15th South Carolina Infantry Regiment

15th South Carolina InfantryLink title

Summary

The 15th South Carolina’s initial trial-by-fire occurred on Hilton Head Island during the Battle of Port Royal Sound on November 7, 1861. Following the Regiment’s service on the coast of South Carolina, the unit was transferred to Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia (ANV) in July 1862. As part of Lee’s Army, the 15th SC served in James Longstreet’s corps in all of the ANV battles from 2nd Manassas onward, including Sharpsburg and South Mountain. In November 1862, the 15th South Carolina joined Brigadier General Joseph B. Kershaw’s famous South Carolina brigade where the regiment remained for the rest of the War. As part of Kershaw’s brigade, the 15th SC fought in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Following the battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, Kershaw’s brigade were sent by General Lee, along with two divisions of Longstreet’s corps, to the Western Army where they fought in the battles of Chicamauga, Knoxville and Bean Station. In April 1864, the 15th SC and the rest of Kershaw's brigade returned to Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia command and fought in the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor and the siege of Petersburg. In August 1864, Lee ordered Kershaw’s brigade to the Shenandoah Valley where the men fought in the battles at Charlestown, Hupp’s Hill and Cedar Creek. In January of 1865, General Lee ordered Kershaw’s brigade to return to South Carolina to oppose Major General William Tecumseh Sherman’s army during his march through the Carolinas.

Following the evacuation of Charleston where the 15th South Carolina was one of the last Confederate fighting units to leave the city and the battles of Averasboro and Bentonville in North Carolina, the Regiment was surrendered, along with the remaining men of Kershaw’s brigade, to General Sherman as part of General Joseph E. Johnston’s Army of Tennessee in Greensboro, NC on April 26, 1865. Kershaw’s brigade and the 15th South Carolina Infantry served as the last Confederate provost guard protecting food and ordinance stores in Greensboro before finally returning to their homes in South Carolina.

References

A History of the 15th South Carolina Infantry: 1861-1865 by James B. Clary. For additional information, see www.15thscinfantry.com.