"New Albany Grays" 21st Mississippi Infantry, Company K

Joined
Apr 20, 2019
Charles Rudolph Martin (Left) and Alfred B. Jarvis (right) stand in front of their Company flag “New Albany Grays”. The 21st Mississippi Infantry, Company K. Martin and Jarvis were the last two survivors of Company K. Martin was 16 years old and Jarvis was 17 when they pledged their support to Jefferson Davis for the duration of the war. Researching I found a Confederate reunion article (The Vicksburg Herald, August 24th 1921), which explains the event surrounding the photo. The other article I found was the (Memphis Daily Appeal, June 6th 1861). They wrote a brief piece on the presentation of the Banner. There is at least one other photo that is in the Jefferson Davis Presidential Library. As shown published in the book “Remembering Mississippi's Confederates“.

The 21st fought in all the big battles in the East. During the Seven Days Battles, Martin was severely wounded at Savage Station, VA. He was hit by a shell in his left leg, which would prevent him fighting any more yanks. Jarvis didn’t fare much better. In the photo it looks like his right foot/leg may be missing. He was wounded badly enough at Antietam to miss the rest of the battles until Chickamauga, a year later. He would be severely wounded in the 2nd day’s fighting at the Battle of the Wilderness.


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5 MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAL June 6, 1861.jpg
6 Stone C R Martin.jpg
7 Alfred B. Jarvis.jpg
 
Charles Rudolph Martin (Left) and Alfred B. Jarvis (right) stand in front of their Company flag “New Albany Grays”. The 21st Mississippi Infantry, Company K. Martin and Jarvis were the last two survivors of Company K. Martin was 16 years old and Jarvis was 17 when they pledged their support to Jefferson Davis for the duration of the war. Researching I found a Confederate reunion article (The Vicksburg Herald, August 24th 1921), which explains the event surrounding the photo. The other article I found was the (Memphis Daily Appeal, June 6th 1861). They wrote a brief piece on the presentation of the Banner. There is at least one other photo that is in the Jefferson Davis Presidential Library. As shown published in the book “Remembering Mississippi's Confederates“.

The 21st fought in all the big battles in the East. During the Seven Days Battles, Martin was severely wounded at Savage Station, VA. He was hit by a shell in his left leg, which would prevent him fighting any more yanks. Jarvis didn’t fare much better. In the photo it looks like his right foot/leg may be missing. He was wounded badly enough at Antietam to miss the rest of the battles until Chickamauga, a year later. He would be severely wounded in the 2nd day’s fighting at the Battle of the Wilderness.

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Welcome ! Great post !!!!
 
Charles Rudolph Martin (Left) and Alfred B. Jarvis (right) stand in front of their Company flag “New Albany Grays”. The 21st Mississippi Infantry, Company K. Martin and Jarvis were the last two survivors of Company K. Martin was 16 years old and Jarvis was 17 when they pledged their support to Jefferson Davis for the duration of the war. Researching I found a Confederate reunion article (The Vicksburg Herald, August 24th 1921), which explains the event surrounding the photo. The other article I found was the (Memphis Daily Appeal, June 6th 1861). They wrote a brief piece on the presentation of the Banner. There is at least one other photo that is in the Jefferson Davis Presidential Library. As shown published in the book “Remembering Mississippi's Confederates“.

The 21st fought in all the big battles in the East. During the Seven Days Battles, Martin was severely wounded at Savage Station, VA. He was hit by a shell in his left leg, which would prevent him fighting any more yanks. Jarvis didn’t fare much better. In the photo it looks like his right foot/leg may be missing. He was wounded badly enough at Antietam to miss the rest of the battles until Chickamauga, a year later. He would be severely wounded in the 2nd day’s fighting at the Battle of the Wilderness.

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The following was taken from the Supplement to the Offical Records:
[M861-Roll #31]



Officers of Company K (New Albany Greys)

Nicholas Blackwell, Capt., Company K, First Battalion; Capt.,
Company K, Twenty-first Regiment, r. October 18, 1861
John W. Renfroe, 1st Lt., Company K, First Battalion; 1st Lt.,
Capt., Company K, Twenty-first Regiment
T. B. Sloan, 2nd Lt., Company K, First Battalion; 2nd Lt., 1st
Lt., Company K, Twenty-first Regiment
G. W. Wiley, 2nd Lt., Company K, First Battalion; 2nd Lt.,
Company K, Twenty-first Regiment, r. January 2, 1865
[Robert] W. Flournoy, Capt., Company K, First Battalion, r. July
15, 1861
[Zacharia] N. Foster, 1st Lt., Company K, Twenty-first Regiment
J. Y. Foster, 2nd Lt., Company K, Twenty-first Regiment,
dropped May, 1864
William P. Smith, 2nd Lt., Company K, Twenty-first Regiment,
r. August 4, 1861

Ashel Beach, 2nd Lt., Company K, First Battalion
Formerly Company K, First Battalion, Mississippi Volun-
teers.
...............................................................................................

