Overview
The 31st Indiana Infantry (Union) was an infantry regiment organized at Terre Haute, Indiana, and mustered into Federal service on September 15, 1861. Serving in the Western Theater, the regiment participated in many major campaigns and battles of the Civil War. The unit was known for its active service from Kentucky to Texas and for reenlisting as a veteran organization during the war.
The 31st Indiana Infantry served throughout the conflict, seeing action in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Texas. It was attached to various brigades and divisions, primarily within the Army of the Ohio and later the Army of the Cumberland.
Organization & Service
The 31st Indiana Infantry was organized at Terre Haute and mustered in on September 15, 1861. Shortly after organization, the regiment left Indiana for Kentucky, encamping at Calhoun. Its first major engagement was at Fort Donelson, where it participated in the battle and was present at the surrender, suffering casualties of 12 killed, 52 wounded, and 4 missing.
Following Fort Donelson, the regiment moved to Fort Henry and then to Pittsburg Landing, where it was actively engaged at the Battle of Shiloh, incurring further losses. The 31st Indiana was assigned to the 4th Division, Army of the Ohio, under General Nelson. It participated in the siege of Corinth and subsequently marched through Alabama and Mississippi into Tennessee, being stationed at various locations.
In July 1862, Colonel Charles Cruft was promoted to brigadier general, and Lieutenant Colonel John Osborn succeeded him. The regiment fell back to Louisville in September 1862 but returned to Nashville after Confederate forces withdrew from Kentucky. In December, the regiment moved toward Murfreesboro and fought in the Battle of Stone’s River.
After Stone’s River, the 31st Indiana was stationed at Cripple Creek, Tennessee, until June 1863, guarding a mountain pass. It then moved toward Chattanooga and fought at Chickamauga. At Bridgeport, Alabama, the regiment reenlisted as a veteran organization on January 1, 1864, and was furloughed home in February. Upon return, it was stationed at Ooltewah, Tennessee, until the start of the Atlanta Campaign, during which it served as part of the 4th Corps and participated in numerous engagements.
Following the capture of Atlanta, the regiment joined the pursuit of Hood’s army to Pulaski, Tennessee, and then participated in the Battle of Nashville in December 1864. Afterward, it pursued Hood’s forces as far as Huntsville, Alabama, and took part in a brief campaign in eastern Tennessee. The regiment remained at Nashville from April until mid-June 1865, after which it was ordered to New Orleans and then to Texas, where it was stationed at Green Lake. The 31st Indiana Infantry was mustered out of service on December 8, 1865.
Research This Regiment Further
If you’d like to explore this unit’s history in more depth, regimental histories and Civil War reference works offer valuable detail.
Engagements & Campaigns
- Fort Donelson (February 1862)
- Fort Henry
- Shiloh (April 1862)
- Siege of Corinth (April–May 1862)
- March through Alabama and Mississippi
- Retreat to Louisville (September 1862)
- Stone’s River (December 1862–January 1863)
- Cripple Creek (guard duty)
- Chickamauga (September 1863)
- Bridgeport, Alabama (reenlistment)
- Atlanta Campaign (May–September 1864)
- Pursuit of Hood to Pulaski, Tennessee
- Nashville (December 1864)
- Pursuit to Huntsville, Alabama
- Eastern Tennessee operations
- Postwar duty in Nashville, New Orleans, and Texas
Casualties
The original strength of the regiment was 1,038. Gains by recruits totaled 563, with 285 reenlistments, for a total enrollment of 1,886. The regiment lost 366 men by death. There were 76 desertions and 13 unaccounted for. At Fort Donelson, the regiment lost 12 killed, 52 wounded, and 4 missing. At Shiloh, losses were 22 killed, 110 wounded, and 10 missing. At Stone’s River, 5 were killed and 46 wounded. At Chickamauga, 4 were killed and 66 wounded.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Charles Cruft
- Colonel John Osborn
- Colonel John T. Smith
- Colonel James R. Hallowell
- Lieutenant Colonel John Osborn
- Lieutenant Colonel Charles M. Smith
- Lieutenant Colonel John T. Smith
- Lieutenant Colonel Francis L. Neff
- Lieutenant Colonel William H. Fairbanks
- Lieutenant Colonel James R. Hallowell
- Lieutenant Colonel Silas Grimes
- Major Frederick Arn
- Major Charles M. Smith
- Major Henry L. McCalla
- Major John T. Smith
- Major Francis L. Neff
- Major William H. Fairbanks
- Major James R. Hallowell
- Major Silas Grimes
- Major Craven P. Reed
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 31st Indiana Infantry, including officers and enlisted men who served during its term of service, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides details on enlistment, rank, and service records.
To view the complete roster, visit the 31st Indiana Infantry Regimental Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes 7, 10, 16, 23, 30, 38, 45
- Indiana Adjutant General’s Report
- Dyer, Frederick H. “A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion”
- Fox, William F. “Regimental Losses in the American Civil War”
- The Union Army, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Volume 3