51st Georgia Infantry Regiment

51st Georgia Infantry Regiment
51st Georgia Infantry Regiment
	Unofficial Georgia flag prior to 1879
Active	March, 1862–April 9, 1865
Country	Confederate States of America
Allegiance	Georgia
Branch	Confederate States Army
Type	Infantry
Engagements	American Civil War
Commanders
Notable; commanders	Colonel William Slaughter

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

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

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, Colquitt and Miller counties.
Company E (Pochitla Guards) was formed in Baker and Calhoun 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.
Company I (Clay Volunteers) was formed in Clay County.
Company K (Dougherty Grays) was formed in Dougherty County.

Battles

References

^ 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.

[Brooks-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.

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