21st Virginia Infantry Regiment

Confederate Regiments & Batteries * Virginia

The 21st Virginia Infantry Regiment was organized in Virginia in April of 1861 and fought until it was surrendered at Appomattox Court House in April of 1865,

1861
April 21 Organized for state service under Colonel William Gilham (West Point Class of 1840). Company B was recruited from Southern sympathizers in Maryland.Company A  (Red House Volunteers) – Charlotte County
Company B (Maryland Guard) – Baltimore, Maryland
Company C (Oliver Grays) – Mecklenburg County
Company D (Cumberland Greys) – Cumberland County
Company E (Buckingham Leaches) – Buckingham County
Company F – Richmond County
Company G (Brunswick Grays or Brunswick Guard) – Brunswick County
Company H (Chalk Level Grays) – Pittsylvania County
Company  I  (Turkey Cock Grays) – Pittsylvania County
Company  K ( Meherrin Greys) – Prince Edward and Nottoway County
May 29 Aquia Creek
June 7-8 Aquia Creek
June 28 Mustered into state service at Fredericksburg. Scott Shipp was appointed major.
July 1 Transferred to Confederate Service
July 18-19 Moved by rail from Richmond to Staunton. The regiment numbered 850 men.
July 19-26 Marched to Huntersville, joining Loring’s Command. Measles quickly spread through the regiment.
August Assigned to Gilham’s Brigade, Army of the Northwest
August 6 Barely 200 men were fit for duty after the measles epidemic.
November Assigned to Gilham’s Brigade, Loring’s Division, Army of the Northwest
December 11-27 Marched to Winchester under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John M. Patton.
December Assigned to Burks’s-Campbell’s Brigade, Valley District, Department of Northern Virginia. Captain R.H. Cunningham commanded the regiment while Colonel Gilham commanded the brigade as senior colonel.
1862
January 4 Bath
January 6 St. John’s Run. Drove Federal pickets out of Bath Hot Springs
January 14 Occupies Romney after Federal troops evacuated.
January 17 Hancock
January 20 Major Shipp was detailed to VMI
February 6 Returned to Winchester.
March 23

First Battle of Kernstown

Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel John M. Patton, Jr. (VMI Class of 1848) The regiment suffered around 60 casualties.
April 18 The regiment mustered about 600 men.
April 21 The regiment was reorganized. Captain William R. Berkeley of Company K was promoted to major. Archer C. Page was elected captain of Company D.
May Assigned to Campbell’s Brigade, Jackson’s Division, Valley District, Department of Northern Virginia.
May 8
Battle of McDowell

The regiment lost 1 man wounded.
May 11 Franklin
May 23
Battle of Port Republic

Company B (the Maryland soldiers) mustered out at the end of its one year term of enlistment. The regiment continued with nine companies.
May 24
Middletown
May 25
First Battle of Winchester

The regiment reached Winchester after a night forced march. Colonel Campbell was wounded and Colonel Patton took over brigade command as senior colonel. Lieutenant Colonel Robert H. Cunningham took over command of the regiment.
May 28 The regiment was detached to guard about 2,300 Federal prisoners. It’s own strength was down to about 250 men.
June Assigned to Jones’s Brigade, Jackson’s Division, Jackson’s Command, Army of Northern Virginia
June 8
Cross Keys
May 9
Port Republic
June 21 The regiment rejoined its brigade at Charlottesville after taking its prisoners to Lynchburg and returning by rail. It would move by rail to Richmond to join Lee’s army.
June 25-July 1
Seven Days Battles
June 27
Gaines’s Mill
June 30
White Oak Swamp
July 1
Malvern Hill
August 9
Cedar Mountain

The regiment lost 37 men killed and 85 wounded.
August 28
Second Battle of Bull Run 

Captain William A. Witcher commanded the regiment. It lost three men killed and nine wounded.
September 1
Battle of Chantilly
September 12-15
Siege of Harpers Ferry 
September 17
Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam) 

The 21st Virginia was commanded by Captain Arthur C. Page. It lost 9 men killed, eight men wounded and 2 men captured. During the battle Captain Page took command of the brigade as senior officer but was wounded in the right leg. He would lose the leg, and was forced to resign his command.
December 13
Battle of Fredericksburg 

The regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel John M. Patton.
1863
March 25 Major Berkeley resigned. Captain William P. Moseley took command of the regiment
May 1-4
Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment was commanded by Major John B. Moseley. It lost 4 men killed and 40 wounded.
June 10 Major John B. Moseley resigned.
June 14-15
Second Battle of Winchester
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment was commanded by Major William Perkins Moseley. It brought 236 men to the field and lost 8 killed, 32 wounded and 10 missing or captured.

From the monument to Jones’s Brigade at Gettysburg:

July 1. Arrived near nightfall and took position east of Rock Creek and north of Hanover road with pickets advanced to the front.

July 2. About 4 P. M. moved forward to support artillery on Benner’s Hill. Crossed Rock Creek at 6 P. M. and assailed the Union position on the summit of Culp’s Hill charging up to the Union breastworks and continuing the struggle until dark.

July 3. In line near here all day sometimes skirmishing heavily. About midnight moved with the Division and Corps to Seminary Ridge northwest of the town.

July 4. Occupied Seminary Ridge. About 10 P. M. began the march to Hagerstown.
July 6
Battle of Williamsport

Company F
July 8
Battle of Hagerstown
November-December Mine Run Campaign
November 27 Payne’s Farm
1864
May 5-6
Battle of the Wilderness
May 8-21
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
May 14 The regiment was consolidated with the 25th, 42nd, 44th and 50th Virginia Infantry due to casualties.
May 22-26
Battle of North Anna
May 30 Bethesda Church
June 1-3
Battle of Cold Harbor
June The regiment was sent with the rest of the 2nd Corps to the Shenandoah Valley, as Terry’s Consolidated Brigade, Gordon’s Division, Valley District, Department of Northern Virginia.
June 18
Battle of Lynchburg
July 9
Battle of Monocacy
July 11
Fort Stevens
July 24
Second Battle of Kernstown
August 11 Newtown
August 17 Winchester
September 19
Third Battle of Winchester
September 22
Battle of Fisher’s Hill
October 19
Battle of Cedar Creek
December Terry’s Consolidated Brigade returned to the Siege of Petersburg as part of Gordon’s Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.
1865
February 5-7
Hatcher’s Run
March 25
Fort Stedman

Lieutenant Colonel William P. Moseley was captured.
April 2
Final Assault on Petersburg
April 9
Appomattox Court House

The regiment surrendered 6 officers and 50 enlisted men.