51st Georgia Infantry Regiment

The 51st Georgia Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.

51st Georgia Infantry Regiment
Unofficial Georgia flag prior to 1879
ActiveMarch, 1862–April 9, 1865
Country Confederate States of America
Allegiance Georgia
Branch Confederate States Army
TypeInfantry
EngagementsAmerican Civil War
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Colonel William Slaughter[1]

The regiment was formed in March 1862, and initially assigned to defensive duty in South Carolina. It was engaged at the Battle of Secessionville near Charleston before being sent northward for duty in Virginia. Upon reaching Virginia in July 1862, the 51st Georgia was assigned to Drayton's Brigade within the Army of Northern Virginia. After the Battle of Antietam in September, Robert E. Lee decided to reorganize his army for more efficiency, and the 51st Regiment was permanently assigned to Paul Jones Semmes's brigade. The subsequent brigade commanders were Goode Bryan and James P. Simms. The 51st stayed in this brigade for the duration of the Civil War.

The regiment was a part of the Army of Northern Virginia from July 1862 until its surrender at Appomattox Court House, except during James Longstreet's 1863 independent expedition to Georgia and East Tennessee.

Organization

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Staff

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  • Colonel
    • William Marion Slaughter (March 22, 1862, to May 2, 1863; Killed at Chancellorsville, Virginia)
    • Edward Ball (May 2, 1863, to November 13, 1864; Died of wounds received at Battle of Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864)
    • James Dickey (November 12, 1864, to end of war )
  • Lieutenant Colonel
    • James Dickey (January 14, 1864, to November 12, 1864; Promoted to Colonel)
    • John P. Crawford (November 12, 1864, to end of the war)
  • Major
    • Oliver Preston Anthony (March 22, 1862, to May 2, 1863; Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel)
    • Henry M. Dunwoody (May 2, 1863, to July 2, 1863; Killed at Gettysburg)
    • James Dickey (July 2, 1863, to January 14, 1864; Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel)
    • John P. Crawford (January 14, 1864, to November 12, 1864; Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel)

Companies

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Battles

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Brooks, Richard Henry; Holland, Katherine S. (2003). Keep all my letters: the Civil War letters of Richard Henry Brooks, 51st Georgia Infantry (1st ed.). Macon, Ga: Mercer Univ. Press. p. 85. ISBN 978-0-86554-840-4. Retrieved February 2, 2024.