12th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry
12th Infantry Regiment completed its organization in July, 1861, at Lightwoodknot Springs, near Columbia, South Carolina. The men were raised in the counties of Oconee, York, Lancaster, Kershaw, and Fairfield. It served on the South Carolina coast near Pocotaligo, then in April, 1862, moved to Virginia. Assigned to General Gregg's and McGowan's Brigade, the regiment fought with the Army of Northern Virginia from the Seven Days' Battles to Fredericksburg. During the Chancellorsville operations the 12th was detached to guard ordinance trains and prisoners. With 340 men it marched 2,000 Federals to Richmond. Later the unit rejoined the brigade and continued the conflict from Gettysburg to Cold Harbor, then saw action in the Petersburg trenches and the Appomattox Campaign. It lost 17 killed and 121 wounded at Gaines' Mill, fifty-four percent of 270 at Second Manassas, 20 killed and 82 wounded at Sharpsburg, and thirty-six percent of the 366 at Gettysburg. The regiment sustained 102 casualties at The Wilderness, 118 at Spotsylvania, 34 from May 12 to July 1, 1864, 18 at Deep Bottom, 26 at Fussell's Mill, and 23 at Poplar Springs Church. It surrendered 10 officers and 149 men. The field officers were Colonels Dixon Barnes, Edwin F. Bookter, Richard G.M. Dunovant, Cadwalader Jones, and John L. Miller; and Lieutenant Colonels T. Frank Clyburn, Henry C. Davis, and William H. McCorkle.

Plyler, Ellis K.
Co I Private Private

Plyler, Jonas R.
Co I Private Private

Plyler, Ransom
Co I Private Private

1860 United States Federal Census
Name: E K Plyler
Age in 1860: 23
Birth Year: abt 1837
Birthplace: South Carolina
Home in 1860: Lancaster, South Carolina
Gender: Male
Post Office: Jacksonham
Value of real estate: View image
Household Members: Name Age
Doctor Plyler 30 Farmer
Mary Plyler 24 wife
Margret Plyler 2 daughter
John Plyler 4/12 son
E K Plyler 23 farm laborer

1860 United States Federal Census
Name: Jonas R Plyler
Age in 1860: 17
Birth Year: abt 1843
Birthplace: South Carolina
Home in 1860: Lancaster, South Carolina
Gender: Male
Post Office: Flint Ridge
Value of real estate: View image
Household Members: Name Age
Elisha Plyler 50 Farmer
Elizabeth Plyler 46 wife
Jonas R Plyler 17 son farming
Ransom Plyler 15 son at home
Nancy M Plyler 12 daughter at home
John Plyler 9 son at home
General Plyler 7 son at home
Margret Plyler 4 daughter at home

1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Ransom Plyler
Home in 1880: Flat Creek, Lancaster, South Carolina
Age: 32
Estimated birth year: abt 1848
Birthplace: South Carolina
Father's birthplace: South Carolina
Mother's birthplace: South Carolina
Neighbors: View others on page
Occupation: Mechanic
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Gender: Male
Household Members: Name Age
David Montgomery 30 Mechanic
Bryant Knight 23 Mechanic
Ransom Plyler 32 Mechanic
William Stelle 20 apprentice
David J. Gardner 24 Mechanic
John S. Wright 28 Mechanic

Mechanic = a laborer who was skilled and worked with his hands such as Blacksmiths and wagon-makers