[a] Most of the slaves in the South Carolina Sea Islands became free after the Battle of Port Royal on November 7, 1861 when many of the white residents and plantation owners fled the area after the arrival of the Union Navy and Army.

Trowbridge recruited 50 to 100 men; they were trained and armed and engaged in guerrilla warfare to liberate enslaved people.

Some of the Geechee people in St. Simons Island joined the 1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry including Susie King Taylor.

[9] On St. Helena Island, South Carolina other units of the 1st South Carolina were disbanded in August 1862 (except for Trowbridge’s company on St. Simons) under orders from President Abraham Lincoln's administration because Hunter was not authorized by the U.S. War Department to recruit contraband (free Blacks) into the army, and the recruits were involuntarily forced into the regiment "in a manner reminiscent of their days as slaves".

On November 10, 1862 Colonel Thomas Wentworth Higginson assumed command, and by January 31, 1863 the 1st South Carolina was mustered into military service.

[20] The 1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry regiment did an expedition up the St. Mary's River along the Georgia-Florida state line which lasted from January 23 to February 1, 1863.

[22] On July 9–11, 1863 the 1st South Carolina completed an expedition along the Edisto River where they helped to liberate enslaved people in the area fleeing to Union boats.

Finally the legal fiction that they were property was abandoned and they were allowed to enlist in the Army, although in segregated units commanded by white officers.

Susie K. Taylor learned how to read when she was enslaved in Georgia in a secret school operated by two free Black women.

[25] Taylor remained with the regiment from August 1862 until they mustered out of service on February 9, 1866 at Fort Wagner located on Morris Island, South Carolina.

Frederick Douglass who was a 19th century civil rights activist believed Black Americans deserved citizenship because of their military service in the Union Army.

He said: "Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letter, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pocket, there is no power on earth that can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship".

[29] The National Park Service has a list of soldiers that served in the 1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry (Colored) Regiment.

With his freedom he joined the 1st South Carolina Volunteers Colored Infantry and became the sergeant and held the position of provost of the guard.

Rivers was also present at the Emancipation Day celebration at Camp Saxton and received the colors of the First South Carolina Volunteers.

"When the Civil War broke out, local tradition holds that he was white passing enough to join the Confederate army, with the sole purpose of trying to get close enough to Union lines where he could escape.

"[37] Hayne later joined the 1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment (later called the 33rd United States Colored Troops) in mid 1863.

Hayne became the first Black student at the University of South Carolina, enrolling in their medical school, but he left before receiving his degree.

When he was a teenager, his family helped freedom seekers (runaway slaves) escape from slavery on the Underground Railroad by hiding them in their home.