Twenty-first Cavalry. - Col., William H. Boyd; Lieut.-
Col., Richard F. Moson; Majs., John W. Jones, Charles F. Gil-
lies, Oliver B. Knowles. This regiment, the 182d of the line,
was raised in the counties of York, Adams, Lancaster, Franklin,
Bedford and Cambria during the summer of 1863, under the presi-
dent's call of June 15, 1863 for militia for six months' serv-
ice. The companies rendezvoused at Camp Couch, Harrisburg and
were mustered into the U. S. service from June 23 to Aug. 10,
1863, for six months. All the field and most of the line offi-
cers and men were experienced in the cavalry service. After
being equipped and mounted it was sent to an instruction camp
at Chambersburg. On Aug. 23 it was ordered to Harrisburg and
from there Cos. C, E, H, L and M, were ordered to Pottsville
and Scranton, Co. B to Gettysburg, and the other five to
Harper's Ferry, where they did duty in the Department of the
Shenandoah during the fall and winter. About Feb. 1, 1864, the
regiment was reunited at Chambersburg, where it was reorganized
for three years, service, those who did not choose to reenlist
for the long term being mustered out on Feb. 20, 1864. As re-
organized the officers were as follows: Cols., William H. Boyd,
Oliver B. Knowles; Lieut.-Col., Richard F. Moson; Majs., Char-
les F. Gillies, Oliver B. Knowles, Robert Bell, Richard
Ryckman. In Feb., 1864, the ranks were filled by new recruits
and the regiment was organized for the long term. In May it was
ordered to Washington, except Co. D, which had been detailed
for duty at Scranton, Pa. At Washington the command was dis-
mounted and armed and equipped as infantry. It joined the army
at Cold Harbor and was assigned to the 2nd brigade, (Col.
Sweitzer) 1st division, 5th corps. In the severe fighting here
it lost 1 officer and 7 men killed, 4 officers and 43 men
wounded, among the severely wounded being Col. Boyd. It was
again heavily engaged in front of Petersburg on June 18, losing
11 killed, 79 wounded and 1 missing, Lieut.-Col. Moson and Maj.
Gillies being among the wounded. It was next in action on the
Jerusalem plank road and met with some loss. When the mine was
exploded on July 30 it was under fire and met with further
loss. It shared in the battle of Six mile house, on the Weldon
railroad in August, losing 1 killed and 27 wounded. In Septem-
ber it was transferred to the 1st brigade, 1st division, 5th
corps. In the actions at Peebles' farm and Poplar Spring
Church it lost 16 killed and wounded and was complimented for
gallantry by its division commander, Gen. Griffin. This battle
was the last in which it was engaged as infantry. On Oct. 5 it
moved to City Point, where it was again mounted and assigned to
the 1st brigade, (Col. C. H. Smith) of Gen. David McM. Gregg's
division. It lost heavily at the Boydton plank road late in
the month, having 3 killed, 33 wounded and 18 missing and was
again in action at Stony Creek Station on the Weldon railroad
in December. About this time Co. F was detailed for duty at
the 6th corps headquarters, where it remained until near the
end of its service. The regiment shared in the Weldon railroad
expedition with some loss, and also participated in the move-
ment to Hatcher's run in Feb., 1865. Meanwhile, it had been
recruited to the maximum strength and, on March 1 was trans-
ferred to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division commanded by Gen. J.
Irvin Gregg, nearly half of the command consisting of dis-
mounted men. These were ordered to City Point and afterwards
shared in the final assault on Petersburg. In the final cam-
paign, which was begun by the cavalry on March 29, 1865 the
21st had the advance. It was engaged at Dinwiddie Court House
partially engaged at Five Forks; and in the action at Amelia
Springs lost 98 out of 234 engaged in less than an hour's
fighting. It was again in action at Sailor's creek and was en-
gaged in the disastrous fighting at Farmville. It was also
sharply engaged on the Lynchburg road, when the news of Lee's
surrender was received. It then moved with the cavalry corps
to the support of Gen. Sherman but returned to Petersburg on
the news of Johnston's surrender. It then served by detach-
ments on provost guard duty in Virginia until the middle of
June, when it was concentrated at Lynchburg and mustered out on
July 8, 1865. During its ten months of active service, 4 offi-
cers were killed or died of wounds, 1 died of disease, 14 were
wounded, and 4 captured. Of the enlisted men, 147 were killed
or died of wounds and disease, and 253 were wounded.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 1