"In the meantime, the portion of the 51st which had been captured at Fort Donelson was released on parole at Vicksburg, Mississippi September 16, 1862. A report from Company "H" for July-August 1863, dated at Chattanooga, tells the story: "A part of the company was at Fort Henry; retreated to Fort Donelson; captured February 16; prisoners of war till September 16, 1862, when exchanged at Vicksburg. Then went to Holly Springs and massed into the 50th Tennessee under Colonel Sugg.
"With the army when it fell back from Coldwater, Mississippi to Abbeville, and again when it fell back thence to Grenada. From Grenada, the company went to Vicksburg, and was there during the action of December 31, 1862. On the 5th of January, the regiment to which this company was attached was ordered to Port Hudson, Louisiana, and was there during the fierce bombardment on the night of March 14, 1863. From Port Hudson, the 51st went to Shelbyville, Tennessee.
Company reports from "B", "C", "D", "F", and "H" at Holly Springs, Mississippi October 31, 1862, were signed by Captain John G. Hall of Company "G" with this notation, "This company has been consolidated with mine, and has no one of its original officers present." The report from Company "E" stated only that the company was not reorganized; and the report from Company "A" is missing. Presumably, these companies also were consolidated with the others into one company under Captain John G. Hall. This company was reported as the 51st Tennessee in Brigadier General John Gregg's Brigade, along with the 50th Tennessee Regiment until the return to Tennessee. For the composition and history of the brigade during this period, see the history of the 50th Tennessee Regiment."
John Walsh