The 51st Massachusetts Infantry Regiment
(Volunteer Militia)
If any information is missing, Incorrect or you want to add Information then Send us an
Unit History
Nine Months
The 51st Regt. Mass. Vol. Mil. was raised largely in southern Worcester County as a part of Massachusetts' quota of nine months troops. Its rendezvous was Camp Wool, Worcester, Mass,, where the recruits gathered in the early fall of 1862, Col. George H. Ward of the 15th Mass. Regt., who had lost a leg at Ball's Bluff, being commandant of the camp. The companies of the 51st were mustered in between the 25th of September and the 14th of October. A. B. R. Sprague, an officer of the 25th Mass. Inf., was commissioned colonel, and under his command the regiment left Camp Wool, Nov. 25, 1862, proceeding by rail to Boston, where it immediately embarked on the transport RIMAC bound for North Carolina. After a rough voyage it reached Beaufort, N. C., Nov. 30, proceeding thence by rail to Newborn. Here it was assigned to Amory's Brigade. Not until Dec. 5 were arms issued to the regiment and the men instructed in their use.
On Dec. 11, the 51st was assigned to the Goldsboro expedition. Proceeding with it as far as Beaver Creek Bridge, it was delayed there to guard the crossing at that important point. Continuing on after the main body on Sunday the 14th, it overtook the column Tuesday the 16th while it was engaged in the battle of Whitehall. During the battle of Goldsboro, Dec. 17, the 51st guarded the wagon train and was not in action. It returned to its barracks on the Trent River near Newborn on Sunday the 21st.
Company " G " was sent to Brice's Ferry, Dec. 30, to do guard and outpost duty, and there remained during the entire period of the regiment's service in North Carolina. On Jany. 17, 1863, seven companies took part in an expedition to Pollocksville, five of them proceeding as far as Young's Cross Roads, and having a skirmish with the enemy at White Oak Creek, returning to Newborn, Jany. 21.
During the month of February the regiment suffered much from the ravages of disease and especially from an epidemic of cerebro-spinal meningitis, a number of men dying of the latter disease. Early in March several companies of the regiment were distributed at various points along the railroad between Newbern and Morehead City, while others were stationed at Beaufort and Evans' Mills, Colonel Sprague being assigned to the command of the District of Beaufort, which included Fort Macon. Company "C" became apart of the garrison of this fort. On May 4, the regiment returned to Newbern much improved in health, and reoccupied its old camp on the Trent River.
On June 24, 1863, the 51st was ordered to Fort Monroe. Arriving at this place on the 27th, it was ordered to report to General Dix at White House where a force was being collected to attack Richmond. Arriving at White House, June 28, it was almost immediately ordered back to Fort Monroe. Here the colonel offered the services of the regiment for emergency duty until the Confederate army under General Lee should be driven back from Pennsylvania, and it was immediately transferred to Baltimore, Md., where it remained from July I to July 6, searching houses for concealed arms, guarding prisoners from Gettysburg, etc.
On the date last mentioned it was attached to a provisional brigade under Brig. Genl. H. S. Briggs, the other regiments being the 8th, 39th, and 46th Massachusetts. Proceeding to Sandy Hook, Maryland Heights, and Fort Duncan, opposite Harper's Ferry, it remained at the latter place until July 12 when it started for Funkstown, Md., in front of the Confederate position at Williamsport, and here on the following day it joined the 1st Corps, Army of the Potomac.
The night following its arrival, the Confederate army recrossed the Potomac. On the 15th the regiment was sent with the 1st Corps to Berlin, Md., where the Union army was preparing to cross the Potomac in pursuit of Lee. Here the 51st was detached from the corps and ordered to Massachusetts for muster out. Arriving at Worcester, Mass., July 21, the men were furloughed for six days, after which they reassembled and were mustered out of the service July 27, 1863.
Regiment lost during service 44 Enlisted men by disease.
Assignments
Organized at Worcester September 25 to October 30, 1862. Moved to Boston, thence to Newberne, N. C., November 25-30. Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Dept. of North Carolina, to December, 1862. Amory's Brigade, Dept. North Carolina, to January, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 18th Army Corps, Dept. of North Carolina, to June, 1863. 8th Army Corps, Middle Dept., July, 1863. Temporary to 1st Army Corps, Army Potomac, July, 1863.
SERVICE.--Foster's Expedition to Goldsboro December 11-20, 1862. Kinston December 14. Whitehall December 16. Goldsboro December 17. Duty at Newberne until March, 1863. Expedition to Trenton, Pollocksville, Young's Cross Roads and Onslow, January 17-21, 1863. Companies "A," "B," "C," "D," "H," "I," "K" guard and outpost duty by detachments on railroad between Newberne and Morehead City March 2 to May 4. Companies "A" and "C" at Morehead City. (Co. "C" at Fort Macon March 30 to May 5.) "B," "D," "H" and "I" at Newport. "K" at Evans' Mills. "E" and "F" at Beaufort and "G" at Brice's Ferry. Headquarters at Beaufort. Moved to Newberne May 4, and duty there until June 24. Moved to Fort Monroe, Va., thence to White House June 24-28. Moved to Baltimore, Md., June 29-July 1. To Monocacy Junction, Frederick and Sandy Hook July 6-7. Occupation of Harper's Ferry July 8. March to Funkstown, Md., July 12-13, and join 1st Army Corps. Pursuit of Lee. March to Berlin July 15-17, thence moved to Worcester, Mass., July 17-21. Mustered out July 27, 1863.
