Palmetto Sharpshooters, S.C. Volunteers

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Palmetto Sharpshooters, S.C. Volunteers

The members are drilled in the proper Infantry Tactics and formations of the time-period, as outlined by our By-Laws.

The Palmetto Sharpshooters Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, is part of the "Palmetto Riflemen & New York Zouaves," an American Civil War Living History Group based in the Carolinas and Georgia. The “Palmetto Riflemen” & “New York Zouaves” are an American Civil War Living History Group based in the Carolinas and Georgia, with the Company Headquarters currently (2010) being in Lexington, South Ca

rolina. The primary goal of the company is to further the education of the general public and to preserve the memory of the Federal & Confederate Soldiers of the American Civil War, 1860 to 1865. The officers and men of the “Palmetto Riflemen” & “New York Zouaves” represent the Volunteers of the original units that served from 1860 to 1865 across the States of Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, & Pennsylvania. The present members of company are a group of men and women, mostly from the states of South Carolina & Georgia who participate in local and national living histories and battle reenactments. (Hardee’s Rifle & Light Infantry Tactics, and McClellan’s Bayonet Drill.) If you are interested in signing the roll of our gallant company, or for more historical information about the men who we portray, please feel free to contact us through the Company Commander.

06/05/2026

Looking for something to do tomorrow? Come visit us at the Revolutionary War Visitor's Center in Camden, South Carolina, from 9:30 AM to 4 PM! https://www.facebook.com/share/1BLYCZ7dWN/

06/04/2026

Preparing the latest edition for release.

05/31/2026

Where were the Palmetto Sharpshooters from? Organized in April 1862 while on the march in Virginia, the regiment never served in South Carolina, but was made up of men from the State. Each company was recruited from a specific community.

Company A - Union County - Johnson Rifles
Company B - Oconee County - Calhoun Mountaineers
Company C - Anderson County - Palmetto Riflemen
Company D - Spartanburg County - Morgan Light Infantry
Company E - Darlington County - Darlington Sentinels
Company F - Lexington County - Pickens Sentinels
Company G - York County - Jasper Light Infantry
Company H - Spartanburg County - Cowpens Guards
Company I - Pickens County - Pickens Guards
Company K - Spartanburg County - Spartan Rifles
Company L - Anderson Country - Confederate Guards
Company M - Cherokee District - Pacolet Guards

05/26/2026

“Memorial Day Remembrances” – No. 6
Concluding our Memorial Day posts, in remembrance of those servicemen of South Carolina who gave the last full measure, today we remember 20-year-old Private, 1st Class, Bruce Wesley Dudley Jr. (1947-1968) of Cayce, Lexington County.

Bruce Wesley Dudley Jr. was born on August 12th, 1947, in Cayce, South Carolina, the son of Bruce Wesley (1923–2005) & Margie S. Simpson Dudley (1926–2005). Raised in Cayce and Columbia, he was married to Miss Katheyn Louise Driggers. Drafted into service, he entered the United States Army on October 7th, 1966, and underwent basic training at Fort Hood, Texas, before being assigned as a Private, 1st Class, to Troop A of the 1st Cavalry Regiment, Americal Division, and was ordered to South Vietnam. Arriving in country on August 15th, 1967, he took part in the actions of his troop, being wounded in action on September 5th, 1967, and was severely wounded in action by sniper fire on October 27th, 1967, in the Quang Tin Providence. Admitted to the hospital, he was transferred to the Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., on November 22nd, 1967, where he lingered until January 23rd, 1968, when he died of his wounds. His remains were returned to his family, and he is buried at St. Peter's Cemetery in Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina.

During the Vietnam War the United States would suffer 58,220 service-related deaths (killed in action, died of wounds, died of disease, missing in action, etc.); of that number 26 would be men from Lexington County.

We would like to thank the admins of this group for allowing us to make these posts in remembrance of those who have gone before; and thank those of you who took the time to join us in remembering these men and their lives. If you would like more information on County or State History, Military History, historical presentations, reenacting, living history, etc., please feel free to find the Palmetto Riflemen online for more info.

