John C Rigdon

Historical Sketch and Roster of the Tennessee 51st and 52nd Infantry Regiments Consolidated John C Rigdon

The 51st Regiment, Tennessee Infantry was organized at Henderson Station, Tennessee, in January, 1862. The 52nd was also organized at the same time with men from Tipton, Fayette, Shelby, Madison, and Jackson counties. A detachment of the 52nd was captured at Fort Donelson, then in October it was active in the fight at Perryville. Later the unit was assigned to D. S. Donelson's, M. J. Wright's, Vaughan's, and Palmer's Brigade. During April, 1862, it was consolidated with the 52nd Regiment and called the 51st Consolidated. However, the consolidation was declared illegal and during April, 1863, it was reorganized as the 51st and 52nd Consolidated Regiment and each unit kept separate records. It participated in many battles of the Army of Tennessee from Murfreesboro to Atlanta, returned to Tennessee with Hood, and was involved in the North Carolina Campaign. The 51st Consolidated lost 9 killed and 25 wounded at Perryville and thirty percent of the 290 engaged at Murfreesboro. The 51st/52nd reported fifty percent casualties of the 232 at Chickamauga and in December, 1863 totalled 213 men and 134 arms. Very few were included in the surrender on April 26, 1865. Company A - Captain N. A. Wesson - A consolidation of "A" and "B," 52nd Regiment. Company B - Captain J. A. Russell - A consolidation of "B" and "K," 52nd Regiment. Company C - Captains Andrew N. Wilson, James F. Franklin. Later cavalry commanders. A consolidation of "C' and "F," 52nd Regiment. Company D - Captains S. D. Barnett, William H. Brown - A consolidation of "H" and "I" of 51st Regiment. Company E - Captain John W. Estes - A consolidation of "H" and "I" of 52nd Regiment. Company F - Captain J. C. Hudson - A consolidation of "D" and "F" of 51st Regiment. Company G - Captian S. E. Sherrill - A consolidation of "H" and "K" of 51st Regiment. Company H - Captain Thomas C. Campbell - A consolidation of "A," "B" and "G," 51st Regiment. Company I - Captain O. D. Weaver - A consolidation of "C" and "E" of 51st Regiment. Company K - Captains J/G. Thomason - a consolidation of "E" and "G" of the 52nd Regiment.