The 33rd USCT Regiment (or the 1st South Carolina Regiment) was filled with ex St. Augustine and St. Johns County slaves. Company A of the regiment was raised by General Hunter in May 1862. This was before approval from Lincoln and was abandoned. He also issued an order for the freeing of all slaves in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina but this was also resended by Lincoln. The President had been authorized to recruit blacks into the army with the Second Confiscation Act and the Militia Act of July 17, 1862.
The regiment was reorganized in November 1862 with Colonel Thomas Wentworth Higginson in charge. The regiment consisted of ten companies of about 86 men each. They were present at Township, Mill Town Bluff, Hall Island, Jacksonville and John's Island. The regimental flags were presented on January 1, 1863.
On March 26, 1964 the regiment became the 33rd USCT.
The regiment was mustered out at Fort Wagner on February 9, 1866. |