John C Rigdon

Historical Sketch And Roster Of The South Carolina 17th Infantry Regiment John C Rigdon

The South Carolina 17th Infantry Regiment was formed early in 1862 with men from Barnwell, York, Chester, Lancaster, and Fairfield counties. It served on the coast of South Carolina, then moved to Virginia. During the war it was brigaded under Generals Evans, Elliott, and Wallace. The regiment saw action at Second Manassas, South Mountain, and Sharpsburg, and later fought at Kinston, North Carolina, and Jackson, Mississippi. Returning to South Carolina, the 17th became part of the garrison at Fort Sumter and during the spring of 1864 rejoined the Army of Northern Virginia. It continued the fight in the Petersburg trenches north and south of the James River and in various conflicts around Appomattox. This unit lost sixty-two percent of the 304 at Second Manassas, forty-three percent of the 141 at South Mountain, and thirty-two percent of the 59 at Sharpsburg. In September, 1863, it contained 324 effectives, and there were 135 casualties at the Petersburg mine explosion. Many were disabled at Sayler's Creek and 9 officers and 110 men surrendered in April, 1865.