21st Pennsylvania Cavalry Unit History

182nd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment Dismounted

The 21st Cavalry Regiment was recruited during the months of July and August 1863 by Governor Curtin, in response to the President's call of June 15, 1863, for Cavalry for six months service.

Company "A" was recruited in York County, "B" in Adams County, "C" and "G" in Lancaster County, "D", "H", "I", "K", "L", and "M" in Franklin County, "E" in Bedford County and "F" in Cambria County.

Companies were equipped and mounted at Camp Couch, near Harrisburg, PA. and were then sent to training camp at or near Chambersburg, PA.

On August 23, 1863, the regiment was ordered to Harrisburg, PA., from there Companies "C", "E", "K", "H", "L" and "M" were dispatched to Pottsville and Scranton and Company "B" was ordered to Gettysburg.   The remaining five companies, under the command of Colonel Boyd, proceeded to Harpers Ferry, VA.  During the fall and winter of 1864/65, were engaged in arduous duty in the Department of the Shenandoah.

January 1864, the regiment was reorganized for three years service and on or about February 1, 1864, its ranks were reformed at a camp near Chambersburg, PA.

About mid-May 1864, the regiment was ordered to Washington, DC where it was dismounted, armed and equipped as infantry, sent by transport to join the Army of the Potomac.

June 1, 1864, the unit was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, of the 5th Corps, where it was associated with the 62nd PA, 22nd MA and 23rd MA regiments.

June 2, 1864, the Army was in front of Cold Harbor, VA.  At noon of the 2nd, the unit was ordered to throw up breast works.  The unit was engaged by the enemy artillery and suffered several dead and wounded.   

June 18, 1864, the unit engaged the enemy at the Petersburg and Suffolk RR.  Casualties numbered eleven killed, seventy two wounded and one missing.

June 22, 1864, the regiment was again engaged on the Jerusalem Plank Road, near Petersburg losing two killed and three wounded.

August 18, 1864, the regiment descended upon the Weldon R.R. destroying track and was attacked by the enemy.

Mid September 1864, the regiment was assigned to the First Brigade, General Sickle in command, and associated with the 198th PA Regiment.   On September 30, 1864, the Brigade successfully attacked enemy works at the Poplar Spring Church.  The unit suffered minor casualties with one dead and sixteen wounded.

October 5, 1864, the 21st PA was sent to City Point where it was equipped and mounted with orders to join the division of General D. M'M Gregg, in which it was assigned to the 1st Brigade.

October 27, 1864, found the unit engaged with the enemy at the Boydton Plank Road.   The regiment suffered three killed, thirty-three wounded and eighteen missing.

December 1, 1864, the division advanced on Stony Creek Station, destroying the station and stores.

February 5, 1865, Gregg's cavalry, moved on Dinwiddie Courthouse, encountering light opposition.

March 1, 1865, the 21st PA was transferred to the Second Brigade, of the Second Division, commanded by General J. Irvin Gregg.  The regiment participated in the final assault on the Petersburg defenses.

March 29, 1865, the regiment was ordered to throw up a line of works behind Dinwiddie Courthouse and hold the line until the Fifth Corps could advance in the morning.

On April 5, 1865, the regiment assigned to the Second Brigade, at the Battle of Five Forks, attacked rebel wagon trains and captured an artillery battery.  Casualties suffered at Five Forks amounted to ninety eight killed, wounded and missing in less than one half hour.

April 6, 1865, the regiment was engaged again at the Battle of Sailor's Creek, where they captured  a number of prisoners.

April 9, 1865, the regiment was engaged in action on the Lynchburg Road when word arrived that Lee had surrendered.

Active duty for the regiment commenced upon June 1, 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA and ended some 10 months later on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Courthouse, VA.

During its active duty, the regiment had three field officers severely wounded, on died of disease, one slightly wounded and one accepted promotion in the 155th PA Regiment.  Of the line officers, four were killed in battle or mortally wounded, ten were wounded, four were wounded prior to their promotions and four were captured.  Of the enlisted men, one hundred and forty-seven were killed in battle, or died of disease, and two hundred and fifty-three were wounded.

Source:  Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion

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