Alabama 31st Infantry Regiment

HISTORICAL NOTES:
The Alabama 31st Infantry Regiment was organized at Talladega, Alabama, in April, 1862, and soon moved to Tennessee. It recruited its men in the counties of Cherokee, Shelby, Talladega, Randolph, Montgomery, and Calhoun. The regiment took part in the fight at Cumberland Gap and Tazewell but was not engaged when it moved into Kentucky. Ordered to Mississippi and assigned to General Tracy's Brigade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana, it fought at Chickasaw Bayou, Port Gibson, and Champion's Hill, then was captured after the long siege of Vicksburg. Exchanged and reorganized, the unit was brigaded under General Pettus and participated in many battles of the Army of Tennessee from Chattanooga to Bentonville. It was organized with over 1,000 men, had 260 effectives in January, 1863, and lost 21 killed and 37 wounded at Vicksburg. The unit reported 23 casualties at Chattanooga and in December, 1863, there were 452 present with 323 arms. Only 180 were fit for duty in January, 1865, and less than 100 surrendered in April. OFFICERS:
Colonel Daniel R. Hundley, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas M. Arrington, and Major George W. Mattison. ASSIGNMENTS:
Oct 61-Jan 62 - District of Alabama, Department of Alabama and West Florida

Jan-Feb 62 - Army of Mobile, Department of Alabama and West Florida

May-Jun 62 - Barton’s Brigade, Department of East Tennessee

Jun-Oct 62 - Reynold’s Brigade, Stevenson’s Division, Department of East Tennessee

Oct-Dec 62 - Tracy’s Brigade, McCown’s Division, Department of East Tennessee

Dec 62- Jan 63 - Tracy’s BDE, 2d Military District, Dept of Mississippi and East Louisana

Jan-Jul 63 - Tracy’s BDE, Stevenson’s Division, Dept of Mississippi and East Louisana

Nov 63 - Feb 64 - Pettus’ BDE, Stevenson’s Division, 1st Corps, Army of Tennessee

Feb 64- Apr 65 - Pettus’ BDE, Stevenson’s Division, 2d Corps, Army of Tennessee
SERVICE:
18 June 1862 - Cumberland Gap

27-29 December 1862 - Chickasaw Bayou

2-25 April 1863 - Greenville Expedition (detachment)

May-July 1863 - Vicksburg Campaign

1 May 1863 - Port Gibson

16 May 1863 - Champion Hill

May-July 1863 - Vicksburg Siege

September - November 1863 - Chattanooga Siege

23-25 November 1863 - Chattanooga

May - September 1864 - Atlanta Campaign

5-11 May 1864 - Rocky Face Ridge

25 May - 4 June 1864 - New Hope Church

27 June 1864 - Kennesaw mountain

22 July 1864 - Atlanta

July - September 1864 - Atlanta Siege

31 August - 1 September 1864 - Jonesboro

February - April 1865 - Carolinas Campaign

7-10 March 1865 - Kinston

19-21 March 1865 - Bentonville
ROSTER:
The roster of this regiment contains the names of 2553 men.

• Co. "A" (Cherokee County; some of company paroled as of Co. "K", 23rd AL Infantry, Consolidated): Isaac P. Moragne (resigned, 13 Aug 62); Henry W. Pickens (resigned, 30 March 63); W. L. Hughes (wounded, Jonesboro)
• Co. "B" (Talladega County; also called Co. "A"; company paroled as part of Co. "K", 23rd AL Infantry, Consolidated): William S. Chapman (resigned, 26 Sept 62); Robert A. Hardie (resigned, 12 Dec 63); William H. Hancock (transferred); William J. Rhodes (wounded, Kinston, Bentonville)
• Co. "C" (Cherokee County; also called Co. "B"): Marshal J. Alexander (resigned, 28 Aug 62); Joseph J. Nix (wounded, Champion's Hill, Jonesboro; captured, Champion's Hill; resigned, 26 April 63 and March 65)
• Co. "D" (Calhoun County; evidently became Co. "G", 23rd AL Infantry): E. T. Thompson; (dropped from rolls, 2 June 64); John Rose (paroled as Capt., Co. "G", 23rd AL Infantry)
• Co. "E" (Talladega County; also called Co. "D"): Archibald Carter (resigned, 27 Aug 62); G. W. Watts (resigned, 19 Nov 63); Frank M. Shouse
• Co. "F" (Talladega County; also called Co. "E"): Robert M. McKibbin
• Co. "G" (Shelby County; also called Co. "K"; mustered 22 March 62 as Cobb's Co., Frazer's 23rd AL Infantry, and on 4 May 62 as Cobb's Co., Hundley's 31st AL Infantry): James Cobb (resigned, 2 Sept 62); William H. Shelby (resigned, 21 Nov 63); Robert B. Pruitt
• Co. "H" (Randolph County): Augustus A. West (resigned, 27 Aug 62); Andrew J. Reeves (resigned); James L. Williams (captured, Missionary Ridge)
• Co. "I" (Montgomery County): John M. Shields (resigned, 10 Sept 62); Thomas M. Arrington (promoted); L. W. Vick
• Co. "K" (Shelby County; some of the company finally paroled as Co. "H", 23rd AL Infantry, Consolidated): Norman P. Reeves (appointed, surgeon); John W. Pitts (resigned, 10 Nov 62); Samuel W. Morgan (dropped from rolls, 17 June 64); J. T. McClanahan
SOURCE:
Brewer, William Brief Historical Sketches of Military Organizations Raised in Alabama During the Civil War
BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Rigdon, John C. A Guide to Alabama Civil War Research, Cartersville, GA: Eastern Digital Resources, 2011.