51st North Carolina Infantry Regiment

Confederate Regiments & Batteries * North Carolina

1862
April 13 The 51st North Carolina Infantry Regiment was organized at Wilmington under the command of Colonel John L. Cantwell, Lieutenant Colonel William A. Allen and Major Hector McKethan.

Company A – New Hanover County – Captain Edward Southerland
Company B – “Warsaw Sapsons” – Duplin County and Sampson County – Captain Caleb B. Hobson
Company C – “Duplin Stars” – Duplin County – Captain James Robinson
Company D – “Scotch Tigers” – Robeson County – Captain Robert J. McEachern
Company E – “Clay Valley Rangers” – Robeson County – Captain Willis H. Pope
Company F – “Ashpole True Boys” – Robeson County – Captain W.S. Norment
Company G – Columbus, Duplin and Brunswick Counties – Captain James W. Lippett
Company H – “Columbus Light Infantry” – Columbus County – Captain Samuel W. Maultsby
Company I – Cumberland and Sampson Counties – Captain George Sloan
Company K – “Confederate Stars” – Sampson County – Captain Joseph B. Underwood
September-October Assigned to District of North Carolina, French’s Command, Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia.
August 23 Captain Alfred B. Walter of Company F resigned due to disability caused by dysentery. He was replaced by Captain William S. Norment.
November Assigned to Clingman’s Brigade, French’s Command, Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia.
December-February Assigned to Clingman’s Brigade, District of Cape Fear, French’s Command, Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia.
December 17
Goldsborough Bridge
1863
January 19 Colonel Allen resigned, and Major Hector McKethan was promoted to colonel.

Colonel Hector McKethan
February-March Moved to Charleston, South Carolina and was assigned to Clingman’s Brigade, 1st Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
March Assigned to Clingman’s Brigade, Military District of Georgia, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
March-May Assigned to Clingman’s Brigade, 1st Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
April 9 Captain Caleb B. Hobson of Company B was promoted to leutenant colonel. Captain James MacDonald of Company I was promoted to major and First Lieutenant W.R. Bell was promoted to Captain of Company B.
May-July Assigned to Clingman’s Brigade, Department of North Carolina
July-August Assigned to 1st Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
July 18
Battery Wagner

The regiment lost 16 men killed and 52 wounded.
August-November Assigned to Clingman’s Brigade, 1st Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. The regiment mustered 374 men in August.
December-May Assigned to Clingman’s Brigade, Department of North Carolina
1864
January 28 –
February 10
New Bern Expedition
February 1
Batchelder’s Creek
April 17-20
Plymouth
May-October The regiment was recruited up to 1,100 men. Assigned to Clingman’s Brigade, Hoke’s Division, Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia.
May 9
Swift Creek
May 16
Drewry’s Bluff

The regiment lost 160 casualties. Captain William F. Murphey of Company K was captured.
June 1-3
Battle of Cold Harbor

The regiment lost 194 casualties. Second Lieutenant Gilbert Higley of Compan F was wounded and captured. Captain George Sloan of Company I was captured.
June
Siege of Petersburg
June 15-18
First Assault on Petersburg

Colonel Hector McKethan was wounded. Captain Robert J. McEachern of Comany D was killed. First Lieutenant John D. Malloy was promoted to captain of Company D.
August 18-21
Globe Tavern
September 29-30
Fort Harrison

The regiment lost 104 casualties. Lieutenant Colonel Hobson was killed. Captain Norment of Company F was wounded in the leg and Captain A.J. Ashley of Company E was mortally wounded.
October-December Assigned to Clingman’s Brigade, Hoke’s Division, 4th Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. The regiment mustered only 145 men present for duty.
December-March Assigned to Clingman’s Brigade, Hoke’s Division, Department of North Carolina
1865
January 13-15
Second Battle of Fort Fisher
March-April Assigned to Clingman’s Brigade, Hoke’s Division, Hardee’s Corps
March 19-21
Battle of Bentonville

The regiment was not engaged
April Assigned to Clingman’s Brigade, Hoke’s Division, 1st Corps, Army of Tennessee
April 26
Durham Station

Only a small number of men were still with the regiment to surrender with Johnston’s army.