In spring 1862, George Washington Carter began organizing a lancer cavalry regiment in central Texas.

So many men were recruited that two additional lancer regiments, the 24th and 25th Texas Cavalry, were formed.

The three units moved to Arkansas where the 24th and 25th were dismounted to serve as infantry, but the 21st remained mounted.

It arrived too late to participate in the key battles of the Red River campaign in 1864, but fought at Yellow Bayou.

This article about a specific military unit of the American Civil War is a stub.