The South Carolina 15th Infantry Regiment completed its organization in September, 1861, at Lightwoodknot Springs, near Columbia, South Carolina. The 15th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry was the fifth and last of the regiments formed to meet the quota of 3,000 new troops assigned to South Carolina by the Confederate government following the battle of 1st Manassas. The regiment drew some men from the 1st SCVI 6 months regiment that disbanded in South Carolina. Members of the 15th came from Richland, Union, Lexington, Kershaw, Fairfield, and Williamsburg counties. After serving on James Island, the unit moved to Virginia and was assigned to General Drayton's, Kershaw's, Kennedy's, and Conner's Brigade. Companies Of The SC 15th Infantry Regiment A- Cpt. Radcliffe, T. W. Columbia Rifles B- Cpt. Gist, William M. Gist Guards C- Cpt. Lewie, Frederick Sims Lexington Guards D- Cpt. Warrren, Thomas J. Kershaw Guards E- Cpt. Davis, John Bunyon Monticello Guards F- Cpt. Boyd, Charles W. Thicketty Rifles G- Cpt. Chandler, Joseph B. Williamsburg Riflemen H- Cpt. Sims, William H. Mount Tabor Company I- Cpt. Koon, John H. Dutch Fork Guards K- Cpt. Bird, Holloway I. Dorn's Invincibles

The South Carolina 19th Infantry Regiment was organized during the winter of 1861-1862. It, along with the 18th was created as the last of the units formed in 1861 and did not participate in the early deployment. The 19th was involved the reorganization of the troops in the spring of 1862. They then moved to Mississippi, then to Kentucky where it saw action at Munfordsville. The 19th served with the Army of Tennessee from Murfreesboro to Atlanta, fought with Hood in Tennessee, and was active in the South Carolina Campaign and the North Carolina operations. The regiment lost 8 killed and 72 wounded at Murfreesboro, and the 10th/19th sustained 236 casualties at Chickamauga and totaled 436 men and 293 arms in December, 1863. During the Atlanta Campaign, July 22-28, the 19th reported 12 killed, 60 wounded, and 25 missing, and there were 9 killed, 34 wounded, and 8 missing at Ezra Church. It surrendered on April 26, 1865, with 76 men.

The South Carolina 2nd Regiment Rifles was organized during the spring of 1862 using the 5th South Carolina Battalion Rifles as its nucleus. It was organized from extra companies initially intended for Orr's Rifles. These companies were organized into a battalion that was officially designated the Fifth South Carolina Infantry Battalion. The unit served in South Carolina, then was ordered to Virginia and assigned to General Jenkins' and Bratton's Brigade. It participated in the Seven Days' Battles and the conflicts at Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, and Fredericksburg. Later the regiment was with Longstreet at Suffolk and D.H. Hill in North Carolina. It moved again with Longstreet but did not take part in the Battle of Chickamauga. The unit was involved in the Knoxville operations, returned to Virginia, and saw action at The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor. After enduring the hardships of the Petersburg siege south and north of the James River, it ended the war at Appomattox.

The South Carolina 23rd Infantry Regiment [also called Coast Rangers] was assembled at Charleston, South Carolina, in November, 1861. Most of the men were from Horry, Georgetown, Charleston, and Colleton counties. After being stationed in South Carolina, the regiment moved to Virginia and during the war served in General Evans', Elliot's, and Wallace's Brigade.

The South Carolina 10th Infantry Regiment was organized at Camp Marion, near Georgetown, South Carolina, in July, 1861. Its members were raised in the counties of Georgetown, Horry, Williamsburg, Marion, and Charleston. The regiment moved to Cat Island where many of the men suffered from typhoid fever, measles, and mumps. In March, 1862, it was sent to Mississippi, then in the Kentucky Campaign it was involved in the capture of Munfordsville. During the war it was assigned to General Manigault's and Sharp's Brigade and from September, 1863 to April, 1864, was consolidated with the 19th Regiment. The unit served with the Army of Tennessee from Murfreesboro to Atlanta, endured Hood's winter campaign in Tennessee, and saw action in North Carolina. It lost 16 killed, 91 wounded, and 2 missing at Murfreesboro, and the 10th/19th had 236 killed or wounded at Chickamauga and totaled 436 men and 293 arms in December, 1863. During the Atlanta Campaign, July 20-28, the 10th Regiment lost 19 of 24 officers engaged.

This book follows the men and events of the 15th South Carolina Infantry—from the time they mustered into Confederate service in the Fall of 1861 until the regiment was surrendered to General William Tecumseh Sherman in April 1865. With more than 150 maps and photographs, this 600-page book describes the 20 major Civil War battles in which the 15th South Carolina fought. Included are personal biographies and the war records of the 1,442 men who served in the regiment providing readers a front row seat from which they can experience life and death on the front lines of the American Civil War.