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51st
Pennsylvania Infantry
Online Books
51st
Pennsylvania Infantry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 2 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Fifty-first Infantry. — Cols., John F. Hartranft, Edwin
Schall, William J. Bolton; Lieut.-Cols., Thomas S. Bell, Edwin Schall,
William Allebaugh; Majs., Edwin Schall, William J. Bolton, Lane S. Hart,
Joseph K. Bolton. This regiment was recruited during the summer and fall
of 1861 by Col. Hartranft for three years' service, most of the officers
and men having served for the three months' term. Cos. A, C, D, F and I
were recruited in Montgomery county ; E, H and K in Union and Snyder ; G
in Center and B in Northampton. The place of rendezvous was Camp Curtin,
Harrisburg, and the regimental organization was completed on Nov. 16,
1861. Two days later it left for Annapolis, Md., where it remained,
perfecting itself in drill and discipline, until Jan. 6, 1862, when it
was assigned to the 2nd brigade (Gen. Reno), Burnside's corps, embarked
as a part of Burnside's expedition to North Carolina, and landed at
Roanoke island on Feb. 7. It shared in the capture of the enemy's works
here on the 8th and was active at the battle of New Berne, N. C, in
March, where it executed a gallant charge. It was again active in the
battle of Camden, losing 3 killed and 21 wounded. It returned to
Fortress Monroe in July and was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 2nd
division, 9th corps. Gen. Ferrero commanding the brigade. It was active
at the second Bull Run and Chantilly, and in Sept., 1862, moved with the
9th corps on the Maryland campaign. It skirmished with the enemy's
cavalry at Frederick, Md. ; was hotly engaged at South mountain and
again at Antietam, where its losses were 125, including Lieut- Col.
Bell, and Lieuts. Beaver and Hunsicker killed ; Capts. Bolton and Hart,
Adjt. Shorkly, Quartermaster Freedly and Lieut. Lynch wounded. Maj.
Schall was now promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and Capt. Bolton to
major. The command suffered severely in the fierce fighting at
Fredericksburg in December, its losses being 12 killed and 74 wounded.
It was ordered to Fortress Monroe in March, 1863, brigaded with the 51st
N. Y., 21st Mass., and 11th N. H., and moved thence, with two divisions
of the 9th corps, to Kentucky, being posted successively at Winchester,
Lancaster, Crab Orchard and Stanford. In June it moved with its corps
under command of Gen. Parke to the support of Grant at Vicksburg,
arriving on the 14th and going into camp at Mill Dale. It was employed
here and at Oak ridge for several weeks in building fortifications, and
joined Sherman in his campaign to Jackson in July. The command then
returned to Kentucky, encamping at Camp Nelson, where it rested and
refitted after its arduous service in Mississippi. The regiment moved
from Camp Nelson to Crab Orchard, where a number of recruits were
received, and thence to Knoxville, Tenn. It was active at the battle of
Campbell's station, and suffered all the hardships endured by Burnside's
army, when besieged in Knoxville by the enemy under Longstreet. After
the siege was raised it joined in the pursuit of the enemy, skirmishing
with his rear-guard at Rutledge, and later went into winter quarters at
Blaine's cross-roads, where the men suffered much from the meager
supplies of food and clothing received. On Jan. 5, 1864, the regiment
reenlisted for a term of three years and returned to Pennsylvania on 30
days' veteran furlough. While at home the command was rapidly recruited
to the maximum strength, as it was a very popular organization, and on
the expiration of its furlough it proceeded to Annapolis, where it was
assigned to the 1st brigade, 1st division, 9th corps. Col. Hartranft
commanding the brigade and Lieut.-Col. Schall the regiment. The 51st
participated in all the sanguinary engagements leading up to the siege
of Petersburg, losing heavily. Dating from the battle at the Ny river,
May 12, Col. Hartranft was promoted to brigadier-general, Lieut.-Col.
Schall became colonel, Maj. Bolton lieutenant-colonel, and Capt. Hart
major. In the fierce fighting at Cold Harbor Col. Schall was killed
while leading a charge and was succeeded in command by Lieut.-Col.
Bolton. The command arrived in front of Petersburg on the 17th and at
once engaged the enemy. It was in action again the next day, capturing
and holding a position close to the enemy's works. This position was so
exposed that a constant fire was kept up, night and day, for more than
two weeks, one-third of the men being constantly employed to hold the
position. It formed part of the assaulting column at the explosion of
the mine, but was ordered back before it entered the crater. In this
advance, Col. Bolton was severely wounded and Maj. Hart succeeded to the
command. The regiment remained on duty in front of the crater for a few
days, when it was relieved, and remained encamped in the rear until Aug.
19. It shared in the movement for the capture of the Weldon railroad,
and participated in all the subsequent operations of the brigade,
including the engagements at Poplar Spring Church, Ream's station,
Hatcher's run, and the final assault on Petersburg, April 2, 1865. It
was mustered out at Alexandria, Va., July 21, 1865, after four years of
most trying service. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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