Memorial Charleston Light Dragoons

The Charleston Light Dragoons were initially formed in 1792 as a volunteer militia company and was very much part of the Charleston and South Carolina social scene. They recruited from the well to do in Charleston, its members having to pay a membership fee and provide their own mounts and equipment. At the beginning of the Civil War they listened to the bombardment of Fort Sumter, escorted South Carolinas dead from the battlefield of Bull Run and guarded prisoners at Fort Pinckney. In 1862 it was voted that the company entered Confederate service and they merged with other battalions and companies to form the 4th South Carolina Cavalry. Much of 1862/3 was quiet for the regiment until it was sent to Richmond in March 1864. At the battle of Haw's shop the regiment suffered a great number of casualties particularly as many were fighting as infantry as they had less than 400 mounts for 987 men. By the end of the campaign the regiment mustered around 100 men of which only 6 were dragoons. The Dragoons continued to fight throughout the war but as scattered units.
The memorial detailing those officers and men who served and also died and the battles they fought was unveiled on 10 May 1888.

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