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31st USCT Infantry

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Muster In: Organized at Hart’s Island, N.Y., April 29, 1864.1
Muster Out: Mustered out November 7, 1865.2

Commander(s):
Colonel Henry C. Ward (of the 41st USCT)
Commander Image

Lieutenant Colonel William E. W. Ross
Commander Image

Major Thomas Wright
Commander Image

Captain Charles Robinson
Commander Image

Captain Adgate L. Loomis
AdgateLLoomis31stUSCT3

Commander 6
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Fourth Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army4,5

Second Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Fourth Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army8,9

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Fourth Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army13,14

  • Commander:
    • Lieutenant Colonel William E. W. Ross (July 30, 1864)(wounded on July 30, 1864)15,16
    • Captain Thomas Wright (July 30 & 31, 1864)(wounded on July 30, 1864)17,18,19
    • Captain Charles Robinson (July 30, 1864)(missing, prisoner on July 30, 1864)20,21
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Fourth Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army22

  • Commander: Captain Adgate L. Loomis (August 31, 1864)23
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 31st USCT had only six (6) companies at this time.24

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Third Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army25

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Third Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army26,27

  • Commander: Major Thomas Wright (October 31, 1864)28
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle:

Second Brigade | Third Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army (November 1-December 3, 1864?)29

Third Brigade | Second Division | XXV Corps | Army of the James | Union Army (December 3-31, 1864)30

  • Commander: Major Thomas Wright (December 31, 1864)31
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: On December 3, 1864, the X Corps and XVIII Corps of the Army of the James were reorganized into the XXIV Corps and the XXV Corps.
  • Note: This regiment and the other USCT regiments which made up the Third Division, Ninth Corps, Army of the Potomac were transferred from the Army of the Potomac to the Army of the James in late November or early December 1864. (Need source)

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | Second Division | XXV Corps | Army of the James | Union Army32,33

  • Commander: Colonel Henry C. Ward (January 31 & February 28, 1865)34,35
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | Second Division | XXV Corps | Army of the James | Union Army36,37

  • Commander: Colonel Henry C. Ward (March 31, 1865)38
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles39:

  • Before Petersburg June 15-19.
  • Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
  • Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864.
  • Weldon Railroad August 18-21.
  • Fort Sedgwick September 28.
  • Hatcher’s Run October 27-28.
  • On the Bermuda front until March, 1865.
  • Moved to Hatcher’s Run March 26-28.
  • Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
  • Hatcher’s Run March 29-31.
  • Fall of Petersburg April 2.
  • Pursuit of Lee April 3-9.
  • Appomattox Court House April 9.
  • Surrender of Lee and his army.

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

    Sources:

    1. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    2. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    3. This image of Adgate L. Loomis was made available through the generosity of his great-granddaughter Lucia Yaroch.  This image is owned by Ms. Yaroch and may not be reproduced without her express written consent.  All rights reserved. ↩
    4. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 231 ↩
    5. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 550 ↩
    6. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 31stUnited States Colored Troops Entry, Page 94; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. ↩
    7. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 31st United States Colored Troops Entry, Page 94; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. ↩
    8. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 231 ↩
    9. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 550 ↩
    10. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 550 ↩
    11. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 31stUnited States Colored Troops Entry, Page 94; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. ↩
    12. Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 31st United States Colored Troops Entry, Page 94; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. ↩
    13. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 261 ↩
    14. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 735 ↩
    15. “The Colored Troops at Petersburg.” New York Evening Post. August 16, 1864, p. ? col. ?: “At this time our Lieutenant-Colonel (Mr. E. W. Ross) fell, shot through the left leg, bravely leading the men.  I immediately assumed command, but only to hold it a few minutes, when I fell, struck by a piece of shell in the side.” ↩
    16. Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of Connecticut, for the Year Ending March 31, 1866 (Hartford, CT: A. N. Clark & Co., State Printers, 1866), pp. 224-225 ↩
    17. “The Colored Troops at Petersburg.” New York Evening Post. August 16, 1864, p. ? col. ?: The author of this private letter, unnamed, commanded the regiment after Ross fell.  He had to be either the regiment’s Major or a Captain with seniroity over Captain Robinson.  A report sent into the Connecticut Adjutant General proves clearly that the author of the letter in this newspaper article was Captain (later Major) Thomas Wright. ↩
    18. Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of Connecticut, for the Year Ending March 31, 1866 (Hartford, CT: A. N. Clark & Co., State Printers, 1866), pp. 224-225 ↩
    19. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 735 ↩
    20. “The Colored Troops at Petersburg.” New York Evening Post. August 16, 1864, p. ? col. ?: “Captain Robinson, from Connecticut, then took command, and from all we can learn he was killed.” ↩
    21. Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of Connecticut, for the Year Ending March 31, 1866 (Hartford, CT: A. N. Clark & Co., State Printers, 1866), pp. 224-225: Major Thomas Wright’s official report lists Robinson as missing and a prisoner of war. ↩
    22. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 617: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
    23. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 617: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
    24. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 617: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
    25. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1301. ↩
    26. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 463: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
    27. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 159: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864” ↩
    28. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 463: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
    29. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    30. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1126: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    31. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1126: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    32. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 337: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    33. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 750: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    34. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 337: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    35. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 750: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    36. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 580: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    37. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 596: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865” ↩
    38. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 580: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    39. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩

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