Company K (New Albany Greys)

Stationed at Lynchburg, Virginia, June 17, 1861.
June 17.— Muster-in roll of Captain Robert W. Flournoy's
Company, of Infantry in the Twenty-first Regiment of Mississippi
Volunteers, commanded by —, called into the service of the
Confederate States in the Provisional Army under the provisions
of the Act of Congress passed February —, 1861 by — from
June 17, 1861 (date of this muster) for the term of the war, unless
sooner discharged. . . .
H. L. CLAY,
Assistant Adjutant-General and Mustering Officer.

Station not stated, May 16-June 30, 1861.

Stationed near Brentsville, Virginia, September-October 1861.
October 23.— The company marched from Manassas Station.
October 24.— Reached Brentsville on the morning of October 24;
distance marched six miles.


Station not stated, January-February 1862.

Stationed near Lee's Mill, March-April 1862.
March 7.— Marched out from Leesburg.
March 20.— Reached Rapidan; distance marched 100 [miles].
April 8.— Left Rapidan on the train.
April 9.— Reached this place.

Stationed at Fredericksburg, November-December 1862.

Stationed at Wallers Tavern, July-August 1863.

Stationed near Chattanooga, September-October 1863.
September 8.— Left camps in Virginia.
September 19.— Reached Chickamauga River, Georgia.
September 20.— Was engaged in the battle of Chickamauga.

Stationed near Gordonsville, Virginia, March-April 1864.

Stationed at Petersburg, May-June 1864.

Stationed at Brucetown, Virginia, July-August 1864.

Stationed near Richmond, March 1, 1865.
May 16, 1861.— The company was organized and accepted as
war troops.
June 26.— Arrived at Richmond.
September 1.— Left Richmond. Arrived at Manassas.
November 9.— Left Manassas.
November 14.— Arrived at Leesburg and remained there in
camp.
March 7, 1862.— Marched from Leesburg.
March 18.— Arrived at Rapidan Station on or about March 18,
1862.
Ordered to the Peninsula in April 1862 and arrived in the
vicinity of Yorktown, Virginia. Remained there and in support of
our entrenched battery.
[For record of events, see Field and Staff (Twenty-first Regiment,
Mississippi Infantry).]

We arrived in the vicinity of Richmond in May 1862. We
were at the battle of Savage Station and continued the pursuit of
the enemy. We participated in the battle of Malvern Hill. We
were almost exhausted from excessive fatigue. We gave up the
pursuit and returned to the vicinity of Richmond. Went into
camp.
Made a reconnaissance of the enemy's position at Berkeley in
August 1862.
August 19.— Left Richmond to join the Army then on its way
northward. Marched from Hanover Junction to Leesburg. Halted
a day or two and crossed the Potomac into Maryland. Marched
to Harper's Ferry. Ascended Maryland Heights.
September 14.— Part of the company was detailed to haul or
assist in hauling four pieces [of] cannon upon the Heights.
September 15.— Engaged the enemy.
September 16.— Left Harper's Ferry and marched to Sharpsburg.
September 17.— Participated in the battle.
September 18.— Continued march to Court-House.
December 13, 1862.— Were almost continually under the fire of
the enemy's guns. Was stationed in the town.
May 3, 1863.— Participated in the battle of this day.
May 4.— Skirmished with the enemy.
Left Fredericksburg and marched to Gettysburg, Pennsylva-
nia. Halted at Court-House and Ashby's Gap each for a few
days.
July 1.— Arrived at Gettysburg.
July 4.— Left Gettysburg.
July 15.— Left Downsville and reached the river. Recrossed into
Virginia. Halted near Beattie's Hill, Virginia a few days and
continued the retreat to Culpeper Court-House.
Skirmished with the enemy in Chester Gap.
November 18.— Left Knoxville and marched beyond Bean's Sta-
tion, Tennessee.
February 26, 1864.— Left New Market. Retired to Greeneville,
Tennessee and remained about two weeks.
Left Petersburg in August 1864.
September 3.— Left Winchester.
 
