The Virginia in the Civil War Message Board

Re: 21st Virginia Battalion - Update
In Response To: Re: 21st Virginia Battalion ()

It took some digging, but we now seem to have the picture. You should obtain his service record files as there is some mixup in dates and best studied from hard copy files.

George Martin

William Eldridge

Residence was not listed;
Enlisted on 3/24/1862 at Cumberland Gap, VA as a Private.

On 3/24/1862 he mustered into "C" Co. VA 21st Battn Infantry
(date and method of discharge not given)
(Later served in Lee County Home Guard.)
[American Civil War Research Database)

........

The 21st Battalion Virginia Infantry (also known as the Pound Gap Battalion, Thompson's Battalion and as the Special Service Battalion) was organized in the fall of 1861 with six companies, A to F, and was reorganized April 16, 1862. (1st) Company C declined to reenlist and subsequently became Captain Mileham's Independent Company Virginia Infantry; (1st Company D was mustered out September 23, 1862; (1st) Company E was disbanded April 17, 1862, and (1st) Company F became (2d) Company C, (2d) Companies D, E, and F were added to the battalion at various times in 1862. This battalion was consolidated with the 29th Battalion Virginia Infantry and formed the 64th Regiment Virginia Infantry by S. O. No. 275, A. & I. G. O., dated November 24, 1862.

........

William Eldridge, enlisted March 24, 1862 at Cumberland Gap in Captain Russell J. Mileham's Company, (Home Guards) Virginia Infantry,** April 30, 1862, recorded "Absent sick at Camp Floyd since April 29 by order of R. J. Mileham Commanding company, captured October 7, 1864 in Lee County, Virginia, sent to Military Prison, Louisville, Kentucky from Nashville, Tennessee, thence to Camp Douglas, Illinois, died December 27, 1864 [no cause given]

**This company formerly served as (1st) Company C, 21st Battalion Virginia Infantry. It became an independent company which was probably disbanded on expiration of the twelve months' term of service, as some of them afterward enlisted in other organization, principally in the 25th Regiment Virginia Cavalry.
[These record files are contained in NA Compiled Service Record Files M 324, Roll 1074, Capt. Mallory's Co. Local Defense (Provost Guard), Capt. Mileham's Co. Local Defense, etc., etc.

You may obtain his records through the service noted in the red enclosed box at the top of this page.

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