The 21st Wisconsin Infantry was organized at Camp Bragg in Oshkosh and mustered into service on September 5, 1862. The regiment left Wisconsin for Cincinnati, Ohio, on September 11, 1862, then traveled to Covington, Kentucky, and on to Louisville.
During the war it moved through Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, and Washington D.C. The regiment participated in numerous battles, including Perryville, Stones River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Kennesaw Mountain, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, and Atlanta. It participated in Sherman's March to the Sea, the sieges of Atlanta and Savannah, and the surrender of the Confederate army.
The regiment's veteran soldiers were discharged June 8, 1865. The remaining soldiers were transferred to the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry and discharged at a later date.
The 21st Infantry lost 305 men during its service. Five officers and 117 enlisted men were killed. Three officers and 180 enlisted men died from disease.
Officers:
Colonel Benjamin Sweet – Was major of the 6th Wisconsin Infantry, then assigned colonel for 21st Wisconsin Infantry. Was wounded at Battle of Perryville and had to resign commission. Before the war was a Wisconsin state legislator.
Colonel Harrison C. Hobart – Was captain in 4th Wisconsin Infantry, then assigned Lt. Colonel for 21st Wisconsin Infantry. Was wounded and taken prisoner at Battle of Chickamauga, and later escaped, then commanded 21st Wisconsin Infantry until promoted to brigade command. Before the war was 2nd Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly and Democratic nominee for Governor of Wisconsin.
Lt. Colonel Michael H. Fitch – Was adjutant of regiment, then major and lt. colonel. Wrote a memoir of his war service.
Major Charles H. Walker – Was captain of Co. K, then major. Before the war was a Wisconsin state legislator and judge.
Assignments:
Duty in the fortification of Louisville September 18-October 1. Attached to 28th Brigade, 3rd Division, Army of the Ohio, September, 1862. 28th Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Ohio, to November, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Center 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to April, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 14th Army Corps, to April, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 14th Army Corps, to June, 1865.
Battles:
Kentucky Campaign
Battle of Perryville
Stones River Campaign
Battle of Stones River
Tullahoma campaign
Battle of Hoover's Gap
Chickamauga campaign
Battle of Davis's Cross Roads
Battle of Chickamauga
Atlanta campaign
Battle of Rocky Face Ridge
Battle of Resaca
Battle of Kennesaw Mountain
Battle of Marietta
Battle of Peachtree Creek
Battle of Jonesborough
Savannah campaign
Carolinas campaign
Battle of Bentonville
Service:
Pursuit of Bragg to Crab Orchard, Ky., October 1-16, 1862. Battle of Perryville, Ky., October 8. Guard duty at Mitchellsville until December 7. Moved to Nashville, Tenn., and duty there until December 26. Advance on Murfreesboro December 26-30. Jefferson December 30. Battle of Stone's River December 30-31, 1862, and January 1-3, 1863. Duty at Murfreesboro until June. Expedition to McMinnville April 20-30. Middle Tennessee (or Tullahoma) Campaign June 23-July 7. Hoover's Gap June 24-26. Occupation of Middle Tennessee until August 16. Passage of the Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River and Chickamauga (Ga.) Campaign August 16-September 22. Davis Cross Roads, near Dug Gap, September 11. Battle of Chickamauga September 19-21. Rossville Gap September 21. Siege of Chattanooga September 24-November 23. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Orchard Knob November 23-24. Mission Ridge November 25. Reconnaissance to Cooper's Gap November 30-December 3. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1 to September 8, 1864. Demonstrations on Rocky Faced Ridge May 8-11. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Advance on Dallas May 18-25. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Pickett's Mills May 27. Operations about Marietta and against Kennesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Pine Hill June 11-14. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Assault on Kennesaw June 27. Ruff's Station July 4. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Buckhead, Nancy's Creek, July 18. Peach Tree Creek July 19-20. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Utoy Creek August 5-7. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Near Red Oak August 29. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Operations against Hood in North Georgia and North Alabama September 30-November 3. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Siege of Savannah December 10-21. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Taylor's Hole Creek, Averysboro, N. C., March 16. Battle of Bentonville March 19-21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24. Advance on Raleigh April 10-14. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D.C., via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 17. Grand Review May 24. Mustered out June 8 and discharged from service June 17, 1865.
Rosters:
The composite rosters of this unit contain the names of 2455 men. The counties where the companies were formed are unknown.
Bibliography:
Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Vol. 2. Davenport, IA: Eastern Digital Resources, 2003.
Love, William D. Wisconsin in the War of the Rebellion. Chicago: Church and Goodman, 1866. E537L79. Davenport, IA: Eastern Digital Resources, 2011.
Quiner, E.B. The Military History of Wisconsin. Chicago: Clarke, 1866. E537Q75.
Davenport, IA: Eastern Digital Resources, 2011.
Rigdon, John C. Wisconsin Civil War Soldiers Index. Davenport, IA: Eastern Digital Resources, 2011.
Historical Sketch: