This page last updated January 27 2004

While Capt. John H. Johnson was recruiting Company I, Nineteenth Indiana at Spencer, Capt. James Grimsley of Gosport was organizing Company B,Twenty- First Indiana, afterward First Heavy Artillery. This was in the month of July 1861.

It was mustered into service at Indianapolis on the 24th day of July 1861 and was ordered East almost immediately. It arrived at Baltimore on the 3rd of August and was stationed there until February 1862.

A portion of the Twenty First was the first of Butler's army to touch the New Orleans wharf which it reached on the 1st of May. On the 5th day of August 1862 the regiment participated in the battle of Baton Rouge. In this engagement the Adjutant and three other officers in the regiment were killed.

In February 1863 the regiment was changed from infantry to Heavy Artillery service and was thereafter known as the First Heavy Artillery.

In the winter of 1863-1864, a large number of Company B re-enlisted as veterans. The regiment was engaged in more or less active service till the close of the war.

The veterans and most of the recruits were not finally mustered out until January 13, 1866.

Total Enlisted--181

6 were killed in battle

9 died from disease

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