The following was taken from the Supplement to the Offical Records:
[M861-Roll #31]



Officers of Company K (New Albany Greys)

Nicholas Blackwell, Capt., Company K, First Battalion; Capt.,
Company K, Twenty-first Regiment, r. October 18, 1861
John W. Renfroe, 1st Lt., Company K, First Battalion; 1st Lt.,
Capt., Company K, Twenty-first Regiment
T. B. Sloan, 2nd Lt., Company K, First Battalion; 2nd Lt., 1st
Lt., Company K, Twenty-first Regiment
G. W. Wiley, 2nd Lt., Company K, First Battalion; 2nd Lt.,
Company K, Twenty-first Regiment, r. January 2, 1865
[Robert] W. Flournoy, Capt., Company K, First Battalion, r. July
15, 1861
[Zacharia] N. Foster, 1st Lt., Company K, Twenty-first Regiment
J. Y. Foster, 2nd Lt., Company K, Twenty-first Regiment,
dropped May, 1864
William P. Smith, 2nd Lt., Company K, Twenty-first Regiment,
r. August 4, 1861

Ashel Beach, 2nd Lt., Company K, First Battalion
Formerly Company K, First Battalion, Mississippi Volun-
teers.
...............................................................................................

Company K (New Albany Greys)

Stationed at Lynchburg, Virginia, June 17, 1861.
June 17.— Muster-in roll of Captain Robert W. Flournoy's
Company, of Infantry in the Twenty-first Regiment of Mississippi
Volunteers, commanded by —, called into the service of the
Confederate States in the Provisional Army under the provisions
of the Act of Congress passed February —, 1861 by — from
June 17, 1861 (date of this muster) for the term of the war, unless
sooner discharged. . . .
H. L. CLAY,
Assistant Adjutant-General and Mustering Officer.

Station not stated, May 16-June 30, 1861.

Stationed near Brentsville, Virginia, September-October 1861.
October 23.— The company marched from Manassas Station.
October 24.— Reached Brentsville on the morning of October 24;
distance marched six miles.


Station not stated, January-February 1862.

Stationed near Lee's Mill, March-April 1862.
March 7.— Marched out from Leesburg.
March 20.— Reached Rapidan; distance marched 100 [miles].
April 8.— Left Rapidan on the train.
April 9.— Reached this place.

Stationed at Fredericksburg, November-December 1862.

Stationed at Wallers Tavern, July-August 1863.

Stationed near Chattanooga, September-October 1863.
September 8.— Left camps in Virginia.
September 19.— Reached Chickamauga River, Georgia.
September 20.— Was engaged in the battle of Chickamauga.

Stationed near Gordonsville, Virginia, March-April 1864.

Stationed at Petersburg, May-June 1864.

Stationed at Brucetown, Virginia, July-August 1864.

Stationed near Richmond, March 1, 1865.
May 16, 1861.— The company was organized and accepted as
war troops.
June 26.— Arrived at Richmond.
September 1.— Left Richmond. Arrived at Manassas.
November 9.— Left Manassas.
November 14.— Arrived at Leesburg and remained there in
camp.
March 7, 1862.— Marched from Leesburg.
March 18.— Arrived at Rapidan Station on or about March 18,
1862.
Ordered to the Peninsula in April 1862 and arrived in the
vicinity of Yorktown, Virginia. Remained there and in support of
our entrenched battery.
[For record of events, see Field and Staff (Twenty-first Regiment,
Mississippi Infantry).]

We arrived in the vicinity of Richmond in May 1862. We
were at the battle of Savage Station and continued the pursuit of
the enemy. We participated in the battle of Malvern Hill. We
were almost exhausted from excessive fatigue. We gave up the
pursuit and returned to the vicinity of Richmond. Went into
camp.
Made a reconnaissance of the enemy's position at Berkeley in
August 1862.
August 19.— Left Richmond to join the Army then on its way
northward. Marched from Hanover Junction to Leesburg. Halted
a day or two and crossed the Potomac into Maryland. Marched
to Harper's Ferry. Ascended Maryland Heights.
September 14.— Part of the company was detailed to haul or
assist in hauling four pieces [of] cannon upon the Heights.
September 15.— Engaged the enemy.
September 16.— Left Harper's Ferry and marched to Sharpsburg.
September 17.— Participated in the battle.
September 18.— Continued march to Court-House.
December 13, 1862.— Were almost continually under the fire of
the enemy's guns. Was stationed in the town.
May 3, 1863.— Participated in the battle of this day.
May 4.— Skirmished with the enemy.
Left Fredericksburg and marched to Gettysburg, Pennsylva-
nia. Halted at Court-House and Ashby's Gap each for a few
days.
July 1.— Arrived at Gettysburg.
July 4.— Left Gettysburg.
July 15.— Left Downsville and reached the river. Recrossed into
Virginia. Halted near Beattie's Hill, Virginia a few days and
continued the retreat to Culpeper Court-House.
Skirmished with the enemy in Chester Gap.
November 18.— Left Knoxville and marched beyond Bean's Sta-
tion, Tennessee.
February 26, 1864.— Left New Market. Retired to Greeneville,
Tennessee and remained about two weeks.
Left Petersburg in August 1864.
September 3.— Left Winchester.
Thanks
 
