Vastine C. Kinsey, my maternal great, great grandfather was born in Orangeburg County, South Carolina in 1843. He enlisted in the 4th S.C. Cavalry, October 31, 1862 along with his three brothers, Andrew, John, and Joseph, and a cousin William Kinsey.

Many of the Cavalry companies which made up the SC 4th Cavalry existed prior to the war as Militia Companies, and some traced their roots back to pre-Revolutionary War times. The 4th Cavalry Regiment was organized in January, 1863, by consolidating the 10th and 12th Battalions South Carolina Cavalry with Majors James P. Adams and William Stokes were its commanding officers.

Private Vastine C. Kinsey and the 4th Cavalry Regiment served in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, then in March, 1864, moved to Virginia with 1,350 officers and men. Attached to General Butler's Brigade, it participated in The Wilderness Campaign, the battles around Cold Harbor, and in various conflicts south of the James River and the defense of Petersburg.

Vastine Kinsey was captured at Stoney Creek, Va., (Sappony Church), June 28, 1864, during the defense of St. Petersburg. He was sent to Camp Point Lookout Prison in Maryland, where he was forced to sign the Oath of Allegiance on June 25, 1865, the day the prison was to be torn down.

Vastine C. Kinsey died on 1904 and is buried in the Smoaks Baptist Cemetery, which is located in Smoaks, SC.

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