OVERVIEW OF REGIMENT:

The 2nd SC Cavalry, also known as Lipscomb's Regiment, was formed by merging the Cavalry Battalion-Hampton Legion (4 companies) with the 3rd (4th) SC Battalion-Cavalry (aka Easley's Squadron) (4 companies), plus the Independent Cavalry Company known as A.H. Boykin's Cavalry Troop (SC), and the Independent Cavalry Company known as Lipscomb's Cavalry Troop (SC). The regiment was created on August 22, 1862, and scarcely a week later, all except for Company A were in Virginia. When Company A reported to Col. Matthew Calbraith Butler on September 9, 1862 at Urbana, MD, the completed regiment was in the field facing Union forces.

The four (4) companies of the 3rd (4th) SC Battalion-Cavalry were based in South Carolina until August. The four (4) companies of the Cavalry Battalion-Hampton Legion were stationed on the Peninsula below Richmond, VA, as were the two Independent Cavalry Companies. The Cavalry Battalion-Hampton Legion moved near White Oak Swamp below Richmond on August 19th, but by August 26th they were in camp on the North Anna River, about thirty-five (35) miles north of Richmond.

As stated above, Company A joined the other nine (9) companies on September 9, 1862 at Urbana, MD. Those nine (9) were not engaged at either Cedar Mountain or 2nd Manassas, VA in August, however, all participated in pursuing Union forces after 2nd Manassas. For more on the detailed movements of this Cavalry Regiment, see the book cited below. However, all recorded skirmishes and battles are provided at the bottom of this page, so the reader can get a good idea about where they went and when.

After the last battle shown below—the Battle of Bentonville, NC—the 2nd SC Cavalry was ordered to perform picket duty about twenty (20) miles below Fayetteville, NC. It was then ordered to Charlotte, NC and from there to Chester Court House, SC, where it was furloughed by the end of April 1865. Records clearly show that this regiment was not with Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's (VA) Army of Tennessee when he surrendered on April 26, 1865 at Bennett's Place, near Durham, NC. It is also not clear whether or not the officers and men of the regiment received any paroles.

FIELD OFFICERS:

Matthew Calbraith Butler (1836-1909), of Edgefield, SC in Edgefield District, had served as Major in the Cavalry Battalion-Hampton Legion and was promoted to full Colonel on October 7, 1862, back-dated to August 22, 1862, of the newly-created 2nd SC Cavalry, which included the remnants of the Cavalry Battalion-Hampton Legion. On June 9, 1863, at the Battle of 1st Brandy Station, VA he was struck by a cannon ball just above the right ankle. Dr. Benjamin W. Taylor amputated the remainder of the stump on the field soon thereafter. Col. Butler was promoted to Brigadier General on September 1, 1863 and returned to active duty in May of 1864. He was later promoted to Major General on September 19, 1864.

Frank Hampton (1829-1863), of Richland District, was a brother of Col. Wade Hampton, III, and he too was promoted, to Lt. Colonel, on October 7, 1862, back-dated to August 22, 1862. He was earlier Captain of Company B in the 3rd (4th) SC Battalion-Cavalry, which was merged into this regiment as Company C. Lt. Col. Hampton was mortally wounded during the Battle of 1st Brandy Station, VA on June 9, 1863, and died a few hours later that afternoon. One source asserted that while Lt. Col. Hampton was engaging one Union cavalryman with his saber while another shot him through the body, and he died about 8 p.m. in a house near Stevensburg, VA. Other sources asserted he was killed by a saber cut to his face and he died in the wee hours of the next morning.

Thomas Jefferson Lipscomb (1833-1908), raised in Edgefield District but a practicing physician in Newberry District before the war, was earlier Captain of Lipscomb's Cavalry Troop (SC) until the 3rd (4th) SC Battalion-Cavalry was established on August 22, 1862. His Independent Company became Company G of the 2nd SC Cavalry, and Lipscomb became the regiment's first Major on October 7, 1862, back-dated to August 22, 1862. He was promoted to Lt. Colonel on July 23, 1863, back-dated to June 10, 1863, replacing Frank Hampton. Lt. Col. Lipscomb was wounded at the Battle of 2nd Brandy Station on August 1, 1863. He was promoted to full Colonel on October 24, 1863, back-dated to September 1, 1863, when Col. Matthew C. Butler was promoted to Brigadier General. Col. Lipscomb was captured while riding on the Goldsborough Road near Goldsborough, NC on March 25, 1865. He was heading towards Fayetteville for picket duty. Available records do not provide any information on his imprisonment nor parole.