ambro3-1543202016-99-jpg.jpg

From Military Images Magazine, winter 2019. Description:
Half-plate ambrotype by an anonymous photographer. Chris Magewick Collection.​
Four soldiers posed for this portrait about two months after they enlisted in the New Albany Grays. The company had formed in New Albany, Pontotoc County, Miss., in May 1861.​
In September 1861, the company was incorporated into the 21st Mississippi Infantry as Company K. The regiment participated in many of the war’s highest profile battles, including Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Cedar Creek.​
The man with the long red beard is the ranking member of the group. He is Capt. Nicholas M. Blackwell, a physician educated in Philadelphia, Miss., and who practiced in New Albany with his brother. He returned to his medical practice after the war. He died in 1910 at age 72. Seated middle right is farmer James Bowman Blackwell, who suffered a wound at Fredericksburg. He recovered, and became a first lieutenant. After the war, Blackwell married, and eventually settled in North Carolina, where he lived until age 83, dying in 1927. The soldier on the far right is believed to be John Calvin Pruitt of Capt. Robert W. Flournoy’s Company of Mississippi Volunteers [actually the same company, Flournoy being the initial commander]. On Sept. 17, 1862, he died in action near the West Woods during the Battle of Sharpsburg. The man on the far left is unidentified.​
https://militaryimages.atavist.com/stragglers-winter-2019

new-albany-grays-1-jpg.jpg

And here's another of the same group. Nicholas M. Blackwell was actually 3rd lieutenant when the photo was taken, later rising to captain. (Bartlett Historical Society, Tennessee State Library & Archives' digital collection)

iam-p-smith-co-k-21st-mississippi-infantry-jpg-jpg.jpg

3rd Lt. William P. Smith, Co. K "New Albany Greys," 21st Mississippi Infantry. A 35-year-old merchant from Pontotoc, Mississippi, he fought throughout the Peninsula Campaign and Seven Days before resigning due to disability in August 1862.
(Portraits of Conflict: A Photographic History of Mississippi in the Civil War, p. 61)


Also a roster of the company here: http://sites.rootsweb.com/~msunion/civwar2/cokunion.htm
 
Thank you for all the replies. I have done a lot of research online about the 21st Mississippi Infantry after receiving the image. I have the records of both men in the image. New Albany isn't too far from me, I found one of the headstone pictures online, the other I took myself. I am always interested in local history and I hope to get down to Biloxi to see the original company flag and other Image there. I also would like to go to Vicksburg and see their regimental flag. My GGG Grandfather fought in the 26th Mississippi Infantry.
 
I first discovered this information on a predecessor site back in 2006, but it can still be accessed:

http://sites.rootsweb.com/~msunion/civwar2/cokunion.htm

Total enrolled: 111
Killed and died of wounds: 16
Died of disease: 25
Discharged for disability and wounds: 12
Captured: 5
Dropped: 13
Deserted: 8
Discharged by substitution: 1
Resigned: 3
On roll, February 1865: 28

The following members were foreign-born:
-J. T. Smith, Ireland
-William McDaniel, Ireland
-James Mabruhill (more likely rendered as Mulvahill), Ireland
-William Spence, Ireland

Captain John W. Renfroe was slightly wounded in the arm at Gettysburg. James Mulvahill was also wounded at Gettysburg.
 
Last edited:
Welcome from the Shiloh/Pittsburg Landing Forum and Oxford, Mississippi! You mentioned you wanted to go to Vicksburg so allow me to invite you to join us for the CWT Invades Vicksburg October 24-27*. It will be a great opportunity to meet many others who live near by and some who are travelling longer distances.
Regards
David
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/cw...tour-the-official-thread.155709/#post-2006343
 
Welcome from the Shiloh/Pittsburg Landing Forum and Oxford, Mississippi! You mentioned you wanted to go to Vicksburg so allow me to invite you to join us for the CWT Invades Vicksburg October 24-27*. It will be a great opportunity to meet many others who live near by and some who are travelling longer distances.
Regards
David
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/cw...tour-the-official-thread.155709/#post-2006343

It looks very interesting. I will have to see closer to then.
 
Neat info...Brentsville is like 3 miles away from my house, it was one of the original Prince William County courthouses and jails at the time. Manassas was just a railroad junction during the ACW. I do know for a fact several different regiments both North and South camped on the land my house sits on during the War. Manassas and the Brentsville area changed hands many time during the years 1861-65. The 21rst may have been close by my house way back when.....
 
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