According to Dyer's Compendium and the Ohio in the Civil War web site, the 51st OVI re-enlisted on January 1, 1864. They got the re-enlistment bonus and the 30 day furlough that came to all regiments doing so along with the "51st Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry" designation, which they were entitled to place on their colors. Sherman's army group tried very hard to get all of their regiments to re-enlist for the war with these rewards but was not entirely successful as a number of units mustered out during the Atlanta Campaign in August, 1864 and went home. Some of these troops would rejoin another regiment that did re-enlist as veteran volunteers (many of the 27th Illinois joined the 9th Illinois Veteran Volunteers for example).

As such, the 51st indeed would have been issued new colors complete with the latest of battle honors, in this case through "Missionary Ridge." This would have been the flag they carried for the rest of 1864. A check of the unit's history or records would tell us if they got another flag in 1865 that might have had "Nashville" as a battle honor in addition to any earned in the Atlanta Campaign.

As a somewhat related issue, the two flags that OHS has for the 51st OVI are examples of Cincinnati Depot flags made by local contractors Longley & Brother or the John Shillito Company, both of that city.

But this second flag with the honors was indeed the National colors they followed at Nashville. Where their regimental colors are I have no idea.

Greg Biggs