Thomas Edward Screven, Jr. (1830-1911), of Beaufort District, was promoted from Captain of Company B to Major on July 23, 1863, back-dated to June 10, 1863, replacing Thomas J. Lipscomb, who was promoted to Lt. Colonel at that time. He was later promoted to Lt. Colonel on September 22, 1864 [?], back-dated to September 1, 1863, when Lipscomb was promoted to Colonel. Further records are unavailable. It is assumed he served until the regiment was furloughed at Chester Court House, SC in late April of 1865.

Several sources assert that Maj. William King Easley of the 3rd (4th) SC Battalion-Cavalry was made Lt. Colonel of the 2nd SC Cavalry, but these assertions are incorrect. The first Lt. Colonel of the newly-created 2nd SC Cavalry, Frank Hampton, was not commissioned until October 7, 1862, indicating the possibility that Maj. Easley might have been offered the position in August, but that he either refused or was not confirmed, and he therefore resigned on August 20, 1862. He never served in the 2nd SC Cavalry.

COMPANIES:

Company A—the Boykin Rangers—was previously the Independent Cavalry Company known as A.H. Boykin's Cavalry Troop (SC). It was composed of men primarily from Kershaw District, and with a few men from Barnwell, Charleston, Chester, Darlington, Laurens, Lexington, Richland, and Spartanburg Districts. This unit was assigned to the newly-created 2nd SC Cavalry on August 22, 1862, but it did not join the regiment until it reported to Col. Matthew C. Butler, on September 9, 1862, at Urbana, MD. Capt. Alexander Hamilton Boykin continued to lead this unit as Company A in the 2nd SC Cavalry, until protracted dyspepsia and a nervous irritation forced him to resign, effective October 1, 1862. 1st Lt. John Chesnut was promoted to Captain on the same date, and he led the Company until at least March 10, 1865. Further records are unavailable. It is assumed he served until the regiment was furloughed at Chester Court House, SC in late April of 1865.

Company B—the Beaufort District Troop (aka Beaufort Dragoons)—was previously Company C in the Cavalry-Battalion-Hampton Legion, and was assigned to the 2nd SC Cavalry on August 22, 1862. Capt. Thomas Edward Screven, Jr. continued to lead this unit as Company B in the 2nd SC Cavalry until he was promoted to Major on July 23, 1863, back-dated to June 10, 1863. 3rd Lt. Abram Miles Ruth succeeded him as Captain on November 2, 1863. On August 1, 1863, 3rd Lt. Ruth was badly wounded in the left shoulder on August 1, 1863 at the Battle of 2nd Brandy Station; his wound was nearly fatal, and his shoulder joint had to be resected by surgeons at Hospital #10 in Richmond, VA. Capt. Ruth retired to the Invalid Corps on September 26, 1864 and was assigned duty at the Andersonville Military Prison on October 14, 1864. He surrendered at Augusta, GA on May 29, 1865. Per primary source below—Robert S. Seigler—it is assumed that Company B was then led by a Lieutenant (name not provided) until the regiment was furloughed at Chester Court House, SC in late April of 1865. Per Lisa Jeffers Fulton of Huntsville, AL, that Lieutenant was her ancestor's brother (her great grand uncle), 2nd Lt. Thomas Anderson Jeffers, from the town of Greenwood, SC in Abbeville District.

Company C—the Congaree Rangers—was previously Company B of the 3rd (4th) SC Battalion-Cavalry, with Capt. Frank Hampton leading the unit while in that battalion and the early days of this regiment. When the 2nd SC Cavalry was established he was promoted to Lt. Colonel on October 7, 1862, back-dated to August 22, 1862. At the same time, 1st Lt. John F. Meighan was promoted to Captain to succeed him. Despite frequent hospitalizations for dyspepsia and rheumatism, he was the only Captain of Company C while it was in the 2nd SC Cavalry. Further records are unavailable. It is assumed he served until the regiment was furloughed at Chester Court House, SC in late April of 1865.

Company D—the Wassamassaw Cavalry (aka the Wassa Massaw Rangers)—was previously Company D in the 3rd (4th) SC Battalion-Cavalry), with Capt. John C. McKewn leading that unit before and after it was merged into the 2nd SC Cavalry on August 22, 1862. In failing health since September of 1862, Capt. McKewn resigned on May 22, 1863. 1st Lt. Andrew J. Hydrick was promoted to Captain the next day. Further records are unavailable. It is assumed he served until the regiment was furloughed at Chester Court House, SC in late April of 1865.

Company E—Dean's Company—was previously Company C of the 3rd (4th) SC Battalion-Cavalry, with Capt. Alvin H. Dean leading that unit before and after it was merged into the 2nd SC Cavalry on August 22, 1862. He resigned on February 23, 1863 because his wife was in poor health and he had two small children back home that needed him. He later returned to the company in September or October of 1864, and he served as a Brevet 2nd Lieutenant until the end of the war. 1st Lt. George Bobo Dean, his brother, succeeded him as Captain on February 23, 1863, and was wounded at the Battle of 2nd Brandy Station, VA on August 1, 1863. Further records are unavailable. It is assumed he served until the regiment was furloughed at Chester Court House, SC in late April of 1865.

