During its existence, the 51st North Carolina had 23 different captains commanding its ten companies. Lieutenants frequently commanded companies during captains’ absences, but as long as captains remained on the regimental rolls, the subalterns could not be promoted. The captains are listed below in order of seniority.
George Fennel Walker, Co. A, DOR: 6 Feb.1862; resigned 21 May 1863; succeeded by Edward Southerland. (Click HERE for a short bio)
Caleb Bond Hobson, Co. B, DOR: 10 Feb. 1862; promoted to Lt. Col. on 9 Apr. 1863; succeeded by Walter Bell. KIA at Fort Harrison on 30 Sep. 1864.
William Anderson Allen, Co. C, DOR: 11 Feb. 1862; promoted to Lt. Col. on 30 Apr. 1862; succeeded by Samuel Stanford. Resigned 19 Jan. 1863; later served as a major in the Home Guards.
James R. McDonald, Co. D, DOR: 22 Feb. 1862; promoted to Major on 9 Apr. 1863; succeeded by Robert McEachern. Captured at Cold Harbor on 1 Jun. 1864; one of the Immortal 600.
Willis P. Moore, Co. E, DOR: 28 Feb. 1862; resigned 9 Dec. 1862; succeeded by Willis Pope.
Joseph Boykin Underwood, Co K, DOR: 3 Mar. 1862; resigned 7 Sep. 1863; succeeded by William Murphy.
Alfred Bethea Walter, Co. F, DOR: 10 Mar. 1862; resigned 23 Aug. 1862; succeeded by William Norment.
James Wright Lippitt, Co. G, DOR: 14 Mar. 1864; assigned as acting commander of regiment on 30 Sep. 1864.
John R. Kelly, Co. H, DOR: 17 Mar. 1862; resigned 16 Sep. 1862; succeeded by Samuel Maultsby.
Hector McAllister McKethan, Co. I, DOR: 19 Mar. 1862; promoted to Major on 30 Apr. 1862; succeeded by George Sloan. Promoted to Colonel on 19 Jan. 1863.
Samuel McGee Stanford, Co. C, 30 Apr. 1862; resigned 19 Sep 1864; succeeded by Edward Watson.
George Sloan, Co. I, DOR: 30 Apr 1862; captured at Cold Harbor on 1 Jun. 1864; one of the Immortal 600.
William Stokes Norment, Co. F, DOR: 11 Sep. 1862; wounded at Ft. Harrison 30 Sep. 1864; did not return to duty.
Samuel White Maultsby, Co. H, DOR: 16 Sep. 1862; wounded at Drewry’s Bluff 16 May 1864; absent six months.
Willis Henry Pope, Co. E, DOR: 11 Dec. 1862; KIA at Drewry’s Bluff on 16 May 1864; succeeded by Andrew Ashley.
Walter Raleigh Bell, Co. B, DOR: 9 Apr. 1863; wounded at Cold Harbor 31 May 1864; retired 4 Nov. 1864; succeeded by Thomas Herring.
Robert James McEachern, Co. D, DOR: 9 Apr. 1863; wounded at Cold Harbor and died 21 Jun. 1864; succeeded by John Malloy.
Edward Southerland, Co. A, DOR: 30 May 1863; wounded at Battery Wagner 18 Jul. 1863; absent for three months.
William Faison Murphy, Co. K, DOR: 17 Sep. 1863; captured at Drewry’s Bluff 16 May 1864; one of the Immortal 600.
Andrew Jackson Ashley, Co. E, DOR: 18 May 1864; wounded 1 Jul. 1864; died two months later.
John Douglas Malloy, Co. D, DOR: 18 Jun. 1864; promoted while a POW; one of the Immortal 600.
Edward L. Watson, Co. C, DOR: 19 Sep. 1864; paroled at Greensboro.
Thomas James Herring, Co. B, DOR: 4 Nov. 1864; paroled at Greensboro.
Copyright © 2021 – 2026 by Kirk Ward. All rights reserved.