05/24/2026

“Memorial Day Remembrances” – No. 4
Continuing with our posts heading into Memorial Day, in remembrance of those servicemen of South Carolina who gave the last full measure. Today we remember 19-year-old Private Samuel Ray Fulmer (1924-1944) of Lexington, Lexington County, in the Second World War.

Samuel Ray Fulmer was born on November 24th, 1924, in Lexington County, South Carolina, the son of Matthew Stack (1896–1968) & Ione Rebecca Hamm Fulmer (1902–1988). He registered for the Draft on December 30th, 1942, at Lexington, South Carolina, at which time he was described as being 18 years old, was 5 ft. 11 in. tall, 162 pounds, of a dark complexion with gray eyes, brown hair and was working as a farm hand on his father's farm on Route 1 in Lexington.

He enlisted in the United States Army on January 29th, 1944, at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina, and after completing basic training joined Company L of the 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. His unit would take land at Omaha Beach on June 7th, 1944, and take part in the advance of the American Armies into Europe. Advancing into Germany, Private Fulmer was killed in action on October 13th, 1944, during the Battle of Aachen, Germany. His remains were recovered and returned to his family in May 1945, being buried at Macedonia Lutheran Church Cemetery near Prosperity, Newberry County, South Carolina.

During World War II, the United States would suffer 405,399 service-related deaths (killed in action, died of wounds, died of disease, missing in action, etc.); of that number 92 would be men from Lexington County.

05/23/2026

“Memorial Day Remembrances” – No. 3
Continuing with our posts heading into Memorial Day, in remembrance of those servicemen of South Carolina who gave the last full measure while in service. Today we remember the sacrifice of 26-year-old Private Lloyd Brewston Oswald of Gilbert (Priceville), Lexington County, who died during the First World War (1917-1919).

Born on June 5th, 1891, near Gilbert, South Carolina, the son of Samuel Frederick (1855–1922) & Louise DeVaughan Price Oswald (1858–1942), he was raised in the area and attended the local schools. On December 11th, 1917, he enlisted in the National Army at Lexington, South Carolina, and reported for training at Camp Jackson near Columbia, South Carolina. Assigned to Company H of the 321st Infantry Regiment, 81st Division, he was taken sick with the measles in February 1918 and was admitted to the Base Hospital. As he started to recover he contracted pneumonia and on March 6th, 1918, died of the disease at the hospital. His remains were brought back to his home and buried at the Price Family Cemetery near Priceville, Lexington County, South Carolina.

During the First World War, the United States would suffer 116,516 service-related deaths (killed in action, died of wounds, died of disease, missing in action, etc.); of that number 54 would be men from Lexington County.

05/22/2026

“Memorial Day Remembrances” – No. 2
Continuing with our posts heading into Memorial Day, in remembrance of those servicemen of South Carolina who gave the last full measure. Today we remember the sacrifices of 29-year-old Private Charles Augustus Bachman (1834-1864) of Lexington County, in the American Civil War and 21-year-old Private Renaldo Luke Ward (1877-1898) of Benson, South Carolina, in the War with Spain.

Charles Augustus Bachman was born around 1834 in Germany, and in his youth emigrated to the United States, eventually settling in Lexington District, South Carolina. At the start of the Civil War, Bachman along with a large number of Lexington residents chose to stay out of the conflict, remaining home and tending to their farms until called upon by the State. On December 30th, 1861, he enlisted at Platt Springs, South Carolina, for twelve months service in Captain Edward Kinsler's Company (Company H) of the 20th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment. From 1862 to 1864 he would serve with the regiment on garrison duty around Charleston, South Carolina, taking part in the operations against Battery Wagner from July to September 1863. Serving with the regiment in Virginia from June to October 1864, he would fight in the defense of Richmond & Petersburg, being wounded in the left thigh in July 1864, he was absent in hospital due to his wounds until September 13th, 1864, when he rejointed the regiment. Serving with them in the Shenandoah Valley he was killed in action on October 19th, 1864, in the fighting near Cedar Creek, Virginia. He was buried with the other casualties of the battle on the field, and his exact gravesite is unknown.

