Brief History:

During the re-organisation of the Confederate Army of 1862, four companies of the 4th companies of the 5th South Carolina regiments, three companies of the 9th South Carolina regiments, and men from both the 2nd and 6th South Carolina regiments elected to reform into the newly formed regiment of Palmetto Sharpshooters. Although a new regiment the men were not green troops, many having been on active service since 1st Manassas. From the 4th came Company "B", The Palmetto Riflemen, who became Company "C", The Palmetto Sharpshooters.

 

Colonel Micah Jenkins was the founder of the regiment and soon gained both respect and promotion to Brigadier General, after his magnificent feats at Seven Pines. Under a special act of congress he was authorised to form twelve companies as opposed the usual ten. Although designated Sharpshooters, we were generally used as heavy infantry due to the lack of manpower in the south of that time. Throughout the war they served in Longstreet's Corps and Colonel Joseph Walker commanded the regiment until the end of the war, after the promotion of Jenkins.

 

Palmetto Sharpshooters fought with The Army of Northern Virginia throughout the war except for a small time when they were attached to Bragg's Army of the Tennessee, around the time of the Gettysburg Campaign.

At the surrender at Appomattox on April 9th 1865, 29 Officers and 355 men were surrendered, the largest regiment in the Army of Northern Virginia.

For more information about us, please visit our website.