Sammi --

Here's a little help with a couple of your questions. South Carolina men usually went one of two places:
either to Virginia or to coast defenses of South Carolina. Very few Carolinians went west to Mississippi and Tennessee; none at all until the 2nd year of the war.

As for the ranks held by wealthy men, the President appointed general officers, who were then confirmed by the Senate. Think of it like the modern-day appointment process for Federal judges. Appointments were usually based on a man's education and military experience. Of course it helped to have friends in high places!

As for lower-ranking officers, owners of large plantations were unlikely to volunteer. They were often a bit too old for active military service, and had business interests to pursue at home. To use a modern-day example, do we expect Bill Gates or Donald Trump to quit their jobs, join the armed services and lead military commands in Iraq? In 1861 Wade Hampton did something like this, but it's hard to come up with names of many others like him.

Volunteer military organizations in the state chose their officers by election. As you might expect, volunteers
selected officers among men they knew and trusted. Name recognition influenced votes. It helped to have a
good education and to be at ease speaking to people. For that reason, officers elected in 1861 had been
involved jobs where public relations were important such as law, politics and sales. For example before the war many company and regimental officers had marketed cotton that planters brought them for sale abroad.

As for wealth, if educated men prospered in their work and didn't waste their income, wouldn't you expect them to have more money than others?

Finally, having studied volunteers from a prosperous Southern county, the first to volunteer came from the towns, not from the countryside. There are many reasons for this. Months, sometimes years before the war men in the towns had formed volunteer militia companies. Men having jobs in towns found it easier to assemble for military drill and training, Also, already having officers, arms, uniforms and equipment, they were ready for duty when the war came.

Farmers had work to do all year round and had less time to assemble for militia purposes. Besides the unending schedule of farm work, they were more likely to have wives and family cares. Men working in the towns tended to be single and less encumbered by business responsibilities. The secession crisis stalled commerce and idled many clerks and businessmen. On the other hand it had little impact on the daily work of farmers and planters.

Please feel free to reply with any questions.

Alan Pitts