The regiments were uniformed by private donations, each neighborhood uniforming the company raised in its bounds.  The tents were large and old fashioned—­about 8 x 10 feet square, with a separate fly on top—­one of these being allowed to every six or seven men.  They were pitched in rows, about fifty feet apart, the front of one company facing the rear of the other.  About the first of June all the regiments, except the Second, were ordered to Manassas, Va.  The regiments were formed by companies from battalions of the militia from various counties, one company usually being formed from a battalion.  These companies were organized into regiments, very much as at present, and like the old anti-bellum militia.  At times some ambitious citizen would undertake to raise a volunteer company outside of those raised from battalions, and generally these were called “crack companies.”  Afterwards a few undertook to raise companies in this manner, i.e., selecting the officers first, and then proceeding to select the men, refusing such as would not make acceptable soldiers, thus forming exclusive organizations.  These were mostly formed in towns and cities.  At other times old volunteer companies, as they were called, of the militia would enlist in a body, with such recruits as were wanted to fill up the number.  In the old militia service almost all the towns and cities had these companies as a kind of city organization, and they would be handsomely uniformed, well equipped, and in many cases were almost equal to regular soldiers.  Columbia had at least three of these companies in our brigade—­the Governor’s Guards, Richland Rifles, and one more, I think, but on this point am not positive.  Charleston had two or more, the Palmetto Guards and others; Greenville, the Butler Guards; Newberry, the Quitman Rifles; while the other counties, Abbeville, Anderson, Edgefield, Williamsburg, Darlington, Sumter, and almost all the counties represented in our brigade had one of these city volunteer companies.  When all the companies called for had been organized, they were notified to what regiment they had been assigned, or what companies were to constitute a regiment, and were ordered to hold an election for field officers.  Each company would hold its election, candidates in the meantime having offered their services to fill the respective places of Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, and Major.  After the elections thus held, the returns would be sent up to the Adjutant and Inspector General’s office and there tabulated, and the result declared.  The candidates for field officers were generally Mexican War Veterans, or some popular citizen, whom the old men thought “would take care of the boys.”  At first the qualification of a commander, be it Colonel or Captain, mostly required was clemency.  His rules of discipline, bravery, or military ability were not so much taken into consideration.

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SECOND SOUTH CAROLINA REGIMENT.