Category: 21st Regiment, United States Infantry, War of 1812

Categories: United States Army, War of 1812

This category is managed by the War of 1812 Project in association with the Categorization Project. For assistance with this or related categories ask in G2G making sure to tag your question with both categorization and War_of_1812.


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The 21st originally raised by Eleazar Wheelock Ripley was trained to both the U.S. Manual of Arms as well as the British Light Infantry manual. Ripley felt that the 21st should be able to proficiently perform those skills which won the War of Independence, namely, hit and run and skirmish tactics, skills which were to serve the regiment well later in the war under a new commander. James Miller took over from Ripley in early 1814 after Ripley was promoted to brigadier general and saw the 21st through its most rigorous tests in battle. The 21st fought at York (26 April – 2 May 1813), Sackets Harbor (29 May 1813), as part of Ripley's Brigade at Chippawa, Lundy's Lane and Fort Erie (14 August 1814). At Lundy's Lane, Jacob Brown, the overall U.S. commander, asked Miller if he could take the British artillery on the high ground dominating the battlefield. Miller replied, "I'll try, sir." The 21st proceeded to break the British center and take the guns with a volley and bayonet charge, holding them until the order to withdraw came from General Eleazar Ripley, Generals Brown and Scott having been incapacitated by wounds earlier in the battle. "I'll try, sir," became the new 5th Infantry's regimental motto.

Six of the old regiments (4th, 9th, 13th, 21st, 40th and 46th) were consolidated into the new 5th Regiment, which was organized on 15 May 1815 under the command of Colonel James Miller.

The 21st Regiment was assigned to:

Primary subordinate units were:

  • Lt. Josiah Bartlett's Detachment
  • Lt. William Bowman's Co.
  • Capt. Lemuel Bradford's Co.
  • Lt./Capt. Sullivan Burbank's Co.
  • Capt. Ira Drew's Co.
  • Lt. Thomas Harrison's Co.
  • Capt. Benjamin Ropes's Co.
  • Capt. Charles Edward Tobey's Co.
  • Capt. Joseph Treat's Co.
  • Capt. Josiah H. Vose's Co.

For the primary, peacetime category, see:

For more information on the 21st Regiment during the War of 1812 See:


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Person Profiles (4)

15 Oct 1790 Durham, Strafford, New Hampshire, United States - 01 Aug 1840
27 Feb 1774 Johnson, Lamoille, Vermont - 1814
1763 Lebannon, York, Maine - 07 Sep 1813
abt 1787 Falmouth, Hants, Nova Scotia




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