University of South Carolina;
Sergeant H. M. Paysinger served in Company C of the 3rd South Carolina Infantry Regiment (SCV) during the American Civil War.
- Unit: 3rd Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers (Kershaw’s Brigade).
- Historical Record: Sergeant Paysinger and his comrade Charles J. Beck were famously captured and sent to the hospital at Gettysburg in July 1863. They made a daring escape in September 1863 by tricking a sentinel into believing Paysinger needed to visit a “brother’s grave,” and successfully made their way back to Richmond. Paysinger returned to the 3rd Regiment before October 1863.
The University of South Carolina has extensive information on line. I know local historian / photographers who use their digital libraries often. The above information was found online. I don’t often get this much data, but sometimes I get lucky.
What caught my eye was someone had cleaned the headstone and darkened the carvings. This is not how the markers should be handled. This was recent and I assume I’m not the first person recently doing searches.
I found conflicting information that a Sargent H. M. Paysinger was killed October 1863. That was an active month with the 3rd regiment engaged at Chickamauga. However there is no date of death on this headstone to confirm it.
When I hear or see headstones like that I think WWI or WWII, this is so old. You found some interesting information on him Ted.
I could get this because he was on the confederate (southern) side of the war and where I live. Charleston was the place that started the US Civil War, and South Carolina was the first state to leave the US. During the war this town was a symbol of the revolt and was severely damaged. It went from the wealthiest city in the US to ruins. In short you can still find plenty of places and info from the war. The southern wealth was based on slavery, it was inevitable there would be a change. I think more soldiers were killed than both world wars combined.