21st Mississippi Infantry Regiment

Confederate Regiments & Batteries > Mississippi

1861
October Organized at Manassas from Brandon’s 1st Mississippi Infantry Battalion and mustered into Confederate service under Colonel Benjamin G. Humphreys and Lieutenant Colonel William L. Brandon.
Fall On duty in northeastern Virginia.
1862
April The regiment mustered 684 men when it was reorganized
June 25-July 1
Seven Days Battles

The regiment lost 32 men killed and 119 wounded
July 1
Battle of Malvern Hill

Lieutenant Colonel Brandon was wounded, losing his leg. Because of his age (he was 60) it was doubted that he would survive the amputation, but he did and returned to the regiment before the Gettysburg campaign.
August Colonel Barksdale of the 13th Mississippi was promoted to brigadier general and given permanent command of the brigade, which was assigned to McLaws’ Division
September 17
Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)

Marched from Brownsville, reaching the field after the batle had begun.

Out of 200 men engaged, the regiment lost 3 killed and 56 wounded. Captain John Simms commanded the regiment during most of the battle, but Colonel Humphreys arrived near the end of the fight, “cheering and animating the whole brigade.”

From the brigade marker on the Antietam battlefield:

September 17, 1862.

Barksdale’s Brigade crossed the Potomac at Blackford’s Ford about daybreak of the 17th and halted in the western suburbs of Sharpsburg until nearly 9 A.M. It then advanced to the rising ground southwest of this point and formed line in the left center of McLaws’ Division, Kershaw on the right and Semmes on the left.

In the general advance of the Division it encountered the enemy’s line at the edge of the West Woods at this point and, supported by Ransom’s Brigade of Walker’s Division, forced it back through the woods to the fields beyond, where it was checked by the destructive fire of the Federal Artillery and compelled to retire to the protection of the hill and ledges of rock in this vicinity.

Later in the day the Brigade reoccupied a portion of the ground from which it had been driven and, with Ransom on the right and Early on the left, held the position until the night of the 18th when it recrossed the Potomac.
December 13
Battle of Fredericksburg

The regiment lost 11 men wounded
1863
May 2-3
Second Battle of Fredericksburg (Chancellorsville campaign)

The regiment was commanded by Colonel Humphreys. It and the 18th Mississippi defended Marye’s Heights, with the 18th behind the stone wall along the sunken road and 21st higher up on the heights. It lost 3 men killed and 25 wounded
July 2-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment was commanded by Colonel Humphreys and brought 424 men to the field. It took part in the evening asault through the Peach Orchard, breaking the Union line and driving them back to the the foot of Cemetery Ridge before being pushed back. The regiment lost 18 men killed and 85 wounded including Captain Isaac Davis Stamps, who was killed.

From the brigade’s monument on the Gettysburg battlefield

July 2. Arrived about 3 P. M. and formed line here. Advanced at 5 P. M. and took part in the assault on the Peach Orchard and adjacent positions vigorously pursuing the Union forces as they retired. The 21st Regiment pushed on past the Trostle House and captured but were unable to bring off 9th Mass. Battery and I Battery 5th U. States. The other Regiments inclining more to the left pressed forward to Plum Run where they encountered fresh troops and a fierce conflict ensued in which Brig. Gen. Wm. Barksdale fell mortally wounded.

July 3. Supported artIllery on Peach Orchard Ridge. Withdrew from the front late in the afternoon.

July 4. In position near here all day. About midnight began the march to Hagerstown.

Present 1598, Killed 105, Wounded 550, Missing 92, Total 747
August 14 Colonel Humohreys was promoted to brigadier general. Lieutenant colonel Brandon was promoted to colonel.
September Movement of Longstreet’s Corps by rail to North Georgia via Richmond and South Carolina.
September 19 Arrived at Ringgold after the battle has begun and marched through the night to the battlefield.
September 20
Battle of Chickamauga

Went into support of Hood’s Division, breaking the Union line.
September 22-
November 4
Siege of Chattanooga

Colonel Brandon resigned. Due to his age and the loss of his leg at Mavern Hill he was not fit for service in the field.
October 30 Captain William H. Fitzgerald of Company F was promoted to major.
November 4 Left Lookout Mountain for Knoxville
November 15 Crossed the Tennessee River at London
November 16 Skirmish at Campbell’s Station
November 20 Siege of Knoxville
November 29
Assault on Fort Sanders
December 16 To Clinch Mountain Gap. The 13th Mississippi was sent to pursue the Union forces there and capture the camp and equipment of the 117th Indiana infantry.
Winter Winter quarters at Russelville, Tennessee
1864
March Moved to Bristol, Tennessee
May 3 To Gordonsville, Virginia,
May 6
Battle of the Wilderness

Rejoined the Army of Northern Virginia
May 8-21
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

The regiment was commanded by Colonel Daniel Moody
May 27 Hanover Junction
June Cedar Creek
June 19 To Petersburg
late August Sent to Lieutenant General Jubal Early’s Army of the Shenandoah
September 3
Battle of Berryville

Colonel Daniel Moody took over the brigade as senior officer when Colonel Humphreys was wounded. Captain John H. Simms took over command of the regiment.
October 19
Battle of Cedar Creek

Captain John H. Simms was killed while leading the regiment. Captain Fitzgerald was promoted to major.
November 20 Returned to the Richmond Front, posted at Garnett’s Farm and on the Darbytown and Newmarket Roads.
1865
April 1-2 Moved through Richmond on the way to Appomattox
April 6
Battle of Sayler’s Creek

Lieutenant Colonel Fitzgerald was taken prisoner.
April 9
Appomattox Court House

The regiment surrendered 4 officers and 44 enlisted men