The Fourth Alabama Painting by Don Troiani

First Corps, Army of the Potomac

Lieutenant Colonel T T Munford

Captain A H Boykin, Boykin (Mounted) Rangers

Boykin (Mounted) Rangers

Arrived at Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, 21 July, 1861. Mustered in Confederate service for the war 31 July, 1861

CAPTAIN A H BOYKIN
The company was accepted in state service at Camden, Kershaw District, South Carolina, on 17 April, 1861, and was mustered in Confederate service for the war at Camp Gregg, Vienna, Fairfax County, Virginia, by Assistant Adjutant General & Captain W H Stevens, corps engineers, Confederate States Army, at 12 PM on 31 July, 1861.

Sources

"Hon. A. H. Boykin accompanied the Guards to Richmond where he will see they are comfortably provided for."

Camden Weekly Journal (Camden, Kershaw District, South Carolina), 30 April, 1861 - Our volunteers

"The last detachment of the Richland Rangers, from South Carolina, passed through this place yesterday on their way to Virginia. They are the command of Captain Boykin, of Richland District."

Colonial Williamsburg Journal (Williamsburg, York County, Virginia), 4 July, 1861 - Richland Rangers

"Petersburg Express 6th - A detachment of fifteen or twenty men, members of the Boykin Rangers, Capt. Boykin, from South Carolina, passed on through this city yesterday to join their company, stationed under Beauregard's command. They were thoroughly armed and well mounted."

Charleston Courier (Charleston, Charleston District, South Carolina), 8 July, 1861 - Passed through

"We paid a visit today to the various encampments in the neighbourhood of the city, and found, among others, Col. Forney's Tenth Regiment of Alabama, a corps of Virginia Artillerists, Mississippi Cavalry, Texas Rangers, Boykin Rangers, and last, though not least, your pets of the Hampton Legion."

Charleston Courier (Charleston, Charleston District, South Carolina), 10 July, 1861 - Richmond, Va., 5 July, 1861

"Major A. H. Boykin, our Senator in the State Legislature, left on Wednesday last with his command of Mounted Rangers, armed with rifles, double-barreled shotguns, and revolvers."

Lancaster Ledger (Lancaster, Lancaster District, South Carolina), 10 July, 1861 - Off for the war

"Just at sundown the 6th South Carolina Regiment, under Col. Winder, which had come to Manassas in the afternoon, arrived upon the field, and before the battle was quite over, came the splendid troop of cavalry, under Capt. Boykin. Hampton's Legion came in time for a bloody part in the action of the day, but were not able to bring on the cavalry or Washington Artillery. Of the members of the artillery company, at least, many were present in the action as infantry, and shared the fortunes of the Legion."

Edgefield Advertiser (Edgefield, Edgefield District, South Carolina), 7 August, 1861 - Details of the great battle, Army of the Potomac, near Manassas, 23 July, 1861

"Encircling the slope on which our canvas is pitched, Col. Kershaw's Regiment is encamped. Crowning the hill opposite, about half a mile to our right, Col. Cash's forces are lying, and the 7th South Carolina Volunteers, Col. Bacon, occupy the ridge between. Gen. Bonham has his headquarters here in a small wooded house, formerly the property of a Yankee, (of whom, by the way, this country is still full), and Captain Boykin's cavalry, acting as a garde d'honneur, have picketed their steeds within musket shot of his door."

Charleston Mercury (Charleston, Charleston District, South Carolina), 24 August, 1861 - Camp Kershaw, Fairfax C. H., Va., 16 August, 1861

Books/ Manuscripts

South Carolina's military organisations during the War Between the States: The Midlands, by R S Seigler

Supplement to the Official Records: Part II, Record of Events, Volume 64, Serial No.76: Record of events for Second South Carolina Cavalry, June 1861-December 1864, edited by James B Hewett

"Boykin's Rangers in tantrums because Joe Kershaw says he won the battle. The Rangers came too late. They were on the ground only after the turn of the tide. They left Richmond that morning."

Mary Chesnut's Civil War, by Mary Boykin Miller Chesnut

A savage conflict: The decisive role of guerrillas in the American Civil War, by Daniel E Sutherland

Notes

The Boykin (Mounted) Rangers was accepted in Confederate service for the war at Camden, Kershaw District, South Carolina, on 26 June, 1861.

Note: The DeKalb Rifle Guards, under the command of Captain T L Boykin, was ordered to proceed by the Northeastern Railroad to Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, at 1 AM on 23 April, 1861, and was accompanied by A H Boykin ( See the 1st South Carolina Infantry).

Rendezvous at Kingsville, Richland District, & Florence, Florence District, South Carolina, 26 June, 1861, dated 22 June, 1861: The Boykin (Mounted) Rangers was ordered to rendezvous at Kingsville, Richland District, and Florence, Florence District, South Carolina, by Captain A H Boykin, Boykin (Mounted) Rangers, in the evening on 26 June, 1861, dated 22 June, 1861.

