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

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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

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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

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References

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  1. ^ a b Lewis, J.D. "South Carolina in the America Revolution, Provincial and State Troops". Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 1st Regiment (Infantry)". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  4. ^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 2nd Regiment (Infantry)". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  5. ^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 3rd Regiment (Rangers)". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  6. ^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 4th Regiment (Artillery)". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  7. ^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 5th Regiment (Rifles)". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  8. ^ Lewis, J.D. "SC 6th Regiment (Rifles)". carolana.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.