Confederate South Carolina High Crown Kepi Cap – This unique war period, South Carolina kepi is constructed of a light blue, fine quality wool, trimmed with a flat, bullion quatrefoil; the exterior of the cap’s base is encircled with a dark, wool band. Adorning the front of the cap is an insignia we have not encountered before – a black velvet field, with bullion laurel leaves, enclosing bullion, manuscript letters “SC”. The cap’s brim is constructed of a black, enameled leather, which is bound; the underside of the visor is green in color. Although there is no chinstrap or side buttons, there is no indication that there ever was either of these usual embellishments. The interior of the cap exhibits a brown, leather sweatband, beneath which is a buckram stiffener. The interior lining is a beige, somewhat coarse, cotton. With the exception of the crown, which exhibits some minor insect nips, the rest of the cap’s textile elements remain in excellent condition, retaining strong color, as well. The brim exhibits some minor crazing, and the interior lining shows some slight wear-related staining.

This cap was originally discovered, in 2007, at an estate sale or auction, in Iowa, by a member of the North Missouri Historical Society. Accompanying the cap is a photocopy of a letter of provenance, written by the president of the North Missouri Historical Society. The letter, dated April 3, 2007, states that the kepi was found at a rural estate auction that presented, for sale, several Civil War items, brought home by a Union army veteran. According to the account, enumerated in the accompanying letter, the 99 year-old grandson of the Union veteran was in attendance, at the auction; the contents being auctioned were from his house. The author of the letter apparently questioned the elderly, WWI veteran’s daughter to see if there were additional, Civil War items, still remaining in the house – she brought out an Enfield musket and this SC kepi – the museum president purchased both. According to the museum president, after some in depth research, he determined that the Union veteran, during his wartime service, would have encountered South Carolina troops comprising the 6^th South Carolina Cavalry, nicknamed “The Dixie Rangers”. The Civil War veteran told his grandson that his regiment had surprised the South Carolina cavalry troop, in camp, asleep, and that they surrendered without any fighting.

6th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry (Aiken’s Partisan Rangers) (1st Partisan Rangers)

OVERVIEW:

6th Cavalry Regiment [also called Dixie Rangers] was organized in January, 1863, using the 16th South Carolina Cavalry Battalion as its nucleus. Some of the men were from Columbia and The Citadel Academy. It saw action at Willstown and Pon Pon River in South Carolina, then moved to Virginia with about 1,000 men. Assigned to General Butler’s Brigade, the unit participated in The Wilderness and Cold Harbor operations and in various conflicts south of the James River. Later it was engaged in the campaign of the Carolinas assigned to Logan’s Brigade. The regiment surrendered with the Army of Tennessee. Its commanders were Colonel Hugh K. Aiken, Lieutenant Colonel Lovick P. Miller, and Major T.B. Ferguson.

Predecessor unit:
16th Cavalry Battalion was assembled during the summer of 1862. The unit was assigned to the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and served on the coast. In January, 1863, it merged into the 6th South Carolina Cavalry Regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Hugh K. Aiken was in command.

6th South Carolina Cavalry Regiment

The 6th South Carolina Cavalry Regiment (also called Dixie Rangers, Aiken’s Partisan Rangers and 1st Partisan Rangers) was a regiment of cavalry in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. They were from the state of South Carolina and served at various times in both the Eastern and Western theaters.

Organization and history

This unit was originally called the 16th Battalion South Carolina Partisan Rangers – Aiken’s Regiment, the 1st Reg. South Carolina Partisan Rangers, and Aiken’s 1st Regiment South Carolina Partisan Rangers. It was a part of the state militia troops. The men were formally mustered into Confederate service as the 16th Battalion, South Carolina Cavalry on July 23, 1862. The 6th South Carolina Cavalry was then organized in January 1863, using the 16th Battalion as its nucleus.

Some of the men were from Columbia, including several students from The Citadel Academy. The 6th Cavalry saw action at Willstown and Pon Pon River in South Carolina, and then moved to Virginia with about 1,000 men and was assigned to the Cavalry Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia. Assigned to General Matthew C. Butler‘s brigade, the regiment participated in the Wilderness and Cold Harbor operations and in various conflicts south of the James River. Later, it was engaged in the Carolinas Campaign assigned to Logan’s Brigade.

The depleted regiment surrendered with the Army of Tennessee at Bennett Place in North Carolina.

6th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry (Aiken’s Partisan Rangers) (1st Partisan Rangers)

Brief History

THe 6th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry was originally the 16th Battalion South Carolina Cavalry or Partisan Rangers and was organized July 21,1862. It was increased to a regiment about November 1, 1862, by the addition of other companies and designated the 6th Regiment South Carolina Cavalry (also known as Aiken’s Regiment, 1st Regular South Carolina Partisan Rangers, and Dixie Rangers).^[1][2]

The 6th Cavalry saw action at Willstown and Pon Pon River in South Carolina, then moved to Virginia with about 1,000 men. Assigned to General Butler’s Brigade, the unit participated in The Wilderness and Cold Harbor operations and in various conflicts south of the James River. Later it was engaged in the campaign of the Carolinas assigned to Logan’s Brigade. The regiment surrendered with the Army of Tennessee on April 26, 1865.^[3]

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin

Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded; however, if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

Information about the companies, their nicknames and counties of origin is taken from Seigler’s^[2] book and Batson’s^[4] website. Rosters for Companies B, E and F are from Eastern Digitial Resouces website.^[3]

Company A – many men from (also known as Carolina Guerrillas and Captain Milton A. Sullivan’s Company) – Laurens District (County), Greenville District (County), Pickens District (County), Abbeville District (County) and Anderson District (County); a few men from Spartanburg District (County)

Company B – (also known as the Edgefield Rangers or Edgefield Partisan Rangers) – many men from Edgefield District (County); a few men from Richland District (County), Abbeville District (County), Lexington District (County), Marlboro District (County) and Colleton District (County) – Roster

Company C – (also known as Captain P.W. Goodwyn’s Company and Partisan Rangers) – many men from Abbeville District (County) and Fairfield District (County); a few men from Spartanburg District (County), Anderson District (County), Orangeburg District (County) and Laurens District (County)

Company D – (also known as Captain William M. Hale’s Company and Partisan Rangers) –

Company E – (also known as the Laurens Partizans, Captian James P. Knight’s Company and Partisan Rangers) – many men from Laurens District (County) and Spartanburg District (County) – Roster (one name)

Company F – (also known as Cadet Rangers and Cadet Company, The Citadel Company, Captain Moses B. Humphrey’s Company) – Roster

Company G – (also known as Captain John R. Miot’s Company and the Partisan Rangers) – many men from Richland District (County), Abbeville District (County) and Edgefield District (County)

Company H – (also known as the Yeadon Rangers and Captain John J. Maguire’s Company) – many men from Orangeburg District (County), Charleston District (County), Spartanburg District (County), Richland District (County), Greenville District (County), Sumter District (County), Marion District (County), Pickens District (County), Abbeville District (County) and Colleton District (County)

Company I – (also known as Whitner’s Troop) – many men from Marion District (County), Sumter District (County) and Darlington District (County); a few men from Williamsburg District (County), Anderson District (County) and Kershaw District (County)

Company K – many men from Chesterfield District (County); a few men from Pickens District (County)

6th South Carolina Cavalry Regiment

Confederate Regiments & Batteries * South Carolina

“Dixie Rangers”