Kingsville to Richmond, 26-28 June, 1861

A detachment of the Boykin (Mounted) Rangers (47), under the command of Captain A H Boykin, was ordered to proceed by the Wilmington & Manchester Railroad to Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, in the evening on 26 June, 1861, and arrived at Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina, in the morning on 27 June, 1861. The company arrived by the Richmond & Petersburg Railroad at Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, on 28 June, 1861, and was stationed at Camp Fairfield, Fairfield Racecourse, opposite Howard's Grove, on the Mechanicsville Turnpike, one mile northeast of the Capitol, Capitol Hill, Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, on 2 July, 1861.

Note: A detachment of the Boykin (Mounted) Rangers (16) arrived at Petersburg, Dinwiddie County, Virginia, on 5 July, 1861, and was stationed at Camp Fairfield, Fairfield Racecourse, opposite Howard's Grove, on the Mechanicsville Turnpike, one mile northeast of the Capitol, Capitol Hill, Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, on 6 July, 1861.

Special Orders No.215, Paragraph III, Headquarters, Virginia Forces, Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, 8 July, 1861: The Boykin (Mounted) Rangers, the Natchez Cavalry/ Adams Troop, and the Texas Rangers were ordered to Ashland, Hanover County, Virginia, by Special Orders No.215, Paragraph III, Headquarters, Virginia Forces, Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, on 8 July, 1861 (See the 1st Virginia Cavalry).

Note: The Texas Rangers/ Rosser's Mounted Rangers (formerly the Virginia Mounted Rangers) (85/106), under the command of Captain J T Rosser, was accepted in state service for one year at Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, on 1 June, 1861, and was mustered in Confederate service for one year on 3 July, 1861. The company was stationed at Howard's Grove, on the Mechanicsville Turnpike, one mile northeast of the Capitol, Capitol Hill, Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, between 28 June and 16 August, 1861, and was ordered to White Sulphur Springs, Greenbrier County, Virginia, by Special Orders No.249, Paragraph III, Adjutant & Inspector General's Office, Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, on 13 August, 1861.

Camp Fairfield, Fairfield Racecourse, opposite Howard's Grove, on the Mechanicsville Turnpike, one mile northeast of the Capitol, Capitol Hill, Richmond, Henrico County, Virgiania, 6-17 July, 1861: The Boykin (Mounted) Rangers (60/63) was stationed at Camp Fairfield, Fairfield Racecourse, opposite Howard's Grove, on the Mechanicsville Turnpike, one mile northeast of the Capitol, Capitol Hill, Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, between 6 and 17 July, 1861.

Arrival at Manassas Junction, 21 July, 1861

The Boykin (Mounted) Rangers was ordered to Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, by Special Orders No.223, Paragraph IV, Headquarters, Virginia Forces, Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, on 17 July, 1861, dated 16 July, 1861, and arrived at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, Prince William County, via Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania County, Virginia, in the afternoon on 21 July, 1861.

Manassas Junction to Vienna, 24 July, 1861

The Boykin (Mounted) Rangers was ordered to Vienna, Fairfax County, Virginia, by Special Orders No.157, Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, on 24 July, 1861, dated 23 July, 1861, and arrived at Camp Gregg/ Victory, southwest of the Loudoun & Hampshire Railroad, Vienna, Fairfax County, Virginia, in the morning on 24 July, 1861.

Organisation of First Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, 25 July, 1861: Brigadier General M L Bonham, Confederate States Army; 2nd South Carolina Infantry, Colonel J B Kershaw; 3rd South Carolina Infantry, Colonel J H Williams; 7th South Carolina Infantry, Colonel T G Bacon; 8th South Carolina Infantry, Colonel E B C Cash; Hanover Light Dragoons, Washington's Home Guards/ Fairfax Cavalry, Captain W C Wickham, Hanover Light Dragoons; 30th Virginia Cavalry, Companies A, E, G, & H, Colonel R C W Radford; Boykin (Mounted) Rangers, Captain A H Boykin; Alexandria Artillery, Captain D Kemper

Note: The Boykin (Mounted) Rangers (69) was stationed at Camp Gregg/ Victory, southwest of the Loudoun & Hampshire Railroad, Vienna, Fairfax County, Virginia, on 25 and 27 July, 1861.

Mustered for the war, Camp Gregg/ Victory, southwest of the Loudoun & Hampshire Railroad, Vienna, Fairfax County, Virginia, 31 July, 1861: The Boykin (Mounted) Rangers was mustered in Confederate service for the war at Camp Gregg, Vienna, Fairfax County, Virginia, by Assistant Adjutant General & Captain W H Stevens, corps engineers, Confederate States Army, at 12 PM on 31 July, 1861.