Company F—Easley's Company—was previously Company A of the 3rd (4th) SC Battalion-Cavalry, with Capt. John W. Westfield leading that unit before and after it was merged into the 2nd SC Cavalry on August 22, 1862. Further records are unavailable. It is assumed he served until the regiment was furloughed at Chester Court House, SC in late April of 1865.

Company G—the Bonham Light Dragoons (aka Lipscomb's Troop)—was previously the Independent Cavalry Company known as Lipscomb's Cavalry Troop (SC), and was assigned to the newly-created 2nd SC Cavalry on August 22, 1862. Most of the men were from Newberry, Abbeville, and Laurens Districts, but a few came from Charleston, Edgefield, and Richland Districts. The Edgefield Advertiser reported on February 11, 1863 that this company was from Edgefield District. Capt. Thomas Jefferson Lipscomb commanded the unit until shortly after it was accepted into the 2nd SC Cavalry; he was elected Major of the 2nd SC Cavalry on October 7, 1862, back-dated to August 22, 1862. 1st Lt. Jesse Wistar Gary succeeded him as Captain of Company G at the same time. Further records are unavailable. It is assumed he served until the regiment was furloughed at Chester Court House, SC in late April of 1865.

Company H—the Congaree Troop—was previously Company D in the Cavalry Battalion-Hampton Legion, and it was assigned to the 2nd SC Cavalry on August 22, 1862. The Charleston Mercury reported on July 8, 1861, that the Congaree Mounted Riflemen or the Congaree Rifles had changed its name to the Congaree Troop, the name most commonly used. The Memory Roll, however, referred to the company as the Congaree Mounted Infantry, and the Confederate Veteran referred to it as the Richland Light Dragoons. Capt. James P. Macfie commanded the company before and after it was merged into the 2nd SC Cavalry. Further records are unavailable. It is assumed he served until the regiment was furloughed at Chester Court House, SC in late April of 1865.

Company I—the Edgefield Hussars (aka the Edgefield Dragoons)—was previously Company A of the Cavalry Battalion-Hampton Legion, and was assigned to the 2nd SC Cavalry on August 22, 1862. Capt. Tillman H. Clark commanded the company before and after it was merged into the 2nd SC Cavalry. He was wounded on September 13, 1863 at the Skirmish at Stevensburg, VA. Capt. Clark commanded the company before and after it was merged into the 2nd SC Cavalry. Further records are unavailable. It is assumed he served until the regiment was furloughed at Chester Court House, SC in late April of 1865.

Company K—the Brooks Guards (aka Brooks Troop, aka Brooks Dragoons)—was previously Company B of the Cavalry Battalion-Hampton Legion, and it was assigned to the 2nd SC Cavalry on August 22, 1862. Capt. Leonard Williams commanded the company before and after it was merged into the 2nd SC Cavalry. He received a flesh wound in the neck and shoulder from a pistol shot in hand-to-hand fighting on August 1, 1863 at the Battle of 2nd Brandy Station, VA. He continued to lead Company K until the regiment was furloughed at Chester Court House, SC in late April of 1865.

BRIGADE AFFILIATIONS:

From inception until March of 1864, the 2nd SC Cavalry served in Brig. Gen. Wade Hampton, III's (SC) Brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia, which also included the 1st SC Cavalry, the 9th NC Regiment (1st NC Cavalry), the Jefferson Davis Legion (GA), the Cobb Legion (GA), the Phillips Legion (GA), and Hart's Battery (SC).

After Wade Hampton, III was promoted to Major General then Lt. General, the commanders of his Brigade were: Brig. Gen. Matthew C. Butler (SC), Brig. Gen. William H.F. Lee (VA), and Brig. Gen. Pierce M.B. Young (GA).

In March of 1864, the 1st SC Cavalry and the 2nd SC Cavalry were sent back to the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

By December of 1864, the 2nd SC Cavalry was attached to the Department of North Carolina, serving in Maj. Gen. Robert F. Hoke's (NC) Division and Brig. Gen. Johnson Hagood's (SC) Brigade. The 2nd SC Cavalry is NOT listed with many other South Carolina Cavalry Regiments attached to Brig. Gen. Thomas M. Logan's (SC) Brigade, Maj. Gen. Matthew C. Butler's (SC) Division, Lt. Gen. Wade Hampton, III's (SC) Corps.

KEY ENGAGEMENTS:

See below. Details about the movements of this regiment can be found in the book cited directly below.