51st Massachusetts

Hannah Mix

Cadet
Joined
Jul 18, 2013
I am interested in information and artifacts concering this regiment. I would especially like to have a graphic of the Battle Flag which I have read is kept at the Massachusetts State House. Also, history and items regarding Company D.
Hannah M July 24, 2013 51st Masschusettes
 
I am interested in information and artifacts concering this regiment. I would especially like to have a graphic of the Battle Flag which I have read is kept at the Massachusetts State House. Also, history and items regarding Company D.
Hannah M July 24, 2013 51st Masschusettes



FIFTY-FIRST REGIMENT
MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER MILITIA
(INFANTRY) 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 MERRIMAC bound for North Carolina.
After a rough voyage it reached Beaufort, N. C., Nov. 30,
proceeding thence by rail to Newbern. 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 Newbern 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 Newbern, 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 a part 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 1 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.

Source: Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors & Marines in the Civil War


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Augustus Brown Reed Sprague

Residence Worcester MA; a 34 year-old Merchant.

Enlisted on 4/17/1861 as a Captain.

On 5/19/1861 he was commissioned into "A" Co. MA 3rd Rifles
He was Mustered Out on 8/3/1861 at Worcester, MA

On 10/27/1861 he was commissioned into Field & Staff MA 25th Infantry
He was discharged for promotion on 11/4/1862

On 11/11/1862 he was commissioned into Field & Staff MA 51st Infantry
He was Mustered Out on 7/27/1863 at Worcester, MA

On 2/27/1864 he was commissioned into Field & Staff MA 2nd Heavy Artillery
He was Mustered Out on 9/3/1865 at Wilmington, NC


Promotions:
* Lt Colonel 9/9/1861 (As of 25th MA Inf)
* Colonel 10/29/1863 (As of 51st MA Inf)
* Lt Colonel 2/1/1864 (As of 2nd MA HA)
* Brig-General 3/13/1865 by Brevet
* Colonel 9/18/1865 (Not Mustered)


Other Information:
born 3/7/1827 in Ware, MA
Member of GAR Post # 10 (George H. Ward) in Worcester, MA
Held GAR Offices:
* National Quartermaster-General for 1874
* Dept of MA Commander for 1868
died 5/17/1910 in Worcester, MA

After the War he lived in Worcester, MA
- Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the Civil War
- Massachusetts GAR: Journal of the Annual Encampment
- Brevet Brigadier Generals in Blue
- Register of the Commandery of the State of Massachusetts MOLLUS
- History of the Grand Army of the Republic
- Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the US: Biographical Sketches
- Photo courtesy of Massachusetts Commandery of MOLLUS
- Union Blue: History of MOLLUS
 
I am interested in information and artifacts concering this regiment. I would especially like to have a graphic of the Battle Flag which I have read is kept at the Massachusetts State House. Also, history and items regarding Company D.
Hannah M July 24, 2013 51st Masschusettes



Hi, I don't recall any regimental history for the 51st, the only two separate books I know of both refer specifically to Co. C. Both are available as free downloads on either Archive.org or Google Books:
Pierce, Charles F. (1886), History and Camp Life of Company C, Fifty-first Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, Charles Hamilton, Worcester
--- (1885), Souvenir of Army Life. 1862-1863. Company C 51st Mass. Regiment, Autograph Press, Gardner
The best general account I've read is from Bowen's Massachusetts in the War (available free at: http://archive.org/stream/massachusettsinw00bowe#page/n7/mode/2up ).

The 51st was a 9-months regiment, and saw little action, though they suffered heavily from an epidemic of "cerebro-spinal meningitis" at Newbern, N.C. A great many of the men later re-enlisted in other units.

There are, I believe, two colors (National and State) for this regiment in the Civil War Flags Collection at the Mass. State Archives in Boston. If you contact them, you can order color photos or slides of both.

Good luck,

jno

 
Hi, I don't recall any regimental history for the 51st, the only two separate books I know of both refer specifically to Co. C. Both are available as free downloads on either Archive.org or Google Books:
Pierce, Charles F. (1886), History and Camp Life of Company C, Fifty-first Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, Charles Hamilton, Worcester
--- (1885), Souvenir of Army Life. 1862-1863. Company C 51st Mass. Regiment, Autograph Press, Gardner
The best general account I've read is from Bowen's Massachusetts in the War (available free at:
http://archive.org/stream/massachusettsinw00bowe#page/n7/mode/2up ).

The 51st was a 9-months regiment, and saw little action, though they suffered heavily from an epidemic of "cerebro-spinal meningitis" at Newbern, N.C. A great many of the men later re-enlisted in other units.

There are, I believe, two colors (National and State) for this regiment in the Civil War Flags Collection at the Mass. State Archives in Boston. If you contact them, you can order color photos or slides of both.

Good luck,

jno
Pvt Henry Jones Kendall.
Company C 51st Massachusetts.

brother-in-law of 2nd cousin 1x removed of wife of uncle of husband of niece of husband of 4th cousin 2x removed of wife of 1st cousin 5x removed of husband of sister-in-law of nephew of husband of 2nd great grand aunt

Glad I found this thread, he died April 19th 1863.
 
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