Brigadier-General Ellison Capers, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 5, South Carolina
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

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[525] Edgefield county now embraced in the county of Aiken, and was still following this occupation when the war between the States was declared in 1861. In the summer of that year he raised and organized a company of which he was elected captain, the company becoming a part of the Fourteenth regiment of South Carolina volunteers, and went into the camp of instruction at Camp Butler, some seven miles east of the city of Aiken. The regiment was organized by the election of James Jones colonel, Samuel McGowan lieutenant-colonel, and the late Chief Justice Simpson as major. In the fall of the year 1861 the regiment was placed in active service near Port Royal, S. C., and the first engagement in which the regiment was under fire was in the defense of Port Royal. The heaviest casualties there were in Captain Croft's company, where 3 men were killed and 8 wounded, all from the explosion of one shell. Early in 1862 the regiment was ordered to Virginia and it took part in the Peninsular campaign around Richmond. The regiment suffered severely in the Seven Days battles, and Colonel Croft was severely wounded in the arm and shoulder. Colonel Croft was also engaged in the Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville campaign and in the Maryland campaign. The regiment was in A. P. Hill's corps, and was in the severest of fighting on the second day's battle at Gettysburg, Colonel Croft being wounded in the chest and shot through the right hand in that battle. He had then been promoted to major and commanded the regiment and was not shot down until about the time the Seminary heights were taken. The wounds received by him in that battle were very severe and almost proved fatal. He was captured while in the hospital at Winchester, Va., but was shortly afterward exchanged, and after remaining at home for several months on account of his wound he returned to the army of Northern Virginia and took part in the constant fighting in the trenches between Richmond and Petersburg, and was wounded again in the foot but never left the field. He took part in the constant engagements of General Lee's army on its retreat and was among the remnant of that gallant army who laid down their arms at Appomattox. After the battle of Gettysburg Colonel Croft was promoted to lieutenant-colonel of his regiment, and he commanded it from then until the close of the war. He was a gallant soldier