Organisation of Boykin (Mounted) Rangers, 31 July, 1861: Captain A H Boykin; First Lieutenant J Chestnut; Second Lieutenant T C Lee

Note: The Boykin (Mounted) Rangers (75) was stationed at Camp Gregg/ Victory, southwest of the Loudoun & Hampshire Railroad, Vienna, Fairfax County, Virginia, on 6 August, 1861.

Vienna to Flint Hill, 11 August, 1861

The Boykin (Mounted) Rangers was ordered to Flint Hill, Fairfax County, Virginia, on 11 August, 1861, and was stationed at and in the vicinity of headquarters of Brigadier General M L Bonham, Confederate States Army, at Flint Hill, Fairfax County, Virginia, on 26 August, 1861.

Organisation of 2nd South Carolina Cavalry, 22 August, 1862: Colonel M C Butler, Lieutenant Colonel F Hampton, Major T J Lipscomb; Company A, Boykin (Mounted) Rangers, Captain A H Boykin; Company B, Beaufort District Troop (Hampton Legion Battalion Cavalry, Company C), Captain T E Screven; Company C, Congaree Rangers (3rd/ 4th South Carolina Battalion Cavalry, Company B), Captain J F Meighan; Company D, Wassamassaw Cavalry/ Rangers (3rd/ 4th South Carolina Battalion Cavalry, Company D), Captain J C McKewn; Company E, Dean's company (3rd/ 4th South Carolina Battalion Cavalry, Company C), Captain A H Dean; Company F, Westfield's company (3rd/ 4th South Carolina Battalion Cavalry, Company A), Captain J Westfield; Company G, Bonham Light Dragoons, Captain J W Gary; Company H, Congaree (Columbia) Troop/ Mounted Riflemen (Hampton Legion Battalion Cavalry, Company D), Captain J P Macfie; Company I, Edgefield Hussars (Hampton Legion Battalion Cavalry, Company A), Captain T H Clark; Company K, Brooks Troop/ Cavalry (Hampton Legion Battalion Cavalry, Company B), Captain L Williams

Note: The Boykin (Mounted) Rangers was assigned to the 2nd South Carolina Cavalry, Company A, on 22 August, 1862, and Captain T J Lipscomb, Bonham Light Dragoons, was appointed major, 2nd South Carolina Cavalry, on 7 October, 1862, dated 22 August, 1862 (See the Hampton Legion).

Surrendered at Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina, 26 April, 1865: The 2nd South Carolina Cavalry surrendered at Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina, on 26 April, 1865.

Brigadier General M L Bonham, Confederate States Army, First Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, 23 April, 1861: M L Bonham was appointed major general, South Carolina Volunteers, by General Orders No.10, Headquarters, Provisional Forces, Charleston, Charleston District, South Carolina, on 5 March, 1861, dated 23 February, 1861, and was assigned to command the troops stationed at Morris Island, Charleston District, South Carolina, by General Orders No.6, Headquarters, Division South Carolina Volunteers, Morris Island, Charleston District, South Carolina, on 14 April, 1861. Major General M L Bonham, South Carolina Volunteers, was relieved by General Orders No.27, Headquarters, Provisional Army of South Carolina, Charleston, Charleston District, South Carolina, on 21 April, 1861, and was appointed brigadier general, Confederate States Army, on 23 April, 1861. He arrived by the Richmond & Petersburg Railroad at Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, at 6 PM on 24 April, 1861, and was accompanied by the 1st South Carolina Infantry, Companies A, B, C, E, H, I, K, and L. Brigadier General M L Bonham, Confederate States Army, was assigned to command the Department of Alexandria and set up headquarters at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, by Special Orders No.95, Headquarters, Virginia Forces, Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, on 21 May, 1861, and was ordered to proceed by the Virginia Central Railroad to Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, on 22 May, 1861. He was accompanied by the 1st South Carolina Infantry and arrived by the Orange & Alexandria Railroad at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, on 23 May, 1861. Brigadier General M L Bonham, Confederate States Army, was assigned to command the the troops stationed at Fairfax County, Virginia, and the 2nd South Carolina Infantry by Special Orders No. 1 and General Orders No.9, Headquarters, Department of Alexandria, Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, on 4 June, 1861, and was ordered to Centreville, Fairfax County, Virginia, between 4 and 9 June, 1861. He was accompanied by the Black Horse Troop and was assigned to command the First Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, by General Orders No.20, Paragraph I, Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, on 20 June, 1861. Brigadier General M L Bonham, Confederate States Army, was reappointed brigadier general, Confederate States Army, on 21 October, 1861, dated 14 July, 1861.

Note: Brigadier General P G T Beauregard, Confederate States Army, assumed command of the Department of Alexandria at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, on 2 June, 1861.

The Boykin (Mounted) Rangers was assigned to the Second Brigade, Third Division, Potomac District, Department of Northern Virginia, under the command of Brigadier General M L Bonham, Confederate States Army, by General Orders No.15, Adjutant & Inspector General's Office, Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, on 22 October, 1861.