John C Rigdon

Historical Sketch and Roster of the Georgia 51st Infantry Regiment John C Rigdon

The Georgia 51st Infantry Regiment was sent to South Carolina and was first engaged at Secessionville. It moved to Virginia in July and served with the Army of Northern Virginia until its surrender at Appomattox Court House, except during Longstreet's 1863 expedition to Georgia and Tennessee. Upon reaching Virginia, it was assigned to Drayton's Brigade. After the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam), the 51st was permanently assigned to Paul Jones Semmes's Brigade. The subsequent brigade commanders were Goode Bryant and James P. Simms. The 51st was active from Second Manassas to Gettysburg, moved to Georgia, but was not engaged at Chickamauga. It fought at Knoxville and later in the battles at The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor. The unit continued the fight with Early in the Shenandoah Valley and in numerous conflicts around Appomattox. It reported 9 casualties at Second Manassas, 8 during the Maryland Campaign, and 149 at Chancellorsville. A set of letters by Private Richard Henry Brooks of the 51st has been published by Mercer University Press entitled Keep All My Letters. Companies Of The GA 51st Infantry RegimentCompany A - Early Volunteers (Early County) Company B - Lee Guards (Lee County) Company C - Mitchell Van Guards (Mitchell County) Company D - Miller Guards (Baker, Colquitt and Miller Counties) Company E - Pochitla Guards (Baker and Calhoun Counties) Company F - Terrell Infantry (Terrell County) Company G - Harrison Volunteers (Quitman County) Company H - Randolph Rangers (Randolph County) Company I - Clay Volunteers (Clay County) Company K - Dougherty Grays (Dougherty County)