[
792]
October.
At that time he entered the service of the Southern express company, with which he has ever since beet connected, now holding the important position of agent at
Charleston.
Captain Thomas Pinckney was born in the city of
Charleston, S. C., in 1828.
He was the son of
Charles C. Pinckney, and grandson of
Thomas Pinckney, who was a major in the Revolutionary army and subsequently appointed a major-general commanding the
Southern army in the war of 1812.
Captain Pinckney received his collegiate education at the university of Virginia, after which he studied medicine, receiving his degree from the medical college of
Charleston.
He soon after turned his attention to rice planting on the
South Santee river, which occupation he was continuously engaged in until his country required his services in the field.
Soon after the passing of the ordinance of secession by the
State of South Carolina, in December, 1860, a cavalry company was organized in the parish of
St. James,
Santee, Charleston district, afterward known as the
St. James mounted riflemen, to the command of which company
Captain Pinckney was elected.
Maj. Edward Manigault, having been now commissioned, established a military post at McClellanville, under whose command
Captain Pinckney served until the reorganization of the army in 1862.
The St. James mounted riflemen, Company A, and the
Charleston light dragoons were thrown together, forming the Fourth South Carolina regiment of cavalry,
Captain Rutledge, with the consent of the other officers, being promoted to the colonelcy.
The regiment was brought together at
Pocotaligo, having received orders to report to
Gen. W. S. Walker, and for one year thereafter they were engaged in picket duty for the protection of the Charleston & Savannah railroad.
On joining the army of Northern Virginia, then encamped on the
Rapidan,
General Hampton made an attack on
Sheridan's lines, and after a severe fight near Hawe's Shop, on May 28th,
Captain Pinckney with the extreme right of the line was cut off and captured.
A week later he was shipped with some 600 prisoners from the head of the
York river to
Point Lookout.
After some six weeks
Captain Pinckney with most of his fellow prisoners were removed to
Fort Delaware.
There he suffered more than the usual hardships
