Mansfield, James M

James M Mansfield

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Significance:

Company B, 51st Illinois Infantry

Place of Birth:

Henry County, Illinois

Date of Birth:

1837

Place of Death:

Murfreesboro, TN

Date of Death:

December 31st, 1866

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, TN

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Cemetery

James M Mansfield was born in 1837 in Henry County, Illinois. He later moved to St. Joseph, Ilinois where he met his wife, Elizabeth, and had a child. On August 16th, 1862, he volunteered to serve with the Union Army in the Civil War. He was mustered into Company B of the 51st Illinois Infantry regiment on September 21st, 1862 as a private. At the battle of Stones River, the 51st Illinois was led by Roberts, Sheridan, and McCook.

On December 30th, 1862, General Roberts had his men form a position on the Wilkinson Pike. They held this position into the early morning on December 31st, 1862, the first day of the battle of Stones River. The Confederates in the area planned to sweep around the Union's right flank and collapse them from the right. Roberts and the 51st Illinois were faced head on by this swift attack early on December 31st. The regiment was hit hard and lost 57 men just in this phase of the fighting. Private Mansfield was one of those 57 to lose his life in this first day of fighting.

James M Mansfield is laid to rest in the Stones River National Cemetery in plot N-5504.