Good hunting,
George Martin
Silias R. Perry enlisted as a Private in Company C, 12th South Carolina Infantry August 20, 1861 at Ridgeway, South Carolina, recorded as a POW near Sharpsburg, Md. September 21,1862*, admitted to the Jackson Hospital, Richmond, Virginia May 16, 1864, gunshot wound to the head**, returned to duty May 23, captured at Petersburg April 3, 1865, arrived Hart's Island, New York Harbor prison camp April 7, released June 16, 1865, place of residence, Fairfield District, S. C.,
* His record does not contain any information on his subsequent POW status
** Most likely at Spotsylvania Court House, VA 5/12/64
12th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry
12th Infantry Regiment completed its organization in July, 1861, at Lightwoodknot Springs, near Columbia, South Carolina. The men were raised in the counties of Oconee, York, Lancaster, Kershaw, and Fairfield. It served on the South Carolina coast near Pocotaligo, then in April, 1862, moved to Virginia. Assigned to General Gregg's and McGowan's Brigade, the regiment fought with the Army of Northern Virginia from the Seven Days' Battles to Fredericksburg. During the Chancellorsville operations the 12th was detached to guard ordinance trains and prisoners. With 340 men it marched 2,000 Federals to Richmond. Later the unit rejoined the brigade and continued the conflict from Gettysburg to Cold Harbor, then saw action in the Petersburg trenches and the Appomattox Campaign. It lost 17 killed and 121 wounded at Gaines' Mill , fifty-four percent of 270 at Second Manassas, 20 killed and 82 wounded at Sharpsburg, and thirty-six percent of the 366 at Gettysburg. The regiment sustained 102 casualties at The Wilderness, 118 at Spotsylvania, 34 from May 12 to July 1, 1864, 18 at Deep Bottom, 26 at Fussell's Mill, and 23 at Poplar Springs Church. It surrendered 10 officers and 149 men. The field officers were Colonels Dixon Barnes, Edwin F. Bookter, Richard G.M. Dunovant, Cadwalader Jones, and John L. Miller; and Lieutenant Colonels T. Frank Clyburn, Henry C. Davis, and William H. McCorkle.
See also: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~york/12thSCV/C.htm
http://batsonsm.tripod.com/b/reg12.html
http://www.petersburgbreakthrough.org/12thSC.htm
http://www.researchonline.net/sccw/unit144.htm
http://www.petersburgbreakthrough.org/12thSCroll.htm
Antietam after battle report:
Report of Maj. W. H. McCorkle, Twelfth South Carolina
Infantry, of the battle of Sharpsburg and action near Shepherdstown.
OCTOBER 1, 1862
SIR: I have the honor herewith to submit reports of the part taken by the
Twelfth Regiment in the battles of Sharpsburg and Shepherdstown, on
September 17 and 20, respectively:
About 3 p.m. we arrived, with the Second Brigade, on the field of battle.
Immediately, by order of Brig.-Gen. Gregg, skirmishers, under the
command of Capt. John L. Miller, were thrown out. The position of the
enemy being soon ascertained, they were called in, and a line of battle
formed of three regiments, to wit, the Thirteenth, Twelfth, and First, the
Twelfth being the center and the regiment of direction. In obedience to
orders, we advanced to the top of the hill, in the cornfield, and there halted
a few moments, when the firing commenced. The enemy now appearing in
force on the opposite hill, and at the fence in the intervening ravine, the
Twelfth, at once and alone, advanced down the hill and to the fence in
front. In this charge we were subjected to a terrible cross-fire in front and
from both flanks. After reaching the fence we were compelled to fall back
to prevent being flanked on the right the enemy on the left having been
driven back. The enemy, being soon re-enforced, advanced toward us as far
as the fence.
Now we gain charged on them and drove them back a short distance, but were not
able to reach the fence, as in the first charge. There being a very heavy
flank movement on the right, we again fell back near the top of the hill.
Now the enemy advanced over the fence, when the Twelfth, again and for
the third time, charged upon them and drove them beyond the fence, with
great slaughter, putting them completely to rout as they ran through the
plowed ground and up the opposite hill.
In these charges the regiment suffered severely. In the last the loss was very
heavy. Here fell Col. Dixon Barnes, at the head of his regiment, gallantly
cheering his men on to victory, and here, also, fell Capt. F.A. Erwin and
Lieut. Stover, mortally wounded, both in the midst of their commands.
For particulars I refer to list of killed and wounded, marked D.*
Col. Barnes having fallen, I immediately assumed command. I remained
at the fence with the regiment until near sundown, when, there being no
appearance of the enemy, I fell back to the top of the hill, when I was
ordered to the rear of the fence occupied by Col. Edwards' regiment. Here
we remained during the night and until ordered to march on the night of the
18th.
SHEPHERDSTOWN.
On arriving on the battle-field on the morning of the 20th, the Twelfth
Regiment was formed into line of battle with the brigade. We were not
engaged in the fight, but were under a heavy shelling during the entire day,
and particularly while marching to our position. Here, being well protected
by a hill, this regiment suffered no loss but in 1 man slightly wounded.
In both the engagement I have great pleasure in testifying to the good
conduct of the officers and men of this regiment. They all fought with
remarkable gallantry, always ready to advance, and never faltering in any
instance, whether under shell or before musketry.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W.H. McCORKLE,
Maj., Comdg. Twelfth Regiment South Carolina Vols.
Lieut. Col. C. JONES.
Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 19. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 27
.............
1860 Federal Census
Name: Silas Perry Laborer
Age in 1860: 18
Birth Year: abt 1842
Home in 1860: Fairfield, Fairfield, South Carolina
Gender: Male
Post Office: Winnsboro
Value of real estate: View image
Household Members:
Name Age
John Perry 52 Planter
Harriet Perry 40
Chesley Perry 23
Eliza Perry 21
Susan Perry 19
Silas Perry 18
Emma Perry 15
Simon Perry 16
Martha Perry 12
David Perry 8