Company "L" Palmetto Sharpshooters

[Mississippian]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1636975203294734/

I encourage everyone to check out the group I have set up. I will be posting plenty of info on it and here as well.

Some quick facts about the very interesting company:

1: Formed mostly from Anderson County South Carolina, in the far northwestern corner of the state.

2: One of the oldest Confederate Volunteer companies, it was formed in early January 1861 just a few weeks after South Carolina left the Union.

3: After choosing the name "Confederate Guards" It was first part of the 4th South Carolina Infantry and fought as part of that unit at First Manassas as Company "J"

4: In the spring of 1862 the Confederate Army was reorganized due the new Conscription act. In many of the early South Carolina regiments there was chaos, with many companies transferring to different regiments. The 4th SC was hit particularity hard, with the Confederate Guards and three other companies leaving to join the newly formed Palmetto Sharpshooters under Col. Micah Jenkins. When the dust settled, the 4th SC was left with only 5 companies and was forced to reorganize as the 13th SC Battalion, (but was often incorrectly called the 4th SC Bttn.) Eventually battle losses forced a further consolidation into two companies that were then attached to the Hampton Legion Infantry Regiment in the fall of 1862.

Will MacDonald

[Mississippian]

Re: Company "L" Palmetto Sharpshooters

One of the things I want to do between now and the event is highlight some of the common men that we seek to portray. I would like to start with two of my GGG Uncles who where in this company. Berry & Newton Martin. These were the two youngest sons of my GGG Grandfather, Jesse Martin. Jesse also had two older boys, Warren & William, who would later join Co. "G" of the 22nd South Carolina. William would be killed by the mine blast at the Crater in July 1864.

Newton joined the company at the start of the war and was wounded at Gaines Mill. Berry was the youngest and didn't join the army until July 1863 when he turned 18. Wauhatchie would be his first battle.

Thanks to Census Records we know a good deal about the Martin farm and how it looked in 1860:

Improved Acres: 80
Unimproved Acres: 30
Cash Value of farm: $2500
Value of Farming instruments and Machinery: $250

Horses: 4
Milk Cows: 4
Working Oxen: 2
Other Cattle: 10
Sheep: 18
Swine: 30
Value of Livestock $750

Produced produced by farm:

bushels of wheat: 240
bushels of indian corn: 400
bushels of oats: 100
lbs of tobacco: 800
bales of ginned cotton (400lbs ea) 5
lbs wool: 40
bushels of peas and beans: 50
bushels of Irish potatoes: 20
bushels of Sweet potatoes: 100
lbs of butter: 120
tons of hay: 6
lbs of honey: 50

Value of Home Manufacturing: $100
Value of Animals Slaughtered: $350

In addition the family owned four slaves:

1 Black female, age 40
1 Black female, age 23
1 Black Male, age 4
1 Black Female, age 1

Will MacDonald

[PMFerringer]

Re: Company "L" Palmetto Sharpshooters

Outstanding information, Will!

[Mississippian]

Re: Company "L" Palmetto Sharpshooters

Clothing issued to Company "L" in the weeks/months leading up to their trip to Georgia:

June 6th 1863

3 pr Shoes @ $6.50
20 pr Shoes @ $4.85
30 pr Drawers @ $1.25
22 Shirts @ $1.50
30 pr Socks @ $1
19 Caps @ $2

July 31st 1863

1 Wall Tent
6 pr Shoes @ $6
14 Shirts @ $1.50
14 pr Drawers @ $2.50
32 pr Gaiters

Aug 31st 1863,

6 Jackets @ $12
4 pr Pants @ $11
9 pr Drawers @ $2.50
17 pr Shoes @ $10
18 Shirts @ $2.25
20 pr Socks @ $1
2 Skillets
1 Camp Kettle

Sept 14th 1863

22 Jackets @ $12
4 pr Pants @ $11
9 pr Drawers @ $2.25
2 Shirts @ $1.50
7 pr Socks @ $1.25
2 Blankets @ $7.50
11 pr Shoes @ $10
6 Fly Tents


Will MacDonald

[Mississippian]

Re: Company "L" Palmetto Sharpshooters

Gents,

The impression guidelines have been posted to the Facebook page. Anyone interested please feel free to PM me.

Will MacDonald