CHAPTER XIII.
PATRIOTISM OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES.

TWENTY-FIRST INFANTRY REGIMENT
GENERAL U. S. GRANT

     This regiment was organized at Mattoon, Ill., on the 9th of May, 1861, and on teh15th of May it was mustered into the state service for 30 days, by Capt. U. S. Grant, and June 28th, it was mustered into the U. S. Service for three years, by Capt. Pitcher, U. S. A., and Governor Yates appointed Capt. Grant, colonel of the regiment.  In the 2_st regt. Shelby county furnished a few men of companies.  A, C and K, and Moultrie county had representatives in companies B, E and H; company E was made up almost entirely of volunteers from Moultrie county.  After the regiment was sworn into service, it was ordered to rendezvous at Quincy, Ill., and on the 3d of July it started on its march from Camp Yates, Springfield, Ill., the next day a dispatch came countermanding the above order, and on the 4th day of July, 1861, the regiment started for Mo.  On the 21st of October it participated in the battle of Fredericktown, and returned to Irontown, Mo., where it remained until Jan. 29, 1862.  Marched with Gen. Steele's expedition to Jacksonport, Arkansas, where it was ordered to Corinth, via Cape Girardeau.  The regiment operated a portion of the time in skirmishing in the neighborhood of Corinth, Farington and Holly Springs.  When on the 14th of August, 1862, it was ordered to join Gen. Buell's army in Tennessee, marched via Eastport, Miss., Columbia, Tenn., Florence, Alabama, Franklin, Murfreesboro and Nashville, Tenn., and arrived at Louisville Sept. 27, 1862.  The 21st took a leading part in the battles of Perryville and Chaplin Hill.  When the army marched from Nashville, Dec. 26, 1862, this regiment formed a part of the 2d brigade, 1st division, 20th army corps, and was in the skirmish at Knob Gap.  On the 30th of December, in connection with the 15th Wisconsin, 38th Illinois, and 101st Ohio regts. it had a severe engagement with the enemy near Murfreesboro, where it charged the celebrated Washington (rebel) Light Artillery, 12 Parrott guns, and succeeded in driving every man from the battery, when it was compelled to fall back by a division of rebel infantry.  In the battle of Murfreesboro it lost more men than any other regiment engaged.  The 21st was with Rosecrans' army from Murfreesboro to Chattanooga.  This regiment distinguished itself at the battle of Chickamauga, September 19 and 20, where it lost 238 officers and men.
     On the 6th of August, 1861, Col. Grant was commissioned Brigadier General, and at the same date Lieut. Col. J. W. S. Alexander became Col. of the regiment.  On the last day of the battle of Chickamauga, September 20, Col Alexander was killed, and Lieut. Col. McMackin being wounded, Capt. C. K. Knight took command of the regiment.  After the battle of Chickamauga this regiment was attached to the First Brigade, First Division, Fourth Army Corps, and remained at Bridgeport, Alabama, until some time in December, 1863.  Thence proceeded to Texas and was mustered out at San Antonio, Texas, Dec. 16, 1865.  Arrived at Camp Butler Jan. 18, 1866, where payment and discharge was made.  The history of the gallant Twenty-first adds additional lustre to the patriotism of Illinois, and well did the brave men who went out from Moultrie and Shelby counties to do their part.

TWENTY-FIRST INFANTRY REGIMENT
(Three years' service.)

MUSTER ROLL COMPANY "A."

Recruits.

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