South Carolina Line
State-specific military contingency of the Continental Line
The South Carolina Line was a formation within the Continental Army. The term "South Carolina Line" referred to the quota of numbered infantry regiments assigned to South Carolina at various times by the Continental Congress . These, together with similar contingents from the other twelve states, formed the Continental Line. The concept was particularly important in relation to the promotion of commissioned officers. Officers of the Continental Army below the rank of brigadier general were ordinarily ineligible for promotion except in the line of their own state.
Units belonging to the State Line
Siege of Charleston
Christopher Gadsden
William Moultrie
Isaac Huger
Thomas Sumter
The following units belonged to the South Carolina State troops initially and were transferred to the Continental Army on the dates indicated. The original commanders, their ranks, and the dates the units were established and disbanded are included.[ 1] [ 2]
Unit
Date established
Disbanded
Continental Line, Date
Original Commander, Rank
Ref
1st Regiment (Infantry)
June 6, 1775
May 12, 1780
Yes, November 4, 1775
Christopher Gadsden , Col
[ 3]
2nd Regiment (Infantry)
June 6, 1775
May 12, 1780
November 4, 1775
William Moultrie , Col
[ 4]
3rd Regiment (Rangers)
June 6, 1775
May 12, 1780
July 24, 1776
William Thomson, LTC
[ 5]
4th Regiment (Artillery)
November 14, 1775
May 12, 1780
June 18, 1776
Owen Roberts, LTC
[ 6]
5th Regiment (Rifles)
February 22, 1776
Feb. 1780
March 25, 1776
Isaac Huger , Col
[ 7]
6th Regiment (Rifles)
February 28, 1776
Feb. 1780
March 25, 1776
Thomas Sumter , LTC
[ 8]
All of the State Troops that became Continental Line were effectively decimated during the Siege of Charleston —either by action or by surrender on May 12, 1780.
Engagements
Between July 1775 and May 1780, the six regiments participated in engagements in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.[ 1]
South Carolina Line Engagements by Regiment
Date
Battle/Skirmish
State
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
Jul. 9, 1775
Bloody Point
SC
x
Jul. 12, 1775
Fort Charlotte
SC
x
Sep. 15, 1775
Fort Johnson
SC
x
x
Sep. 18, 1775
Battle of Sullivan's Island
SC
x
x
Oct. 31, 1775
Congaree River
SC
x
Nov. 3, 1775
Mine Creek
SC
x
Nov. 11-12, 1775
Hog Island Channel
SC
x
Nov. 19-21, 1775
Ninety-Six
SC
x
Dec. 22, 1775
Battle of Great Cane Brake
SC
x
Dec. 23-30, 1775
Snow Campaign
SC
x
Jun. 26, 1776
Cherokee Indian Towns
SC
x
Jun. 28, 1776
Breach Inlet Naval Battle
SC
x
Jun. 28, 1776
Fort Moultrie
SC
x
Jun. 28, 1776
Battle of Fort Moultrie/Sullivan's Island
SC
x
x
x
x
x
Jul. 15, 1776
Lyndley's Fort
SC
x
Jul. 21, 1776
Spencer's Inlet
SC
x
Aug. 1, 1776
Seneca Town
SC
x
x
x
Aug. 8-11, 1776
Cherokee Towns
SC
x
x
x
Aug. 10, 1776
Tugaloo River
SC
x
Aug. 12, 1776
Tamassee
SC
x
x
Aug. 12, 1776
The Ring Fight
SC
x
Sep. 1776
St. Augustine Expedition
FL
x
x
Sep. 19, 1776
Coweecho River
NC
x
Oct. 14, 1776
Altamaha River
GA
x
Feb. 23 - Mar. 15, 1777
Fort McIntosh
GA
x
Mar. 7, 1778
Barbados
SC
x
May - July 1778
Florida Expedition
SC
x
Dec. 29, 1778
Savannah
GA
x
x
x
x
Jan. 6-10, 1779
Fort Morris
GA
x
x
Feb. 1, 1779
Fort Lyttelton
SC
x
Feb. 3, 1779
Battle of Beaufort/Port Royal Island
SC
x
x
x
x
x
Feb. 21, 1779
Georgetown
SC
x
Mar. 3, 1779
Battle of Brier/Briar Creek
GA
x
x
x
x
Mar. 6, 1779
Georgetown
SC
x
Apr. - Jul. 1779
Prevost's March
SC
x
Apr. - May, 1779
Prevost's March on Charleston
SC
x
Apr. 19, 1779
Savannah
GA
x
Apr. 29, 1779
Purrysburg
SC
x
May 1779
Prevost's March on Charleston
SC
x
May 3, 1779
Coosawhatchie
SC
x
x
x
May 11–13, 1779
Charleston Neck
SC
x
x
x
Jun. 20, 1779
Battle of Stono Ferry
SC
x
x
x
x
x
Jul. 21, 1779
Ebenezer
GA
x
Jul. 23, 1779
Savannah River
SC
x
Sep. 16 - Oct. 18, 1779
Siege of Savannah
GA
x
x
x
x
x
x
Mar. 12, 1780
Two Sisters' Ferry
SC
x
Mar. 28 - May 12, 1780
Siege of Charleston
SC
x
x
x
x
Mar. 29-30, 1780
Gibbes' Plantation
SC
x
Apr. 8, 1780
Sullivan's Island
SC
x
Apr. 12, 1780
Sullivan's Island
SC
x
Apr. 25, 1780
Sullivan's Island
SC
x
May 2, 1780
Haddrell's Point
SC
x
May 7, 1780
Fort Moultrie
SC
x
See also
References
^ a b Lewis, J.D. "South Carolina in the America Revolution, Provincial and State Troops" . Retrieved March 25, 2019 .
^ Heitman, Francis B. (1914). Historical Register of the Officers of the Continental Army During the War of the Revolution . p. 54. ISBN 9780806301761 . , via Google Books
^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 1st Regiment (Infantry)" . carolana.com . Retrieved December 26, 2019 .
^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 2nd Regiment (Infantry)" . carolana.com . Retrieved December 26, 2019 .
^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 3rd Regiment (Rangers)" . carolana.com . Retrieved December 26, 2019 .
^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 4th Regiment (Artillery)" . carolana.com . Retrieved December 26, 2019 .
^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 5th Regiment (Rifles)" . carolana.com . Retrieved December 26, 2019 .
^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 6th Regiment (Rifles)" . carolana.com . Retrieved December 26, 2019 .
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