Battle of the Crater
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Battle of the Crater

By early summer of 1864, The United States Army and the Confederate States Army were engaged at Petersburg, Virginia. The CSA under General Lee had effectively countered the moves of the USA under General Grant. On June 19, 1864, US General Potter developed the idea that with their lines so close, it would be possible to dig a tunnel and plant explosives under the Confederates. They could then blow a whole in the Confederate Line allowing the US Army the advantage. Early on the morning of July 30, the Union Army detonated the explosives, killing and in some cases burying the men who were on post there. However, far from being a victory, the Union Army suffered horrible casualties, when there men ran into the pit caused by explosion, but not being able to climb out on the other side. Reinforcements shot down into the pit relentlessly stopping the Union Army in its tracts. Many South Carolina men were killed that day. Their units were stationed all around the general area. South Carolina remembered its fallen native sons with a plaque which was hung in Blandsford Church in Petersburg, Virginia, where many were buried in a mass grave.

ERECTED BY THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINATO THE MEMORY OF HER SONS WHO LOST THEIR LIVESIN THE DEFENSE OF THEIR COUNTRYAT THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER, JULY 30, 1864ELLIOT’S BRIGADEBRIG, GEN. STEPHEN ELLIOTT, COMMANDINGHE WAS SEVERELY WOUNDED AND DIED AFTER THE WAR FROMTHE EFFECTS OF THE WOUND

17th Regiment

18th Regiment

22nd Regiment

23rd Regiment

STAFF

CO. A

STAFF

FIELD AND STAFF
Burris, G.W., Sergt. Maj. McCormick, Samuel, Sergt. Fleming, David G., Col. Kelly, D.E., Ensign

CO. A

 Willard, C.Y., Sergt. Gleaton, G.G., Sgt. Maj.

CO. A
Woods, J.N., Corpl. Wolf, Samuel H., Sergt. Steel, J.T., Q.M. Sgt. Currin, A., Priv.
Hoke, W.A., Priv. Marony, S.S., Corpl.

CO. A

 Dees, Aaron, Priv.
Roney, Patrick, Priv. Brown, John L., Priv. Alton, J.R., 1st Sergt. McRae, W.B., Priv.
Swett, Josiah, Priv. Coleman, Henry A., Priv. Coleman, C.C., Priv. Pigg, P.P., Priv.

CO. B

 Edwards, A.B., Priv.

CO. B

 Sill, J.H., Priv.
McConnell, A.J., 1st Lt. Edwards, Isaac, Priv. Reese, R.M., 2nd Sergt. Smith, E.C., Priv.
Crowder, J.W., Sergt. Gregory, John, Priv. Wheeler, Jas. A., 3rd Sergt.

CO. C
Boulware, Pinckney, Priv. Harris, Edward, Priv. Mason, J.R., 4th Sergt. Lake, J.K., 1st Sergt.
Coleman, Robert C., Priv. Harris, A.H., Priv. Hutson, L.M., 1st Corpl. Dennis, Jesse, Priv.

CO. C

 Humphries, Geo. W., Priv. Keller, Y.A., 2nd Corpl. Lowery, J., Priv.
Pratt, Henry, 1st Lt. Ivey, H., Priv. Leister, Jefferson, 3rd Corpl. Prescott, W.M., Priv.
Hartness, A.B., Sergt. Jolly, B.A., Priv. Allen, John, Priv. Sims, J.H., Priv.
Bolin, L., Corpl. Jolly, Joseph, Priv. Atkins, M.J., Priv.

CO F.
Chambers, W.H., Corpl. Lemaster, Richard S., Priv. Barker, J.A., Priv. Beam, A.Y., Priv.
Cole, H.P., Priv. Mitchell, J.M., Priv. Barker, W.T., Priv. Miller, Joseph, Priv.
Dover, W.M., Priv. Quinn, McDuffie, Priv. Bonner, G.W., Priv. Omelvancy, Jas., Priv.
Elmore, W.M., Priv. Quinn, Wesley, Priv. Brown, Albert, Priv.

