51st Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 51st Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an infantry
regiment
that served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
The regiment was mustered out on September 25, 1865.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
that served in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Service
The 51st Illinois Infantry was organized at Chicago, Illinois and mustered into Federal service on December 24, 1861.The regiment was mustered out on September 25, 1865.
Total strength and casualties
The regiment suffered 9 officers and 106 enlisted men who were killed in action or mortally wounded and 1 officer and 134 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 250 fatalities.Commanders
- ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Gilbert W. Cumming - resigned on September 30, 1862. - Colonel Luther P. Bradley - promoted brigadier general on July 30, 1864.
- Lieutenant Colonel Charles W. Davis - discharged June 30, 1865.
- Lieutenant Colonel James S. Boyd - mustered out with the regiment.
See also
- List of Illinois Civil War Units
- Illinois in the American Civil WarIllinois in the American Civil WarThe state of Illinois during the American Civil War was a major source of troops for the Union army , and of military supplies, food, and clothing. Situated near major rivers and railroads, Illinois became a major jumping off place early in the war for Ulysses S...
- 51st Illinois Infantry: Letters, Diaries, History