The Fourth Alabama Painting by Don Troiani

First Brigade, Army of the Potomac

Colonel J B Kershaw

Colonel J B Kershaw, commanding the 2nd South Carolina Infantry

Second South Carolina Infantry

Mustered in Confederate service on 22 May, 1861, and arrived at Manassas on 24 May, 1861

COLONEL J B KERSHAW
LIEUTENANT COLONEL E P JONES
MAJOR A D GOODWYN

Company A Governor's Guards: CAPT. W H CASSON
Company B Butler Guards: CAPT. A D HOKE
The company was officially transferred from the 4th South Carolina Infantry, Company A, between May 16 and 24 June, 1861 (See the 4th South Carolina Infantry).
Company C Columbia or Richland Greys: CAPT. W H WALLACE
Company D Sumter Volunteers: CAPT. J S RICHARDSON, JR.
On 28 April, 1862, twenty one members of the company, under Sergeant H R Garden, formed the Palmetto Light Artillery, under the command of Captain H R Garden, and, after 25, June, 1862, was ordered to Virginia, and assigned to Major B W Frobel's Battalion Artillery.
Company E Camden Volunteers or Light Infantry: CAPT. J D KENNEDY
Company F Seccession Guards: CAPT. W W PERRYMAN
On 30 April, 1861, the company left independently for Virginia to join the regiment and was subsequently transferred from the 7th South Carolina Infantry, Company A (See the 7th South Carolina Infantry).
Company G Flat Rock Guards: CAPT. C C HAILE
Company H Lancaster Invincibles: CAPT. A MCMANUS
Company I Palmetto Guards: CAPT. G B CUTHBERT
The company was divided in two on 1 May, 1861, and a detachment remained in Charlston, South Carolina, under the command of Ensign G L Buist. The detachment was organised as the the Palmetto Guard Artillery, under the command of Captain G L Buist, and was assigned to Alston's Battalion Light Artillery, Company C, under the command of Captain C Alston, Jr., in July 1862. The remaining detachment was mustered in Confederate service and was designated as the Palmetto Guards.
Company K Brooks Guard Volunteers: CAPT. A B RHETT
Captain A B Rhett and sixty one members of the company reorganised as the Brooks Light Artillery, at Manassas Junction, on 28 January, 1862 and was ordered to return to Charleston, South Carolina. The company was ordered to Richmond, Virginia, on 23 March, 1862, and was assigned to the 4th Reserve Battalion Artillery.

Sources

"A South Carolina company belonging to Kershaw's or Cash's regiment, which was on picket at the time their regiments moved from Mitchell's Ford, not being able to find its proper command, had joined me just as we were advancing against the enemy near Chinn's house, and had been attached to Hay's regiment, with which it went into action."

Lieutenant General Jubal Anderson Early C.S.A., autobiographical sketch and narrative of the War Between the States, with notes by Jubal Anderson Early

"He inspected the division, thus increased, consisting of the 2nd and 8th South Carolina regiments, the shattered remnants of Hampton's Legion, about 150 strong, whom we had received, (what with the killed, wounded, and those attending them, few were left in the field,) and one company – partly of Marylanders, and partly of Crescent Blues of New Orleans."

The Rebellion Record: A diary of American events with documents, narratives, illustrative incidents, poetry etc., Volume 2: Charleston Mercury, 29 July, edited by Frank Moore

"He pointed out to me, some distance ahead of us, in the winding column of advancing reinforcements, the company of Secession Guards (Capt. [W. W.] Perryman,) belonging to our regiment. This company (as I afterwards learned,) had been, in the morning, on detached service, and therefore received orders late, and after the other companies had marched. This company was made conspicuous by its spectacular uniform, of blue flannel shirts, worn outside."

Diary of Edmund Ruffin: The Years of Hope, April, 1861–June, 1863, by Edmund Ruffin

South Carolina troops in Confederate service, Volume II, complied by A S Salley, Jr.

South Carolina's military organisations during the War Between the States: The Midlands, by R S Seigler

Notes

The 2nd South Carolina Infantry was authorised under the Act of 17 December, 1860, calling for ten regiments of volunteers for twelve months state service.

Detachments of the 2nd South Carolina Infantry was stationed on Morris Island, Charleston Harbour during the bombardment of Fort Sumter on 12 and 13 April, 1861. After the fall of Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbour, the regiment was ordered to proceed to Charleston, South Carolina, on 24 April, 1861. President J Davis and Governor F W Pickens requested the 2nd South Carolina Infantry volunteer for Confederate service in Virginia. Companies A, C, and E proceeded to Richmond, Virginia, on 25 April, 1861, and Company D on 17 May, 1861. The remaining six companies, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel J D Blanding, remained at Morris Island, South Carolina, and were assigned to garrison duty at Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbour, between 26 and 29 April, 1861. Six new companies were ordered to Virginia in May 1861; Company F arrived on 6 May, 1861; Company G on 30 April, 1861; Company H in late April 1861; Company I on 9 May, 1861; and Company K on 13 May, 1861. Company B was officially transferred from the 4th South Carolina Infantry, Company A, between May 16 and 24 June, 1861, and proceeded to Richmond, Virginia, on 6 May, 1861. The 2nd South Carolina Infantry was mustered in Confederate service at Richmond, Virginia, on 22 May, 1861, and proceeded by railraod to Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, on 24 May, 1861. The regiment erected fortifications and breastworks until June 1861 and was assigned to the First Brigade, Army of the Potomac, under the command of Brigadier General M L Bonham, on 20 June, 1861. The 2nd South Carolina Infantry was ordered to Fairfax Courthouse, Virginia, on 21 June, 1861, and an expedition, under the command of Colonel J B Kershaw, consisting of the 2nd South Carolina Infantry, four companies, a section of the Richmond Howitzer Battalion Artillery, 1st Company, the Radford Rangers and the Black Horse Troop, was ordered to proceed to Mills Crossroads, Virginia, and engage Federal pickets on 4 July, 1861. The regiment was ordered to withdraw to Mitchell's Ford, via Centreville,Virginia, with the Hanover Light Dragoons, the Appomattox Rangers, and the Alexandria Artillery, under the command of Colonel J B Kershaw, on 17 July, 1861. After the first battle of Manassas the 2nd South Carolina Infantry encamped in a field near the Stone Bridge, Virginia, at 10 PM on 21 July, 1861, was ordered to Camp Gregg, near Vienna and Flint Hill, Virginia, on 14 August, 1861.

Companies B, F, G, H, I, and K were assigned as follows; the DeKalb Rifle Guards to the 1st South Carolina Infantry, Company N; the Richland Guards to the 12th South Carolina Infantry, Company D; the Lancaster Greys, the States Rights Guards and the Salem Company to the 9th South Carolina Infantry, Companies A, B, and D respectively and the Claremont Rifles to the Hampton Legion Battalion Infantry, Company G.

Major General M L Bonham, South Carolina militia, was appointed a brigadier general, Confederate States Army, on 19 April, 1861.

On 25 July 1861, the Army of the Potomac was reorganised and the 2nd South Carolina Infantry remained with the First Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac.

Reports

OFFICIAL REPORT NO.88: Series I, Volume 2 (S# 2), Chapter IX, pp. 522–527
Colonel J B Kershaw, Second South Carolina Infantry