day, the Congress authorized a new company of artillery for Fort Lyttleton in Beaufort, and a new company of artillery to be stationed at Georgetown.

Six days later, the SC Second Provincial Congress resolved "That a second regiment of Rifle-men, to rank as the sixth regiment, in the colony service, be raised as soon as possible; to consist of five companies of one hundred men each, under a Lieutenant Colonel Commandant, and a Major; upon the same terms and establishment as the first regiment of Rifle-men."

Within a month, these two new regiments of SC State Troops were raised:

SC 5th Regiment of Riflemen - Col. Isaac Huger

SC 6th Regiment of Riflement - Lt. Col. Thomas Sumter

Several appointed captains in these new regiments declined to serve since they had already created companies of militia and felt that their service would be better utilized in that capacity.

A special committee was formed to investigate how to best cooperate militarily with neighboring North Carolina, and the two provinces hammered out an agreement that was approved by the SC Second Provincial Congress on March 22, 1776, in which they resolved "That three hundred men from Col. Powell's regiment, and two hundred from [Lt.] Col. Horry's (exclusive of the militia on Waccamaw Neck) nearest to the North Carolina boundary-line, be draughted and held in readiness, to march, on shortest notice, when required, to the assistance of that colony. That one thousand men, from the district of Salisbury [NC], should be draughted, and held in readiness, to march, on the shortest notice, when required, to the assistance of this colony. And, That all expenses attending troops sent, from on, to the relief of the other colony, should be paid by the colony from which they are sent; and that on stating a proper account between the two colonies, the balance, in which one shall be indebted to the other, shall be forthwith paid."

On March 23, 1776, the SC Second Provincial Congress resolved "That the regiment of militia, commanded by Col. Richard Richardson, be, in the following manner, divided into four battalions; each under a Lieutenant-Colonel and Major resident in the district, and the whole under the command of Col. Richardson, viz. That part of the said regiment lying eastward of Santee and Wateree rivers, into two battalions, to be divided by Rafting Creek, from the mouth and north branch thereof up to its source, and thence by a line due east to Lynch's creek; and the other part of the said regiment, lying westward of Wateree river, into two other battalions, to be divided by Wateree creek, and the south branch thereof up to its source, then down Jackson's creek to the mouth, and to Shyra's ferry on Broad River."

On June 18, 1776, the Continental Congress resolved "That the battalion of artillery and the two other battalions of foot raised in South Carolina and kept up in that Colony for the defence of the same, be considered as Continental forces and allowed the same pay, rations and disbursements as other forces on the Continental Establishment.

That the two battalions under the command of Colonels Gadsden and Moultrie be allowed all the advantages of the Continental Establishment from the fourth day of November last, and the regiment of artillery from the time when the same was ordered to be raised by the Provincial Congress or Convention in South Carolina.

That the two battalions of rifle men, raised in and for the defence of the said Colony, be considered as Continental troops from the 25th day of March last, and be intitled to all the advantages of the same.

That all the above mentioned troops be liable to the Articles for the government of the forces in the said Colony.

That the said forces be continued on the Continental Establishment until the expiration of their inlistment, unless they shall be sooner disbanded by the Congress.

That not more than one third of the effective men of the above mentioned forces be ordered out the said Colony without the express order of Congress, or the consent of the President of that Colony."

On July 24, 1776, the Continental Congress resolved "That the regiment of Rangers now in the pay of the State of South Carolina be placed upon Continental Establishment, and that it consist of a Lieutenant Colonel Commandant, a Major, ten Captains, twenty Lieutenants, a Surgeon, a Paymaster, twenty Sergeants and five hundred Privates.

That the pay of the Lieutenant Colonel Commandant be the same as a Colonel of Foot, a Major that of a Lieutenant Colonel, a Captain that of a Major, and the Lieutenants that of a Captain, and Sergeants that of Ensigns of Foot of the Continental forces. That the Surgeon be allowed thirty-three and one third dollars per month, the Paymaster twenty-six and two thirds, and the Privates twelve and an half dollars per month to provide themselves with horses, guns, and provisions for themselves and horses.

That the said Rangers be liable to act on horseback or foot as occasion may require.

That the like number of Rangers be raised in the State of Georgia and put upon Continental Establishment.

That these be intitled to the same pay, and subjecct to the same duties, as the Carolina Rangers.

That the Rangers raised in the State of South Carolina be subject to the Articles formed by the convention of that State for the government of the forces raised therein."

On September 20, 1776, the South Carolina General Assembly resolved "That this House do acquiese to the Resolves of the Continental Congress of the 18th of June and 24th of July, relating to putting the two Regiments of Infantry, the Regiment of Rangers, the Regiment of Artillery and the two Regiments of Riflemen in the service of this State, on the Continental Establishment."

On October 1, 1776, the South Carolina General Assembly resolved "That this House will ballot for Commissioners to superintend and direct the Naval affairs of the State of South Carolina." And, the House having proceeded to ballot accordingly, it appeared that Edward Blake, Thomas Savage, Josiah Smith, Jr., Thomas Corbett, Roger Smith, George Abbot Hall, and Thomas Shubrick, had the majority of votes.