The 51st Georgia Infantry Regiment was an

infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...

in the

Confederate States Army The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. The regiment was formed in March 1862, and initially assigned to defensive duty in

South Carolina )''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

. It was engaged at the

Battle of Secessionville The Battle of Secessionville (or the First Battle of James Island) was fought on June 16, 1862, during the American Civil War. Confederate forces defeated the Union's only attempt to capture Charleston, South Carolina, by land. It's noted for ...

near

Charleston Charleston most commonly refers to: * Charleston, South Carolina * Charleston, West Virginia, the state capital * Charleston (dance) Charleston may also refer to: Places Australia * Charleston, South Australia Canada * Charleston, Newfoundlan ...

before being sent northward for duty in

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

. Upon reaching Virginia in July 1862, the 51st Georgia was assigned to Drayton's Brigade within the

Army of Northern Virginia The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It was also the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most oft ...

. After the

Battle of Antietam The Battle of Antietam (), or Battle of Sharpsburg particularly in the Southern United States, was a battle of the American Civil War fought on September 17, 1862, between Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and Union G ...

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 Goode Bryan (August 31, 1811 – August 16, 1885) was a planter, politician, military officer, and American Civil War general in the Confederate States Army. His brigade played a prominent role during the Battle of the Wilderness, fighting stubbo ...

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 James Longstreet (January 8, 1821January 2, 1904) was one of the foremost Confederate generals of the American Civil War and the principal subordinate to General Robert E. Lee, who called him his "Old War Horse". He served under Lee as a corps ...

's 1863 independent expedition to

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

and

East Tennessee East Tennessee is one of the three Grand Divisions of Tennessee defined in state law. Geographically and socioculturally distinct, it comprises approximately the eastern third of the U.S. state of Tennessee. East Tennessee consists of 33 count ...

Organization

Staff

*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

* Company A (Early Volunteers) was formed in Early County. * Company B (Lee Guards) was formed in Lee County. * Company C (Mitchell Van Guards) was formed in Mitchell County. * Company D (Miller Guards) was formed in

Baker A baker is a tradesperson who bakes and sometimes sells breads and other products made of flour by using an oven or other concentrated heat source. The place where a baker works is called a bakery. History Ancient history Since grains ha ...

, Colquitt and

Miller A miller is a person who operates a Gristmill, mill, a machine to grind a grain (for example corn or wheat) to make flour. Mill (grinding), Milling is among the oldest of human occupations. "Miller", "Milne" and other variants are common surname ...

counties. * Company E (Pochitla Guards) was formed in Baker and

Calhoun John C. Calhoun (1782–1850) was the 7th vice president of the United States. Calhoun can also refer to: Surname * Calhoun (surname) Inhabited places in the United States *Calhoun, Georgia *Calhoun, Illinois * Calhoun, Kansas * Calhoun, Kentuc ...

counties. * Company F (Terrell Infantry) was formed in Terrell County. * Company G (Harrison Volunteers) was formed in Quitman County. * Company H (Randolph Rangers) was formed in

Randolph County Randolph County is the name of eight counties in the United States: *Randolph County, Alabama *Randolph County, Arkansas *Randolph County, Georgia *Randolph County, Illinois *Randolph County, Indiana *Randolph County, Missouri *Randolph County, Nort ...

. * Company I (Clay Volunteers) was formed in

Clay County Clay County is the name of 18 counties in the United States. Most are named for Henry Clay, U.S. Senator and statesman: * Clay County, Alabama * Clay County, Arkansas (named for John Clayton, and originally named Clayton County) * Clay County, Flor ...

. * Company K (Dougherty Grays) was formed in Dougherty County.

Battles

* Secessionville (June 16, 1862) * Second Bull Run (August 28–30, 1862) * South Mountain (September 14, 1862) * Antietam (September 17, 1862) * Fredericksburg (December 13, 1862) * Chancellorsville (May 1–4, 1863) * Gettysburg (July 1–3, 1863) * Chickamauga ot engaged(September 19–20, 1863) * Chattanooga Siege (September–November 1863) * Knoxville Siege (November–December 1863) **

Battle of Fort Sanders The Battle of Fort Sanders was the crucial engagement of the Knoxville Campaign of the American Civil War, fought in Knoxville, Tennessee, on November 29, 1863. Assaults by Confederate Lt. Gen. James Longstreet failed to break through the def ...

* The Wilderness (May 5–6, 1864) * Spotsylvania Court House (May 8–21, 1864) * North Anna (May 23–26, 1864) * Cold Harbor (June 1–3, 1864) * Petersburg Siege (June 1864-April 1865) * Cedar Creek (October 19, 1864) * Sayler's Creek (April 6, 1865) *

Battle of Appomattox Court House The Battle of Appomattox Court House, fought in Appomattox County, Virginia, on the morning of April 9, 1865, was one of the last battles of the American Civil War (1861–1865). It was the final engagement of Confederate General in Chief, Rober ...

(April 9, 1865)

Organization

Staff

Companies

Battles

See also