Dixon Barnes

He had been a State legislator relatively young, serving from 1846-52 in the House, then 1854-88, and 1860-61 in the State Senate. In 1860 he was a wealthy 42 year old planter with 112 slaves (and constructive ownership of at least 100 more) at Lancaster Court House, SC.

He raised a Company in what became the 2nd South Carolina State Troops, and was elected Major of that regiment. When the unit transitioned to Confederate service he was left without a command. He then raised what became Company I of the 12th South Carolina Infantry at Lancaster Court House, SC, enrolled with them on 28 August 1861, and mustered on 30 August as their Captain. He was elected Lieutenant Colonel on 1 September when that regiment completed organization at Lightwood Knot Springs, about 5 miles north of Columbia. He was promoted Colonel when Colonel Dunnovant resigned in May 1862, to rank from 2 April.

Courtly, white haired Colonel Dixon Barnes had been put under arrest by Jackson for allowing his hungry men to take apples from a tree against orders, and Gregg [his brigade commander] felt he could not release him from the arrest. Pale and stern faced, [A. P.] Hill said 'General Gregg, I order you to give Colonel Barnes his sword and put him in command of his Regiment.' Barnes was thus placed back in command of the 12th South Carolina. Barnes had been willing to serve in the ranks rather than miss the fight.

He died of wounds at Winchester, VA on 27 September 1862.

His service from his Compiled Service Records,1 online from fold3. The quote above is from James I. Robertson's A.P. Hill: Story of a Confederate Warrior (1987), extracted online at Jenny Goellnitz's beautiful AP Hill site. Personal details from his death notice in the The Lancaster (SC) Ledger of 15 October 1862. His gravesite is on Findagrave. His picture from a portrait in the SC Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum, Columbia.

10/09/1816; Kershaw District, SC

09/27/1862; Winchester, VA; burial in Camp Creek Methodist Church Cemetery, Lancaster, SC