United States Regiments & Batteries > New York


“Baxter’s Light Guard”

“Montezuma Regiment”

The 31st New York Infantry Regiment lost 6 officers and 62 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 1 officer and 29 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War.

1861
Organized at New York City
May 24 The 31st New York Infantry Regiment was mustered in for two years Federal service under Colonel Calvin E. Pratt, Lieutenant Colonel William H. Brown and Major Addison Dougherty
June 24 Left State for Washington, D.C. Attached to Davies’ Brigade, Miles’ Division, McDowell’s Army of Northeast Virginia
July 14 Reconnaissance from Alexandria on Fairfax Road
July 16-21 Advance on Manassas, Va.
July 21

Battle of Bull Run (Manassas)

August Attached to Franklin’s Brigade, Division of the Potomac and duty in the Defenses of Washington
October Attached to Newton’s Brigade, Franklin’s Division, Army of the Potomac
October 3 Skirmish at Springfield Station
December 24-25 Scout to Fairfax Court House (Co. “E”)
1862
February 15 Major Dougherty was discharged
March 1 Captain Alexander Raszewski of Company C was promoted to major
March 10-15 Advance on Manassas, Virginia
March 15 Attached to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
April 4-12 McDowell’s advance on Falmouth, Va. Attached to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Department of the Rappahannock
April 22

Peninsula Campaign

Ordered to the Virginia Peninsula

April 24-May 4

Siege of Yorktown (on transports)

May 7-8

West Point

The regiment lost Captain August Heiss, Lieutenant Frederic Pross and 19 enlisted men killed, Lieutenants Horatio G. Babcock and Charles E. Klein and 3 enlisted men mortally wounded, 2 officers and 28 men wounded, and 27 men missing.

May Attached to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Corps, Army of the Potomac
June 25-July 1

Seven days before Richmond

June 27

Gaines’ Mill

The regiment charged and drove the Confederates back 700 yards, fighting until its anmunition was gone before being withdrawn. It lost Captain Henry Witthack and 20 men killed, 5 enlsted men mortally wounded, Colonel Pratt, 3 other officers and 78 enlisted men were wounded, and 26 men missing.

June 30

White Oak Swamp, Charles City Cross Roads, and Glendale

July 1

Malvern Hill

July At Harrison’s Landing
July 6 Lieutenant Colonel Brown resigned to become colonel of the 36th New York Infantry. Captain Leopold C. Newman of Company B was promoted to lieutenant colonel
August 16-28 Movement to Fortress Monroe, then to Centreville
August 28-31 In works at Centreville
September 1 Covered Pope’s retreat to Fairfax Court House
September 6-22

Maryland Campaign

September 10 Colonel Pratt was promoted to brigadier general
Sepatember 13 Lieutenant Colonel Francis Pinto of the 32nd New York Infantry took command of the 31st
September 14

Crampton’s Gap, South Mountain

The regiment lost 1 enlisted men killed and 5 wounded while capturing 130 Confederates. As the 32nd New York lost both its colonel and major, Lieutenant Colonel Pinto assumed joint command of the 31st and 32nd as the sole remaining field officer from either regiment.

September 16-17

Battle of Antietam

The 31st New York Infantry Regiment lost 1 officer and 2 enlisted men wounded

September Duty in Maryland
October 23 Lieutenant Colonel Pinto was promoted to colonel of the 32nd New York
October 4 Captain Robert R. Daniel of Company A was promoted to major
October 29-November 19 Movement to Falmouth, Va.
November 25 Adjutant Frank Jones was promoted to colonel with rank from September 13
December 12-15

Battle of Fredericksburg

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man wounded

1863
January 20-24 “Mud March”
January 26 At Falmouth attached to Light Division, 6th Army Corps
April 13 Major Daniel died of disease on leave in New York City
April 27

Chancellorsville Campaign

April 29-May 2

Operations about Franklin’s Crossing

The regiment lost 1 enlisted man killed and 9 wounded

May 3

Maryes Heights, Second Fredericksburg

The regiment lost Lieutenant John Jewsbury and 11 men killed, 5 enlisted men mortally wounded, Captain John Sloan, 1 other officer and 37 men wounded, and 6 officers and 81 men missing. While Colonel Thomas Jones commanded the brigade, Lieut.-Colonel Leopold C. Newman led the regiment and was wounded in the foot, resulting in its amputation and his resulting death.

May 3-4

Salem Church, Banks’ Ford

The regiment lost 1 officer and 16 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, Lieutenant Colonel Brown, 1 other officer and 37 enlisted men wounded, and 6 officers and 81 enlisted men (Companies A, C and F) surprised, cut off and captured in a rear guard action at Bank’s Ford

May Attached to 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Army Corps
May 9 Captain John B. Sloan of Company H was promoted to major with rank from April 13
June 4 The 31st New York Infantry Regiment mustered out at the expiration of irs term of enlistment, under the command of Colonel Jones, Lieutenant Colonel Newman and Major Sloan. Three years’ men were transferred to 121st Regiment New York Infantry.