51st Illinois Infantry

Regimental History and Service Record

Organized at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., and mustered in December 24, 1861. Moved to Cairo, I11, February 14, 1862. Duty there and at Camp Cullum, Ky., until March 4, 1862. Attached to 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, Army of Mississippi, to April, 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Army of the Mississippi, to September, 1862. 1st Brigade, 13th Division, Army of the Ohio, to November, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, Right Wing 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 20th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 4th Army Corps, to August, 1865. Department of Texas to September, 1865.

SERVICE.--Operations against New Madrid, Mo., and Island No. 10, Mississippi River, March 7-April 8, 1862. Actions at New Madrid March 13-14. Action and capture at Tiptonville April 8. Expedition to Fort Pillow, Tenn., April 13-17. Moved to Hamburg Landing, Tenn., April 17-23. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Action at Farmington May 3. Reconnaissance toward Corinth May 8. Action at Farmington May 9. Pursuit to Booneville May 31-June 12. Reconnaissance toward Baldwyn June 3. At Corinth until July 20. Moved to Tuscumbia, Ala., July 20. Guard R. R. from Hillsboro to Decatur, Ala. Stationed at Decatur until September 4. March to Nashville, Tenn., September 4-12. Siege of Nashville, Tenn., September 12-November 6. Repulse of Forest's attack on Edgefield November 5. Duty at Nashville until December 26. Advance on Murfreesboro December 26-30. Battle of Stone's River December 30-31, 1862, and January 1-3, 1863. Duty at Murfreesboro until June. Expedition to Columbia March 4-14. Middle Tennessee (or Tullahoma) Campaign June 24-July 7. Occupation of Middle Tennessee until August 16.

August 16-September 22, 1863 - The Chickamauga Campaign
- September 19-September 20, 1863 - Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia
September 24-October 27, 1863 - Siege of Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27.
- Orchard Knob November 23-24.
- Mission Ridge November 25.
March to relief of Knoxville and operations in East Tennessee November 28-January 15, 1864.
Moved to Chattanooga, thence to Cleveland, Tenn., and duty there until May, 1864.
Veterans on furlough February 10-March 30.
May 1-September 5, 1864 - The Atlanta Campaign
- May 8-11, 1864 - Demonstration against Rocky Faced Ridge, Georgia
- Buzzard's Roost Gap May 8-9.
- May 14-May 15, 1864 - Battle of Resaca, Georgia
- May 17, 1864 - Engagement at Adairsville, Georgia
- Near Kingston May 18-19.
- Near Cassville May 19.
- Advance on Dallas May 22-25.
- May 25-June 5, 1864 - Operations in Bartow County, Georgia
- Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountains June 10-July 2.
- Pine Hill June 11-14.
- Lost Mountain June 15-17.
- Assault on Kenesaw June 27.
- Ruff's Station, Smyrna Camp Ground, July 4.
- Chattahoochie River July 5-17.
- Buckhead, Nancy's Creek, July 18.
- Peach Tree Creek July 19-20.
- July 22-August 25, 1864 - Siege of Atlanta, Georgia
- Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30.
- Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1.
- Moved to Chattanooga, Tenn.. September 28, thence to Bridgeport, Ala., and duty there until October 18.
- Moved to Chattanooga October 18.

Nashville Campaign November-December. Columbia, Duck River, November 24-27. Spring Hill November 29. Battle of Franklin November 30. Battle of Nashville December 15-16. Pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee River December 17-28. Moved to Huntsville, Ala., and duty there until March, 1865. Operations in East Tennessee March and April. Moved to Nashville, Tenn., and duty there until June. Moved to New Orleans, La., June 16-22, thence to Texas July 28-31. At Camp Placider, Texas, until September. Mustered out at Camp Irwin September 25 and discharged at Chicago, II1., October 15, 1865.