CO. G
Lanier, Peterson, Priv. Robertson, W.S.B., Priv. Brown, James, Priv. Proctor, Aaron, Priv.
Mullinax, A., Priv. Sanders, William, Priv. Collins, Lazarus, Priv. Calhoun, Jno. C, Priv.
Smith, A.T., Priv. Sipple, Henry, Priv. Clayton, Jasper, Priv.

CO. H
Thomas, J. Wesley, Priv. Turner, T.J., Priv. Darby, John C., Priv. Britt, J.L., Priv.

CO. D

 Zedaker, John, Priv. Duncan, Joel, Priv. Jones, Wesley, Priv.
Brown, W.P., Priv.

CO. B

 Duncan, James, Priv.

CO. I
McKeown, J.B., Priv. Fowler, J.H., Corpl. Duncan, Judge, Priv. Mims, R.A., Priv.
Wilson, David, Priv. McDaniel, John, Priv. Evans, Moses, Priv. Richbourg, J.W., Priv.

CO. E

CO. C

 Ford, William, Priv.

CO. K
Merritt, R.N., Corpl. Ray, S.J., 1st Lt. Green, J.E., Priv. Shaw, R.D, Corpl.
Meadows, J.A., Priv. Lawson, W.M., 2nd Lt. Howne, N.S., Priv. Richburg, J.A.H., Priv.

CO. F

 Witten, Henry, Corpl. Kindricks, James, Priv. Thompson, J.Y., Priv.
Lowry, Samuel, Lieut. Bailey, Elmore G., Sergt. Leister, A.H., Priv.  
Moore, G. Watts, Sergt. Bailey, John, Priv. Mason, G.W., Priv.

26th Regiment
Hope, Meek, Priv. Bishop, E.G., Priv. Mason, T.M., Priv.

CO. A
Moore, Blanton, Priv. Birdwell, W.J., Priv. Owens, Richard, Priv. Williams, W.B., Priv.
Pollard, William, Priv. Burnett, W.M., Priv. Richards, Levi, Priv.

CO. H
Whisenantt, Roso H., Priv. Jackson, Robt., Priv. Reese, Z.S., Priv. Chander, S.M., Corpl.

CO. G

 McKenzie, Potser, Priv. Riddle, Benjamin, Priv.  
Brant, W.J. Priv. Prince, Jefferson, Priv. Wood, Benjamin, Priv.  
Chassereand, J.F., Priv. Waldrop, Thomas, Priv.

CO. C

  

CO. I

CO. D

 Quattlebaum, J.R., 2nd Lt.  
McMurray, J.S., Sergt. Briant, J.B., 2nd Lt. Chapman, T.S., Priv.  
Blaylock, J.D., Priv. Farmer, J.R., Priv.

CO. D

  
Campbell, H.W., Priv.

CO. E

 Cox, J.B., 3rd Sergt.  
Gardner, W.C., Priv. Anderson, J.N., 2nd Lt. Barker, W.R., Priv.  
Gaunt, A.R., Priv. Kelly, J.T., Corpl. Dyer, John, Priv.  

CO. K

 Neighbors, J.R.M., Priv. Reid, H.T., Priv.  
Howe, J.L., Ord. Sergt.

CO. F

CO. E

  
Williams, J.M., Sergt. Foster, J.W., 3rd Lt. Funderburk, W.W., Sergt.  
Caldwell, R.M., Priv. Jones, Columbus, Priv. Ellis, W.K., Priv.  
Starr, W., Priv. Moore, John, Priv. Harris, James H., Priv.  
Swann, Eaton, Priv. Mullinax, A.J., Jr., Priv. Laney, O.E., Priv.  
 

CO. G

 Spray, John J., Priv.  
  Hardwick, A.S., 1st Corpl.

