NEW JERSEY TWENTY-FIRST INFANTRY (Nine Months)

Twenty-first Infantry.--Col., Gilliam Van Houten; Lieut.Col., Isaac S. Mettler; Maj., Hiram Van Buskirk. This regiment was organized at Trenton, in Aug., 1862, and was composed of eight companies from Hudson county and two from Mercer county. Being organized, armed and equipped in about ten days, it was mustered into the U. S. service on Sept. 15, and the next day took its departure for Washington. Immediately upon reaching headquarters it was attached to the 3d brigade, 2nd division, 6th corps, with which it served during its entire term of enlistment (9 months), sharing the privations and hardships, and participating in all the engagements in which that famous corps took part during the nine months following. At the battle of Fredericksburg the regiment was assigned as a support to Wier's battery on the Bowling Green road, and this trying position it held from the afternoon of Dec. 11 until the morning of Dec. 15, during the whole of the hard-fought and desperate engagements. Although it was under a severe crossfire of the enemy's artillery, it had but 6 or 8 men wounded. On the evening of May 2, 1863, the corps moved forward to attack the Confederates at Chancellorsville and during that night the regiment was engaged, supporting the skirmish line in driving the enemy to his entrenchments. In the engagement at Salem Church, which immediately followed, the regiment lost heavily, in both officers and men, killed, wounded and prisoners. In the skirmish at Franklin's crossing the regiment lost 1 man killed--shot through the head by the enemy's sharpshooters while on the skirmish line. This ended the fighting of the 21st, and soon after the action it was ordered to Trenton, its term of service having expired. Reaching Trenton about June 15, it was reviewed by Gov. Parker, handsomely entertained by a public dinner given by the citizens and presided over by the mayor, and soon afterward was mustered out and the men returned to their homes. The total strength of the regiment was 1,004, and it lost during its term of service, by resignation 3, by discharge 31, by promotion 4, by transfer 3, by death 51, by desertion 44, by dismissal 3, not accounted for 1, mustered out, 864.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 3

New Jersey 21st Volunteer Infantry (Union)

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