Civil War Auction
Lot 1124:
Description
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The regiment was raised under the Ten Regiment Bill, which anticipated Federal troop requirements by providing for an infantry regiment recruited from each Congressional district in addition to one from the entire state. After its companies rendezvoused at Mattoon on May 9, 1861, the regiment was mustered into state service for a 30-day term by Captain Ulysses S. Grant on May 15. It was known as the Seventh Congressional District Regiment in state service after the district it was organized in. Company A was composed of men recruited in Macon County, Company B in Cumberland County, C in Piatt County, D in Douglas County, E in Moultrie County, F in Edgar County, G in Clay County, H in Clark County, I in Crawford County, and K in Jasper County.[1]
The regiment was mustered into Federal service for a term of three years as the 21st Illinois Infantry on June 28, 1861, with Grant as its colonel. It was ordered to move to Ironton, Missouri, on July 3, but instead operated on the line of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad until August. Grant was promoted to brigadier general and became commander of the District of Southeast Missouri on 7 August, being replaced by regimental lieutenant colonel John W.S. Alexander.[1] Reaching Ironton on 9 August, the regiment was attached there to the Department of Missouri. The 21st Illinois participated in operations around the town between 17 and 25 October, including the Engagement at Fredericktown on 21 October. The regiment marched from Ironton to Greenville on January 29, 1862, and between March 3 and 10 moved to Reeve’s Station on Black River. As a result of the latter, it was transferred to Steele’s Command of the Army of Southeast Missouri, and between March 31 and April 21 moved to Doniphan and thence to Pocahontas, Arkansas. During this period, the regiment fought in the action at Putnam’s Ferry on April 1, before marching to Jacksonport between April 30 and May 4. It then went to Cape Girardeau, Missouri between May 10 and 21 and Hamburg Landing between May 21 and 24, transferring to the 2nd Brigade of the 4th Division of the Army of the Mississippi during the month.[2]
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