21st North Carolina Infantry Regiment

Confederate Regiments & Batteries * North Carolina

“11th Infantry Regiment Volunteers”

1861
June 18 The 21st North Carolina Infantry Regiment was organized at Danville, Virginia, for 12 months service as the 11th Infantry Regiment Volunteers. The field officers were Colonel William W. Kirkland (a former U.S. Marine who attended but did not graduate from the West Point Class of 1855), Lieutenant Colonel J.M. Leach, and Major J.M. Richardson.

The regiment consisted of 12 companies:
Company A – “Davidson Guards” – Davidson county – Captain J. C. Hedgecock
Company B –  “Yadkin Grey Eagles” – Yadkin County – Captain John K. Connally
Company C – “Blue Ridge Riflemen” – Surry County – Captain B.Y. Graves
Company D – “Forsythe Rifles” – Forsyth County – Captain A.H. Belo
Company E – “Forsythe Greys” – Forsyth County – Captain R.W. Wharton
Compay F – “Mountain Boys” – Stokes County –  Captain Rufus K. Pepper
Company G – “Town Fork Invincibles” – Stokes Couty – Captain S. Westmoreland
Company H – “Mountain Tigers” – Surry County – Captain J.R. Waugh
Compay I – “Surry Marksmen” – Surry County – Captain J.C. Gilmer
Comany K – “Forsythe Southrons” – Forsyth County – Captain F.P. Miller
Company L – “Rockingham Invincibles” – Rockingham County – Captain J.H. Boyd
Company M – “Guilford Dixie Boys” – Guilford County – Captain W.L. Scott
July 12 Mustered into Confederate service.
July 13 Moved via the Richmond & Danville Railroad to Richmond in the evening.
July 14-16 Arrived in Richmond in the morning and quartered at the State Agricultural Fairgrounds for two days. Colonel Kirkland went ahead to Manassas on the 16th with the regiment’s baggage and horses.
July 17 Arrived at Manassas Junction in two trains via the Virginia Central Railroad and the Orange & Alexander Railroad. The second train rear ended the first train during the trip, slightly injuring four men from Company B. Assigned to Bonham’s Brigade, Army of the Potomac.
July 18
Blackburn’s Ford

Stationed one mile northwest of Mitchell’s Ford on Bull Run.
July 21
Battle of Manassas (Bull Run)

The regiment was not engaged. It took part in the general pursuit to Centreville after the battle.
July 25 Assigned to 6th (Bonham’s) Brigade, 1st Corps, Army of the Potomac.
August 1 Reassigned with the 5th and 13th North Carolina Infantry to Early’s Brigade, 1st Corps, Army of the Potomac.
August 29 Assigned to the 7th (Crittenden’s) Brigade, 1st Corps, Army of the Potomac along with the 15th Alabama Infantry, 16th Mississippi Infantry, and 4th Georgia Infantry Battalion.
October 14-17 Moved to Broad Run Station near Thoroughfare Gap.
November 14 Redesignated 21st North Carolina Infantry Regiment when the state of North Carolina consolidated its list of state troops and volunteers.
December 23 Lieutenant Colonel Leach resigned.
1862
January Major Richardson resigned.
February 1 Captain William L. Scott of Company M was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
March-May Assigned to Trimble’s Brigade, Ewell’s Division, Department of Northern Virginia.
April 26 Captain Saunders Fulton was promoted to major.
May-June
Shenandoah Valley Campaign

Assigned to Trimble’s Brigade, Ewell’s Division, Army of the Valley.
May 23
Battle of Front Royal
May 25
First Battle of Winchester

The regiment los 80 men. Colonel Kirkland was shot through both thighs. He would not return to the regiment until just before Gettysburg. Captain Hiram S. Ligon of Company G was killed. Lieutenant Colonel R.K. Pepper and Captain J. C. Hedgecock of Company A were mortally wounded. Lieutenants John W. Beard of Company F and J.A. Cobb of Company M were wounded.
June 8
Battle of Cross Keys

The regiment lost 13 men.
June 10 Captain Barley Y. Graves of Company C was promoted to major.
June-January Assigned to Trimble’s-Hoke’s Brigade, Ewell’s-Early’s Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.
June 25-July 1
Seven Days Battles

The regiment lost 45 men.
June 27
Gaines’ Mill
June 30
White Oak Swamp
July 1
Malvern Hill
August 9
Battle of Cedar Mountain
August 28-30
Second Battle of Manassas (Bull Run)

The regiment lost 51 men at Groveton. Lieutenant Colonel Sanders Fulton was killed, and Major B.Y. Graves was wounded.  Lieutenants David P. Jackson of Company D and Wilbourn B. Shoub of Company F were killed. Captains John W. Beard of Company F and M.L. Patterson of Company I, Lieutenants J.W. Miller and Albert Alspaugh of Company D and Vincent H. Hazlip and Mills V. Tuttle of Company G were wounded.
September 1
Battle of Chantilly
September 12-15
Capture of Harpers Ferry
September 17
Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)

The regiment was commanded at Sharpsburg by Captain F.P. Miller of Company K until he was killed. The regiment lost 18 men.

From the marker to Trimble’s Brigade at Antietam:

At 10 P. M. of the 16th, Trimble’s Brigade advanced from the Dunkard Church and relieved Law’s Brigade of Hood’s Division at this point. The right of the Brigade rested in the Cemetery*, the left on the rocky ledge 100 yards north of the road. In this position it was attacked, on the morning of the 17th, by Seymour’s Brigade and Ricketts’ Division. After a severe engagement, in which it lost one-third of its number and expended its ammunition, it was relieved by Law’s Brigade of Hood’s Division and withdrawn to the woods beyond the Dunkard Church.