During the American Civil War, the North & South would suffer a combined 800,000+ service-related deaths (killed in action, died of wounds/disease, missing, etc.); of that number an estimated 556 would be men from Lexington County.

Renaldo Luke War was born in 1877 in South Carolina, and by 1898 was working as a farmer near Benson, South Carolina. With the second call for volunteers in the Spanish American War, he enlisted on August 16th, 1898, as a Private in Company L of the 2nd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Joining the regiment at Camp Lee near Columbia, he travelled with the regiment to Camp Cuba Libre near Jacksonville, Florida, arriving on September 16th, 1898. While at Camp Cuba Libre he contracted typhoid fever and was admitted to the division hospital. When the regiment left for Savannah, Georgia, on October 21st, he was too ill to go with them and was left behind with the other sick at the hospital in Jacksonville. It was there on November 3rd, 1898, the he died of his illness, and his remains were later returned to his family and buried at the Williamsburg Presbyterian Cemetery near Kingstree, Williamsburg County, South Carolina.

During the Spanish-American War the United States would suffer 4,119 service-related deaths (killed in action, died of wounds/disease, missing, etc.); of that number 1 would be man from Lexington County.

05/21/2026

Memorial Day Remembrances - No. 1
This will be the first of eight (6) Memorial Day posts in remembrance of those servicemen of South Carolina who gave the last full measure while in service from the American Revolution to Vietnam Wars. These will be brief snippets on the lives of these men and will hopefully encourage the reader to learn more about the lives, experiences, and legacy of all our veterans and the memories that they left us. Today we remember the sacrifices of 43-year-old Captain James Butler (1738-1781) of modern-day Edgefield/Saluda County, in the American Revolutionary War and 18-year-old Private Daniel Heyward Trezevant (1829-1847) of Columbia, Richland County in the Mexican War.

Captain James Butler was born ca. 1738 in Prince William County, Virginia, the son of William (1702-1748) & Mary Sarah Mason Butler (1706-1753). Raised in Virginia, he married Miss Mary Elizabeth Foote (1738-1781) in 1758, and shortly thereafter moved to the Ninety-Six District, South Carolina, to a region which today is part of Edgefield/Saluda County and began up farming and raising his family. During the American Revolution he served as a Captain of South Carolina Militia, and was captured by the British forces, being confined in the jail at Ninety-Six during the Siege of that place in in May & June 1781. Released sometime between September and October 1781 he returned to his home, not inclined to return to the service stating that he "…refused to go at all, saying that his hardships and privations already endured, and his recent return to his home ought to exempt him from such an undertaking." However, at the urging of his son (James Butler Jr.) he accompanied him and the men of Captain Sterling Turner's Company during their attack on the British at Tarrar Springs (near modern day Lexington) on November 16th. Following the action at Tarrar Springs, he traveled with 30-men back towards modern day Saluda County, stopping for the night at Turner's Tavern near Cloud's Creek. Awaking in the morning, the men found themselves surrounded by the 300-men of Major William (Bloody Bill) Cunningham's Tory force, and in the ensuing action Captain Butler and 28-men were killed. After the fighting the men were all buried together in a mass grave on the battlefield in modern day Saluda County, South Carolina.

Daniel Heyward Trezevant was born on July 10th, 1829, in Richland District, South Carolina, the son of Dr. Daniel Heyward (1796–1873) & Ann Sewell Trezevant (1795–1838). Raised in Columbia, at the start of the War with Mexico he enlisted as a member of the Governor's Guards (Company H) in the Palmetto Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers. Serving with the Regiment first in South Carolina, and then in Texas, he marched into Mexico with the Army in 1847. During the charge of the Regiment at the battle of Chapultepec on September 13th, 1847, he was killed in action. Initially buried on the battlefield his remains were later recovered and brought back to his family. He is buried at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Cemetery in Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina.

Address

Lexington, SC

Website

http://www.palmettoriflemen.org/

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