Background: Thick-target-induced nucleon-adding transfer reactions onto energetic rare-isotope beams are an emerging spectroscopic tool. Their sensitivity to single-particle structure complements one-nucleon removal reaction capabilities in the quest to reveal the evolution of nuclear shell structure in very exotic nuclei. Purpose: To add intermediate-energy, carbon-target-induced one-proton pickup reactions to the arsenal of $gamma$-ray tagged direct reactions applicable in the regime of low beam intensities and to apply these for the first time to $fp$-shell nuclei. Methods: Inclusive and partial cross sections were measured for the $ uc{12}{C}( uc{48}{Cr}, uc{49}{Mn}+gamma)$X and $ uc{12}{C}( uc{50}{Fe}, uc{51}{Co}+gamma)$X proton pickup reactions at 56.7 and 61.2 MeV/nucleon, respectively, using coincident particle-$gamma$ spectroscopy at the NSCL. The results are compared to reaction theory calculations using $fp$-shell-model nuclear structure input. For comparison with our previous work, the same reactions were measured on uc{9}{Be} targets. Results: The measured partial cross sections confirm the specific population pattern predicted by theory, with pickup into high-$ell$ orbitals being strongly favored; driven by linear and angular momentum matching. Conclusion: Carbon target-induced pickup reactions are well-suited, in the regime of modest beam intensity, to study the evolution of nuclear structure, with specific sensitivities that are well described by theory.
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