OHIO THIRTY-FIRST INFANTRY (Three Years)

Thirty-first Infantry. Col., Moses B. Walker , Lieut.Cols., Cyrus W. Grant, Frederick W. Lister, Milton B. W. Harmon; Majs., Samuel L. Leffingwell, John W. Free. This regiment was organized at Columbus, in Aug. and Sept., 1861, to serve for three years. It left the state on Sept. 30 and on Oct. 2 reached Camp Dick Robinson, Ky., where a regular course of drill began which rendered the regiment more efficient. It became attached to Buell's army and was in the advance toward Corinth, during which it was engaged frequently in skirmishing with the Confederates. It participated in the siege and was engaged at times quite warmly. In July the regiment was divided into detachments, two companies being sent to Decatur and one to Trinity. The latter detachment, consisting of 28 men, was attacked by a force of some 200 or 300 mounted Confederates. The attack was repulsed, but one-half of the detachment was killed or wounded. Participating in the march to Louisville the regiment was under fire at the battle of Perryville, but was not actively engaged. It was actively engaged, however, at the battle of Stone's river, where it acquitted itself nobly. The regiment then enjoyed a few months, rest and in June it started on the Tullahoma campaign. It was engaged at Hoover's gap and, in connection with the 17th Ohio, carried a position defended by two Confederate brigades. The regiment was engaged on both days at Chickamauga and suffered severely. Its next engagement was Brown's ferry and then followed Missionary ridge, where it was among the foremost regiments to bear the loyal standard into the enemy's works. About this time the regiment re-enlisted, received a furlough of 30 days, and in the following spring it marched on the Atlanta campaign. It was engaged in an assault on the enemy's line in front of Resaca and lost heavily. It participated in all the important engagements of the campaign except the battle of Jonesboro, then moved with Sherman's army to the sea, thence up through the Carolinas, and was mustered out on July 20, 1865.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 2

Ohio 31st Volunteer Infantry (Union)

Related Records