TWENTY-FIRST (21ST) INFANTRY REGIMENTUnited States Colored Troops, March 14th, 1864, to April 25th, 1866
The following historical information is about the service of both the regiment, and the men, of the Twenty-First (21st) Infantry Regiment, United States Colored Troops, which served in the American Civil War from March 14th, 1864, to April 25th, 1866. If you have any corrections, suggestions, or additional information, photographs, artifacts, etc., that you wish to contribute, feel free to submit the information to the Webmaster.
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| Regimental Field & Staff |
| Company A - 4th S.C. Colored Infantry Regiment |
Company F |
| Company B - 3rd S.C. Colored Infantry Regiment |
Company G |
| Company C - 3rd S.C. Colored Infantry Regiment |
Company H |
| Company D - 3rd S.C. Colored Infantry Regiment |
Company I |
| Company E - 3rd S.C. Colored Infantry Regiment |
Company K |
March to April 1864 - 3rd Brigade, Vodge's Division, District of Florida, Department of the Carolina
April to October 1864 - Morris Island, South Carolina, Northern District, Department of the South
October 1864 to February 1865 - 1st Separate Brigade, Department of the South
February to August 1865 - Garrison of Charleston, South Carolina, Department of the South
August to October 1865 - Department of the South
March 14th, 1864: The regiment is organized with five (5) companies by the consolidation of the Third (3rd) and Fourth (4th) South Carolina (Colored) Volunteer Infantry Regiments and is designated as the Twenty-First (21st) Infantry Regiment of United States Colored Troops at Jacksonville, Florida.
March 14th to April 5th, 1864: On duty at Jacksonville, Florida.
April 5th to 6th, 1864: The regiment marches from Jacksonville to Palatka, Florida.
April 6th to 13th, 1864: Marches from Palatka to Picolata, Florida, and in camp at that place for six-days.
April 13th to 19th, 1864: Enroute from Picolata to Jacksonville, Florida, and in camp at that place.
April 19th to 20th, 1864: Enroute from Jacksonville, Florida, to Morris Island, South Carolina.
April 1864 to February 1865: The regiment is on duty on Morris, Cole's & Folly Islands near Charleston, South Carolina, with the Regimental Headquarters on Morris Island.
- July 2nd, 1864: Engaged in the action on James Island, South Carolina.
- August to September 1864: Companies F, G, H, I & K complete their organization and are mustered into United States service at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
- February 5th to 16th, 1865: Company C is on detached service with an expedition to James Island.
- February 5th, 1865: Company C is detached, and marches across Lighthouse Inlet to Folly Island, and is then ferried across Stono Inlet to Cole's Island, arriving that evening. (Engaged in constructing bridges connecting Cole's Island to James Island, on Februray 6th & 7th; takes part in the advance and skirmishes on James Island on February 9th & 10th, providing the rear guard during the retreat back to Cole's Island that evening; takes part in the advance and skirmishing on James Island on February 11th; rejoins the regiment on Morris Island on February 16th.)
- February 17th, 1865: The regiment breaks camp on Morris Island and marches via Folly Island to James Island, skirmishing across James Island to Fort Johnson, Company C in the lead.
- February 18th, 1865: The regiment occupies James Island and enters the City of Charleston, South Carolina, being the first regiment to enter the city.
February to April 1865: Takes part in the occupation of, and is on duty at, the City of Charleston, South Carolina. The Regimental Headquarters and Companies B, C, D, F, G & K are on duty at Charleston, Company A at Mount Pleasant, Company E at Fort Johnson, and Companies H & I at St. Stephen's.
- February 25th: A detail of 300-men of the regiment are detailed on an expedition up the Santee River, aboard the transport Augusta, in an effort to connect with the troops of General Edward E. Potter and assist in taking a battery near Georgetown.
- February 28th: The detachment serving with General Potter's forces is ordered to rejoin the regiment in Charleston, as soon as they are relieved upon the arrival of Colonel Van Wyck's command.
- March 3rd: A detail of the regiment, along with the 54th New York, aboard the transport 'Savannah,' take part in an expedition to deliver rations and ordnance stores to the forces of General E.E. Potter.
- March 21st: Per orders of March 20th, the regiment is ordered to take part in the Freedmen's parade in Charleston - "...By direction of the colonel commanding the city, you will have your regiment formed in line at 2 p. m. to-morrow to join in the procession of freedmen. Your regiment will have the right, and application has been made for 200 colored sailors to have the left of the line. They will report to you at the green about 1. 30. You will reduce the guards in your district just as much as possible to-morrow, in order that you may turn out as many men as can possibly be spared."
April 2nd, 1865: the regiment breaks camp and moves to Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. The right wing of the regiment is ordered to report to Mount Pleasant for garrison duty; 3 companies of the left wing are sent to Fort Johnson for garrison duty; and 2 companies remain on duty at the entrenchments at Charleston Neck, above Charleston.
April to July 1865: The regiment is on duty at Mount Pleasant and Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. During this period the Regimental Headquarters with Companies F, H & I at Mount Pleasant. from April to July; Company A at Mount Pleasant from April to May, then at Fort Johnson from May to July; Company B at Mount Pleasant from April to May, then at Christ Church Parish from May to July; Company C is at Fort Johnson on James Island from April to May, then at Mount Pleasant from May to July; Company D at Fort Johnson on James Island from April to July; Company E on James Island from April to July; Company G at James Island from April to May, then at Fort Johnson on James Island from May to July; and Company K at Fort Johnson on James Island from April to May.
- May 5th: The right wing (five companies) of the regiment, stationed at Mount Pleasant, is ordered to James Island.
- May 13th: The right wing (five companies), stationed at James Island, is ordered to Mount Pleasant for garrison duty
June to October 1865: Company K is on detached service at Morris Island, South Carolina.
July 17th, 1865: The regiment, minus Company K, moves from Mount Pleasant to Hilton Head, South Carolina.
- July 1865 to April 1866: The regiment is on duty at Hilton Head Island and Port Royal, South Carolina.
- October 1865: Company K rejoins the regiment at Hilton Head, South Carolina.
February 1866: Companies B & K are on detached service at Beaufort, and Company D at Paris Island.
April 25th, 1866: The Regiment is mustered out of United States service at Charleston, South Carolina.
Published Books & Documents
Page 1727, "A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion." Frederick H. Dyer, The Dyer Publishing Company, Des Moines, Iowa, 1908.
Volume I, "Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, from its organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903." Francis B. Heitman, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1903.
Page 192, Part VIII, "Official Army Register of the Volunteer Force of the United Sates Army for the years 1861, '62, '63, '64, '65." Adjutant Generals Office; Government Printing Office; Washington, D.C.; 1867.
Documents, Papers, & Non-Published Materials
Compiled Records Showing Service of Military Units in Volunteer Union Organizations. National Archives Microfilm Publications, Microscopy No. 594, National Archives & Records Service, Washington, D.C.; 1964.
Pension applications for service in the US Army between 1861 and 1900, grouped according to the units in which the veterans served. (NARA T289) National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C.
PHOTOGRAPHS, IMAGES & ARTIFACTS
United States Army Heritage Education Center. Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
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