51st Indiana Infantry in the American Civil War

Overview

The 51st Indiana Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment from Indiana that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized at Indianapolis in the fall of 1861, the regiment was mustered into federal service on December 14, 1861. The 51st Indiana participated in major campaigns in the Western Theater, serving in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and Texas. The regiment is notable for its involvement in Streight’s Raid and for the capture and imprisonment of its members following that expedition.

Organization & Service

The 51st Indiana Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was organized at Indianapolis, Indiana, and mustered in on December 14, 1861. The regiment moved immediately to Bardstown, Kentucky, and in February 1862 joined Buell’s Army of the Ohio, advancing toward Nashville, Tennessee. The unit reached the Tennessee River too late to participate in the Battle of Shiloh but took part in the siege of Corinth, Mississippi.

Following Corinth, the regiment moved with Wood’s Division through Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky. In December 1862, the 51st Indiana marched toward Murfreesboro and fought in the Battle of Stone’s River, sustaining casualties. The regiment remained near Murfreesboro until April 1863, when it joined Colonel Abel D. Streight’s expedition for a raid behind Confederate lines. The regiment engaged in several actions, including Day’s Gap, Crooked Creek, and near Gadsden, Alabama, before being overtaken and compelled to surrender near Gaylesville, Alabama. The entire force was sent to Confederate prisons; enlisted men were paroled and sent to Indianapolis until exchanged in November 1863, while officers were held longer, with Colonel Streight escaping from Libby Prison in February 1864.

After exchange, the regiment rejoined the Union Army at Nashville and was assigned to guard communications between Nashville and Chattanooga. In the winter of 1863, a portion of the regiment reenlisted and was furloughed in March 1864. The 51st Indiana was stationed at Chattanooga during the summer of 1864, later moving to Atlanta after its occupation. The regiment, as part of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 4th Corps, participated in the campaign against Hood’s forces in Tennessee, including the Battle of Nashville in December 1864. The regiment pursued Hood to Huntsville, Alabama, and remained there until March 1865, then moved into East Tennessee. In May, it returned to Nashville, where recruits from the 79th Indiana were transferred to the regiment. The 51st Indiana was sent to Texas in June and mustered out of service on December 13, 1865. Non-veterans had been mustered out on December 14, 1864.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Siege of Corinth (Mississippi), April–May 1862
• Campaigns in Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky, 1862
• Battle of Stone’s River, December 30, 1862 – January 2, 1863
• Streight’s Raid (including Day’s Gap, Crooked Creek, Gadsden, and Gaylesville), April–May 1863
• Guard duty between Nashville and Chattanooga, late 1863–1864
• Atlanta Campaign (post-occupation), summer 1864
• Campaign against Hood in Tennessee, late 1864
• Battle of Nashville, December 15, 1864
• Pursuit of Hood to Huntsville, Alabama, December 1864–March 1865
• Duty in East Tennessee and Texas, 1865

Casualties

• Original strength: 939
• Gained by recruits: 723
• Reenlistments: 295
• Total enrollment: 1,957
• Loss by death: 266
• Desertion: 130
• Unaccounted for: 51

Casualty figures are based on official state records and regimental returns. At the Battle of Stone’s River, the regiment lost 5 killed, 36 wounded, and 8 missing. During Streight’s Raid, 31 were killed and wounded, including Lieutenant Colonel Sheets, who was mortally wounded.

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel Abel D. Streight
• Colonel David A. McHolland
• Colonel William N. Dunny
• Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin J. Spooner
• Lieutenant Colonel William H. Colescott
• Lieutenant Colonel James W. Sheets
• Lieutenant Colonel David A. McHolland
• Lieutenant Colonel William N. Dunny
• Lieutenant Colonel William W. Scearce
• Major William H. Colescott
• Major Clark Willis
• Major David A. McHolland
• Major William N. Dunny
• Major William W. Scearce

Regimental Roster

The complete roster of the 51st Indiana Infantry (Three Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This roster provides names, ranks, and service details valuable for genealogical research.

To view the full roster, visit the 51st Indiana Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.

Sources & References

• Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes 10, 16, 23, 32, 39
• Indiana Adjutant General’s Report
• Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
• Fox, William F., Regimental Losses in the American Civil War
• The Union Army, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Vol. 3