Transcription Tuesday: The Death of Samuel D. Lewis

Preston Moore is not my only “reverse orphan” great-great uncle who died in the Civil War. There are at least two others: Samuel D. Lewis and Manning P. Lewis, the brothers of my great-grandmother Martha E. Lewis Moore (Preston was the older brother of her husband, Harlston Perrin Moore).

Samuel D. Lewis, the third of ten children of Elisha Berry Lewis and Martha Poole, was born in around 1840 in Anderson County, South Carolina. He served in Company C of the Palmetto Sharpshooters, as did his older brother, James West Lewis. He died on August 14, 1864, in the Second Battle of Deep Bottom, with the location reported as Fussell’s Mill in the unit history and New Market Hill/New Market Heights, Virginia in his compiled service record.

The following is a transcription of the pages from his compiled service record reporting his death. Handwritten entries are in italics.

“(Confederate)
L/Palmetto Sharpshooters/S.C.

S. D. Lewis
Pvt., Co. C, Palmetto Regiment Sharpshooters, South Carolina Vols.

Appears on Company Muster Roll
of the organization named above,
for July & August, 1864

Enlisted:

When: Jan. 15, 1864
Where: Morristown
By whom: Capt. Benson
Period: War

Last paid:

By whom: Capt. McLure
To what time: Apr. 30, 186_.

Present or absent:
Remarks: Killed in Action
August 14th 1864 (New Market Hill)”

Such a terse, matter-of-fact report.

The bottom of the page gives the following information on the Palmetto Sharpshooters:

“Most of the members of this company formerly served in Company B, 4th Regiment South Carolina Infantry.
The Palmetto Regiment of Sharp Shooters (also called Jenkins’ Regiment and the 1st Regiment Palmetto Sharp Shooters) was organized April 16, 1862, with twelve companies, which were composed principally of men who had formerly served in the 4th, 5th and 9th Regiments South Carolina Infantry.”

The second page:

“(Confederate)
L/Palmetto S. S./S.C.
Samuel D. Lewis
Pvt. Co. C, Palmetto S. Shooters

Name appears on a
Register
of Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Confederate States who were killed in battle, or who had died of wounds or disease.

Where born: Anderson Dist.
When deceased: Aug. 14, 1864
Where and from what cause: Killed, New Market Heights
Amount of money left: _____
Effects: _____
In whose charge: _____
When received: March 29, 1865
Number of certificate: 4885
Remarks: Last paid to 30 April 1864

*This register appears to have been compiled in the Adjutant and Inspector General’s Office from returns furnished by Hospitals and by Regimental and Company Officers.

Confed. Arch., Chap. 10, File No. 10, page 152.”

Sources:

Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of South Carolina, NARA Publication Number M267, for Samuel D. Lewis of the First Palmetto Sharp Shooters (Jenkins’ Regiment).

“Palmetto Sharpshooters, Company C, Palmetto Riflemen, Anderson County, South Carolina Volunteers,” webpage hosted by Rootsweb at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~york/PSS/C.htm.