51st Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry

Brief History
This regiment was organized at Harrisburg November 16, 1861. It mustered out July 27, 1865.

For more information on the history of this unit, see:


 * The Civil War Archive section, 51st Regiment Infantry, (accessed 19 September 2012).

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

Staff and Field Officers - See Roster

Company A - many men were recruited at Norristown, Montgomery County - See Roster

Company B - many men were recruited in Northampton County - See Roster

Company C - many men were recruited in Montgomery County - See Roster

Company D - many men were recruited at Norristown, Montgomery County - See Roster

Company E - many men were recruited at Mifflinburg, Union County  - See Roster

Company F - many men were recruited at Norristown, Montgomery County - See Roster

Company G - many men recruited in Centre County - See Roster

Company H - many men were recruited in Union, Lycoming County and Snyder County - See Roster

Company I - many men were recruited in Montgomery County - See Roster

Company K - many men were recruited in Union County and Northampton County - See Roster

Unassigned men - See Roster

The data is from Bates'.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 3,535 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in ‘Pennsylvania in the Civil War’ and ‘United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865’ (see below).


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * Pennsylvania in the Civil War describes many sources, specifically for Pennsylvania, and how to find them. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * PaRoots gives a history of this regiment and describes its organization and battles. It also has a roster of each company. Additionalreferences are given.


 * Ranger95 has a history of this regiment and lists a roster for each company. It also has images of monuments for this company.


 * Pennsylvania Volunteers of the Civil War gives a history of this regiment and has a roster for each company.


 * Bolton, William, J., and Richard Allen Sauers. The Civil War Journal of Colonel William J. Bolton 51st Pennsylvania, April 20, 1861-August 2, 1865. (New York, N.Y.: Da Capo Press, 2000). Google Books. Other Libraries.


 * Parker, Thomas H.History of the 51st Regiment of P.V. and V.V., From Its Organization, at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, Pa., in 1861, to Its Being Mustered Out of the United States Service at Alexandria, Va., July 27th, 1865. (Philadelphia: King &amp; Baird, printers, 1869) and (Washington [District of Columbia] : Library of Congress, Photoduplication Service, 1975), and (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1992), . Internet Archive.  Google Books


 * Society of the Fifty-First Regiment, Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers. Record of Proceedings of the First Annual Reunion, Held at Norristown, PA., Sept. 17, 1880. (Harrisburg, PA.: L.S. Hart, 1880). . Internet Archive. Other Libraries.