South Carolina Militia orderly book, 1861

Summary

Creator:

South Carolina. Militia. Brigade, 4th

Abstract:

The South Carolina Militia orderly book contains brigade-level orders issued under the command of Brig. Gen. James Simons, commander on Morris Island during the siege of Fort Sumter.

Extent:

103 pages

Language:

English

Sponsor:

James S. Schoff Civil War Collection

Authors:

Collection processed and finding aid created by Rob S. Cox, October 1997

Background

Scope and Content:

The South Carolina Militia orderly book contains brigade-level orders issued under the command of Brig. Gen. James Simons, commander on Morris Island during the siege of Fort Sumter. The importance of the book lies only partly in documenting the build up and reduction of Sumter, but in the insight it provides into the formation of the earliest structures for organization and command in the Confederate army, and the taste it provides of the enthusiasm surrounding South Carolina's defiant entry into war.

Laid inside the cover sheet are two letters:

Charleston, 1861 June 10. Concerning formation of regiments.

Charleston, 1861 June 27. Request for a list of officers.

Biographical / Historical:

Brig. Gen. James Simons of the South Carolina Militia was given command of Morris Island early in 1861, as the nascent Confederate forces turned their attention to the federal garrison in Fort Sumter. With two brigades under his command, Morris presided over the reduction of Sumter and was later placed in command of the 4th Brigade, South Carolina Militia, stationed in and near Charleston.

Acquisition Information:

1976. M-1730 .

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Related

Additional Descriptive Data:

Partial Subject Index

Charleston (S.C.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.	50, 57-103
Fort Sumter (Charleston, S.C.)--Siege, 1861.	passim
Morris Island (S.C.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.	1-35
Simons, James.	passim
South Carolina--Militia.	passim

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:

Charleston (S.C.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Fort Sumter (Charleston, S.C.)--Siege, 1861.
Morris Island (S.C.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
South Carolina--Militia.
South Carolina--Militia--Brigade, 4th.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.

Formats:

Orderly books.
Orders (military records)

Names:

Simons, James.