CO. F

  
  Pursley, F., 2nd Corpl. Price, C.A., Sergt.  
  Archer, H.S., Priv. Gilstrap, Elias, Sergt.  
  Brown, S.R., Priv. Grindley, Joseph, Priv.  
  Dowdle, W.J., Priv. Harrison, F.B., Priv.  
  Hagerty, J.F., Priv. Manley, P.F., Priv.  
  Jamieson, W.T., Priv. Riggins, A.R., Priv.  
  Lynor, W.W., Priv. Stewart, A.B., Priv.  
  McCarter, J.E., Priv.

CO. G

  
  McCartey, W.W., Priv. Smith, A.J., 1st Sergt.  
  McGill, T.C., Priv. Calahan, J.W., 2nd Sergt.  
  Mitchem, A.T., Priv. Martin, W.A., 3rd Sergt.  
  Quinton, Andrew, Priv. McMurty, J.F., 4th Sergt.  
  Rogers, John, Priv. Millikin, S.W., 2nd Corpl.  
 

CO. H

 Hendrick, W.C., 3rd Corpl.  
  Martin R.H., Sergt. Prichard, W.L., 4th Corpl.  
  Adkins, J., Priv. Chamblee, A.F., Priv.  
  Boyd, Thomas, Priv. Chastine, R.L., Priv.  
  Hamel, A., Priv. Clark, Henry, Priv.  
  Hudleston, J.H., Priv. Evatt, B.F., Priv.  
  Thorn, F., Priv. Farmer, Josiah, Priv.  
  Youngblood, R.C., Priv. Fennell, W.M., Priv.  
 

CO. I

 Garrett, J.A., Priv.  
  Berry, T.W., Priv. Hackett, J.W., Priv.  
  Hill, W.A., Priv. Hinton, J.A., Priv.  
  Wadsworth, John B., Priv. Hunter, W., Priv.  
 

CO. K

 Johnson, H.W., Priv.  
  Bridges, W.C., Captain Jolly, L.D., Priv.  
  Young, J.P., 1st Corpl. Lawless, Edmond, Priv.  
  Turner, P.W., 4th Corpl. McGaha, Thomas, Priv.  
  Green, W.F., Priv. Martin, J.A., Priv.  
    Mitchell, H.W., Priv.  
    Mullikin, F.M., Priv.  
    Pool, E.M., Priv.  
    Rives, S.W., Priv.  
    Scott, John, Priv.  
    Shearer, P.O., Priv.  
    Sherriff, John, Priv.  
    Smith, B.R., Priv.  
    Smith, R.A., Priv.  
    Sysemore, Berry, Priv.  
    Walker, H.A., Priv.  
    Wyatt, R.F., Priv.  
   

CO. H

  
    Harrison, J.M., 2nd Lt.  
    Ayres, D., Priv.  
    Hawkins, S., Priv.  
    Plumley, B., Priv.  
    Trammel, A., Priv.  
    Trammell, F.B., Priv.  
   

CO. I

  
    Martin, J.W., Lieut.  
    Stevenson, D.S., Priv.  
   

CO. K

  
    Patterson, T.D., Sergt.  
    Maret, R.W., Sergt.  
    Hyde, J.W., Corpl.  
    Cain, Aron, Priv.  
    Cain, Joel, Priv.  
    Campbell, James L., Priv.  
    Collins, J.S., Priv.  
    Gray, J.S., Priv.  
    Gray, J.H., Priv.  
    Herbert, J.D., Priv.  
    Hubbard, W.H., Priv.  
    Hyde, J.W., Priv.  
    Lindsey, W.H., Priv.  
    Mason, A.J., Priv.  
    Mason, J.B., Priv.  
    Minton, F.M., Priv.  
    Padgett, J.N., Priv.  
    Shirley, Stephenson, Priv.  
    Treadway, G.T., Priv.  
    Treadway, J.E., Priv.  

 

Major-General Bushrod R. Johnston, commanding the Confederate Forces at the Battle of the Crater, in his report pays this tribute to the South Carolina Soldiers, "In the events of the thirtieth of July there will perhaps be found nothing more heroic or worthy of higher admiration than the conduct of the South Carolina Regiments."