21st Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate)

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Brief History
21st Regiment, Virginia Infantry was organized in June and mustered into Confederate service in July, 1861, at Fredericksburg, Virginia. Most of the men were recruited in the city of Richmond and the counties of Charlotte, Mecklenburg, Cumberland, and Buckingham. Only 6 officers and 50 men surrendered. The field officers were Colonels William Gilham, John M. Patton, Jr., and William A. Witcher; Lieutenant Colonels Richard H. Cunningham, Jr., and William P. Moseley; and Majors William R. Berkeley, Alfred D. Kelly, John B. Moseley, and Scott Shipp.

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

Company A (Red House Volunteers) - many men from Charlotte County

Company B ( Maryland Guard) - many men from Baltimore, Maryland

Company C (Oliver Grays) - many men from Mecklenburg County

Company D ( Cumberland Greys) - many men from Cumberland County

Company E ( Buckingham Leaches) - many men from Buckingham County See for muster roll.

Company F (F Company) - many men from Richmond County

Company G (Brunswick Grays or Brunswick Guard) - many men from Brunswick County

Company H (Chalk Level Grays) - many men from Pittsylvania County

Company I  (Turkey Cock Grays) - many men from Pittsylvania County

Company K ( Meherrin Greys) - many men from Prince Edward and Nottoway County

The information above is from 21st Virginia Infantry, by susan A. Riggs.

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier or sailor. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in Virginia in the Civil War and United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865.


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * Virginia in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Virginia, and how to find them.. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * Jenkins, John Carrell (1834-1861). John Carrell Jenkins, Color Bearer, Company B, 21st Virginia Infantry: In Memoriam. 1908?.


 * Sifakis, Stewart. Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Virginia. New York, NY: Facts on File, 1992- 1995. (Family History Library book, Ten Volumes.) This gives organization information for each unit and its field officers, assignments, and battles. It also lists sources further reading. Volume 5 is for Virginia.


 * Wallace, Lee A. A Guide to Virginia Military Organizations, 1861-1865. Lynchburg, Virginia: H. E. Howard, 1986. (Family History Library book .) This gives brief historical sketches of each regiment and lists officers, company names, and commanders.