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Thirty-first regiment Massachusetts Infantry.
Col. Oliver P. Gooding,
Bvt. Maj. Gen. U. S. Vols.
| Field and Staff. | Line. | companies. | Unassigned Recruits. | Totals. |
| | | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | K |
| Number on regimental rolls,— |
| Officers, | 15 | 38 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 53 |
| Enlisted men,1 | 14 | – | 146 | 137 | 137 | 135 | 137 | 126 | 107 | 123 | 129 | 146 | 6 | 1,343 |
| Totals, | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,396 |
| Enlisted men (included above) commissioned in regiment.2 | 4 | – | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | – | 19 |
| Enlisted men (included above) serving elsewhere within regiment. | – | – | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 12 |
| Totals, | 4 | – | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | – | 31 |
| Actual total of members of regiment,— |
| Officers, | 15 | 38 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 53 |
| Enlisted men,3 | 10 | – | 143 | 134 | 134 | 128 | 135 | 125 | 106 | 121 | 126 | 144 | 6 | 1,312 |
| Totals, | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,365 |
The 31st Mass. Infantry, under the name of the
Western Bay State Regiment, was raised in the
autumn and
winter of 1861-62 by
General Butler, was in camp at
Pittsfield, Mass., and moved in February to Camp Chase,
Lowell.
It left the
State February 21 to join the Department of the Gulf, under command of
Col. Oliver P. Gooding, a graduate of
West Point, and first lieutenant 10th U. S. Infantry.
General Butler and his staff embarked at
Fortress Monroe on the ‘
Mississippi,’ which carried the regiment to
Ship Island, where they landed March 23, having been delayed by storms and accident on the passage.
Soon after the arrival of the regiment its designation was changed to the 31st Mass. Infantry.
Assigned to
General Williams's Brigade, it took part in the operations against New Orleans, was the first regiment to enter the city after the surrender, and was stationed on provost and guard duty in the city and at the forts in the vicinity during the
summer and
autumn.
On the organization of the 19th Army Corps, in January, 1863, seven companies of the regiment, under command of
Lieutenant-Colonel Hopkins, became part of the 3d Brigade, 3d Division, with
Colonel Gooding as brigade commander, the three remaining companies having been stationed at
Fort Pike.
The main body of the regiment joining the forces at
Baton Rouge March 6, took part on the 14th in the advance made to assist the naval forces in passing
Port Hudson.
It joined in the
Teche expedition, being engaged at
Fort Bisland April 13, and took up its position before
Port Hudson May 23, sharing in the engagements of May 25, 27 and June 14, and was active during the siege.
After the surrender on July 9 it moved as part of
Weitzel's forces to
Donaldsonville.
In December, joined by the companies at
Fort Pike, it was armed and equipped as cavalry and stationed at
Carrollton, being familiarly known as the 6th Mass. Cavalry.
It took part in the
Red River campaign, and was engaged with loss at Sabine Cross Roads, April 8, 1864, under command of
Captain Nettleton.
Many of the regiment had re-enlisted during the winter, and embarked July 21 for their furlough in
Massachusetts, returning September 19, those not re-enlisted having remained during their absence on guard duty at New Orleans, under
Captain Morse.
The regiment, still serving as cavalry, was stationed at
Donaldsonville in November, two companies being detached at
Plaquemine.
In February the regiment was organized as a battalion of five companies, those whose term of service had expired having been mustered out, and, joined by the detachment at
Plaquemine, took part with
Lieutenant-Colonel Nettleton in the operations against
Mobile, Ala., and occupied the city after the surrender until the close of its service.
It was mustered out Sept. 9, 1865, and received its final discharge and payment at
Gallop's Island,
Boston harbor, Sept. 30, 1865.
