Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp #11
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ADMIRAL RAPHAEL SEMMES CAMP #11
SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS
MOBILE, ALABAMA


21st ALabama Regiment

The 21st Alabama Infantry Regiment was mustered into service on 13 October 1861, in Mobile, and remained at Hall's Mill and Fort Gaines until ordered to Fort Pillow in March 1862. It remained there a few days and then moved to Corinth where it was brigaded under Gen'l Adley Gladden. The regiment took part in the Battle of Shiloh where it lost six color-bearers in succession, and 200 k and w out of about 650 engaged. It was complimented in general orders. On the return to Corinth, the regiment was reorganized and extended in enlistment from one year to "for the war." The 21st was at Farmington, but with few casualties. In the summer, the regiment was ordered to Mobile and was on garrison duty at Fort Morgan and at Oven and Choctaw Bluffs. Non-commissioned officers and men of companies "G" and "H", predominantly of French and Spanish ancestry, were transferred to the 1st Louisiana Infantry Regiment, and two other companies joined the 21st on 24 March 1864.
     While the regiment lay at Mobile, a "submarine," the H. L. Hunley, was constructed to operate against the blockading squadron. Direction of the project was handled by Engineers, Lt. W. A. Alexander and Lt. George E. Dixon, with several men from the regiment. After successful trials, Dixon and his men accompanied the Hunley to Charleston. There it went to sea on 17 February 1864 and blew up the USS Housatonic of the Federal blockading squadron. The Hunley and its crew were, however, lost at sea. Dixon was a Kentuckian by birth and an engineer by profession. (Additional information on the submarine, Hunley, or its recovery, may be found at the C.S.S. Hunley Submarine Recovery Information site, or at The Hunley Web Site.)
     The 21st was at Pollard a short time under Gen'l James Cantey but was then ordered to the defenses of Mobile. Two companies were stationed at Fort Powell, where, with a loss of one killed, they withstood a bombardment of a fortnight from five gunboats and six mortar boats which attempted to force an entrance through Grant's Pass. Six companies of the regiment were captured at Fort Gaines, and two at Fort Morgan; but the two at Fort Powell blew up and evacuated that post. The men capturted at Fort Gaines were exchanged, the others were not. The remainder of the regiment was part of the garrison of Spanish Fort, where it lost about 10 k and 25 w. The 21st was surrendered at Cuba Station, Sumter County, 6 May 1865, and paroled at Meridian, MS, about 250 strong. The 21st was composed largely of artisans from Mobile, many of whom were detached to assist in the various government works; the remainder had been recruited from Baldwin, Greene, Marengo, Montgomery, and Washington counties. 


Field and Staff
Colonels - James Crawford of Mobile; resigned. Charles D. Anderson of Mobile; captured at Fort Gaines.
Lieutenant Colonels - A.J. Ingersoll of Mobile; resigned. Stewart W. Cayce of Mobile; resigned. Charles S. Stewart of Mobile; killed at Fort Morgan. J.M. Williams of Mobile.
Majors - Frederick Stewart of Mobile; till re-organized. Jas. M. Williams; promoted. Chas. B. Johnson of Mobile.
Adjutants - S.W. Cayce; promoted. James M. Williams; transferred to line. George Vidmer of Mobile; wounded at Spanish Fort.

Captains, and Counties from Which the Companies Came.
Mobile - John F. Jewett; till re-organization. James M. Williams; promoted. Jno. F. Cothran; captured at Ft. Morgan.
Mobile - Charles B. Johnson; promoted. John O'Connor; captured at Fort Gaines.
Marengo - J.M. Rembert; wounded at Shiloh; died in the service. F. Smith; captured at Fort Gaines.
Mobile - Cary W. Butt; wounded at Shiloh; resigned. Melville C. Butt.
Marengo - John C. Chamberlain; resigned. Henry Sosaman; captured at Fort Gaines.
Mobile and Baldwin - F.J. McCoy; till re-organized. B. F. Dade; captured at Fort Gaines.
Mobile - S.S. Taylor; died in the service. Murdock McInnis; captured at Fort Gaines.
Mobile - Charles Devaux. Angelo Festorazzi. (Companies transferred to the First Louisiana.)
Mobile - Charles S. Stewart; promoted. A.P. Doran; captured at Fort Morgan; resigned. C. LeBaron Collins; captured at Fort Morgan.

References:
Alabama State Department of Archives and Histories
National Park Service
E-history at Ohio State University
Family Search
Military History online

Bibliography:
  • Folmar, John Kent (ed.) From that terrible field: the letters of James M. Williams, Twenty-First Alabama Infantry Volunteers (University : University of Alabama Press, 1981)
  • Schultz, Larry A. (comp.) The Twenty-first Alabama Regiment Volunteers : History, Chronology of Events, and Rosters of the Original Members (Mobile, AL : Privately published, 1996)