*The Mumma Cemetery
September 20
Battle of Shepherdstown Ford
Late fall Lieutenant Colonel Robert Hoke of the 33rd North Carolina Infantry was promoted to colonel and appointed to command the regiment until Colonel Kirkland returned.
December 13
Battle of Fredericksburg

The regiment lost 24 men. Colonel Hoke commanded the brigade as senior colonel. Captain John E. Gilmer of Company M and Lieutenants E.H. Amburn of Company F and John S. Dick of Company M were wounded.
1863
January 17 Colonel Hoke was promoted to brigadier general.
March 12 Lieutenant Colonel B.Y. Graves resigned and Major Rankin was promoted to lieutenant colonel. Captain Alexander Miller of Company D was promoted to major.
May 1-4
Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel William S. Rankin. It lost 78 men. Lieutenant Frost Snow of Company C and Captain J.W. Miller of Company D were killed. Lieutenant William H. Peli of company I was wounded.
June 14-15
Second Battle of Winchester

Colonel Kirkland returned to resume command of the regiment.
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment was commanded at Gettysburg by Colonel Kirkland. It brought 436 men to the field and lost 28% casualties. Lieutenant Colonel W.S. Rankin was wounded and captured. Major Alexander Miller was wounded. Lieutenants Frank Banner of Company C, Daniel J. Cockerham of Company H and J.A. Cobb of Company M were wounded.

From the monument to Hoke’s Brigade on the Gettysburg battlefield:

July 1. Advanced at 3 P. M. with Hays’ Brigade flanked Eleventh Corps aided in taking two guns repulsed First Brigade Second Division and captured many prisoners. Late in evening took position here.

July 2. Skirmished all day at 8 P. M. with Hays’ Brigade charged East Cemetery Hill. Severely enfiladed on the left by artillery and musketry it pushed on over infantry line in front scaled the hill planted its colors on the lunettes and captured several guns. But assailed by fresh forces and having no supports it was soon compelled to relinquish what it had gained and withdraw. Its commander Col. Isaac E. Avery was mortally wounded leading the charge.

July 3. Ordered to railroad cut in rear and later to High Street in town.

July 4. At 2 A. M. moved to Seminary Ridge. After midnight began the march to Hagerstown.
August 31 Colonel Kirkland was promoted to brigadier general.
October-November
Bristoe Campaign
November 7
Rappahannock Bridge

Captain Andrew P. Shores of Company H was killed.
November-December
Mine Run Campaign
1864
January-May Moved to North Carolina and assigned to Hoke’s Brigade, Department of North Carolina
April-May
New Bern
April 17-20
Plymouth

The regiment lost 52 casualties.
May-June Returned to Virginia and assigned to Hoke’s-Lewis’ Brigade, Early’s-Ramseur’s Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.
May 22-26
North Anna
May 30
Bethesda Church
June 1-3
Battle of Cold Harbor
June
Lynchburg Campaign

Assigned to Lewis’-Godwin’s Brigade, Ramseur’s-Pegram’s Division, 2nd Corps, Army of the Valley.
June 18 Arrived at Lynchburg.
June 19 Began the pursuit of Hunter’s Federal forces, skirmish at Liberty.
June 20 Skirmish at Buford Gap
June 21 Skirmish at Salem
June 22-27 After resting for a day resumed the pursuit to Staunton.
July 4 Arrived at Harpers Ferry, capturing Bolivar Heights in the morning. By evening Federal forces were driven across the Potomac to Maryland Heights.
July 6 Crossed the Potomac at Pack Horse Ford at Shepherdstown, engaged the Federal garrison at Bolivar Heights and moved through Crampton’s Gap to Frederick.
July 9
Battle of Monocacy
July 10 Resumed the march to Washington
July 11 After a very hot, duty and fatiguing march arrived in the evening in front of Fort Stevens of the Washington Defenses, within sight of the Capitol dome and skirmished with Federal troops.
July 12
Fort Stevens

Reinforcements of the Federal 6th Corps arrived from the Petersburg front and the day was spent in heavy skirmishing in which President Lincoln came under fire. The Confederates began their retreat after sundown.
July 15 Crossed the Potomac near Leesburg during the night, pursued by Federal cavalry.
July 17 Crossed the Blue Ridge at Snickers Gap.
July 18
Snickers Ford

Attacked and forced the Federal position at the ford.
July 19-20 Moved toward Stratsburg and to the support of Ramseur’s Division.
July 21 Retired to Fisher’s Hill
July 24 Kernstown
August 17 Skirmish at Winchester
August 21-22 Skirmish at Charlestown
August 29 Skirmish at Smithfield
September 3 Skirmish at Bunker Hill
September 4 Berryville
September 13 Abraham’s Creek
September 14 Skirmish near Berryville
September 15 Sevier’s Ford, Opequan Creek
September 19
Third Battle of Winchester
September 22
Battle of Fisher’s Hill
September 23-24 Withdrew up the Valley to Waynesboro.
September 26-28 Port Republic
October 1-13 Advanced down the valley to Fisher’s Hill.
October 19
Battle of Cedar Creek
November 23 Skirmish at Rude’s Hill near Mount Jackson
December
Siege of Petersburg

Assigned to Godwin’s-Lewis’ Brigade, Pegram’s Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.
1865
February 5-7
Hatcher’s Run
March 25
Fort Stedman
April 6
Sayler’s Creek
April 7
Farmville
April 9
Appomattox Court House

The 21st North Carolina Infantry Regiment surrendered 6 officers and 117 men.