21st Regiment, Michigan Infantry

Brief History
The 21st Regiment, Michigan Infantry was organized at Ionia and Grand Rapids, Michigan and mustered in September 9, 1862. It was mustered out June 8, 1865. For a history of this regiment see Michigan in the Civil War Websitewhich gives a brief history, places served, battles fought, commanders and company rosters.


 * The Wikipedia article, 21st Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment, (accessed 13 July 2012).
 * The Civil War Archive section, 21st Regiment Infantry, (accessed 21 July 2012).

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 2,423 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

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 - Many men from Ionia County and Kent County - see Roster

Company B - Many men from Kent County - see Roster

Company C - Many men from Barry County - see Roster

Company D - Many men from Ionia Countyand Montcalm County - see Roster

Company E - Many men from Kent Countyand Barry County - see Roster

Company F - Many men from Montcalm County and Kent County - see Roster

Company G - Many men from Ottawa County and Kent County - see Roster

Company H - Many men from Kent County - see Roster

Company I - Many men from Ionia County and Barry County - see Roster

Company K - Many men from Ionia County - see Roster

Unassigned Company - Many men from Kent County - see Roster

See Rosters, as there were men from many different Counties in these Companies.

= Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in ‘Michigan in the Civil War’ and ‘United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865’ (see below).


 * 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.


 * Michigan in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Michigan, 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.


 * McCreery, William B. "My Experience As a Prisoner of War and Escape from Libby Prison". Detroit: Winn &amp; Hammond, 1893. Google Books. InternetArchives.  Other Libraries


 * Michigan, and George H. Turner. Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War, 1861-1865 [Twenty-First Infantry]. Lansing, Mich: Michigan Adjutant-General's Dept, 1905. . Other Libraries.


 * Seeking Michiganwebsite. Gives history of the regiment and short information about officers and soldiers. (Accessed August 16, 2011)


 * Robere, Bruce. 21st Michigan Volunteer Infantry Sherman's "Bummers" website. Has Regimental histories, maps, photos, diaries for 21st Regiment Michigan Infantry. (accessed 10 August 2011).


 * Taylor, John C. "Lights and Shadows In the Recollections of a Youthful Volunteer in the Civil War". (Ionia, Michigan: Ionia Sentinel-Standard, 1800). . Other Libraries.