The 31st Massachusetts Infantry Regiment
(aka Western Bay State Regiment)
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Unit History
The 31st Regt. Mass. Vol. Inf. was raised by Gen. Butler in the fall of 1861 and early part of the winter following. It was first known as the Western Bay State Regiment. It was organized at Camp Seward, Pittsfield, and its members were mustered into service mostly during November and December. A contention having arisen between Governor Andrew and Gen. Butler over the latter's authority to raise troops in Massachusetts, the 31st was at first in charge of Acting Lieut. Col. Charles M. Whelden of Pittsfield. About Feb. 1, 1862, the regiment was transferred to Camp Chase, Lowell, and on the 20th it embarked for the seat of war. After delays at Fort Monroe and Port Royal, on March 23 it reached Ship Island in the Gulf of Mexico. The questions in dispute between Governor Andrew and Gen. Butler having been settled, Oliver P. Gooding, formerly first lieutenant in the 10th U. S. Inf., was commissioned colonel to date from Feb. 8, and most of the other field and staff and line officers were commissioned to date from Feb. 20. The regiment was now officially known as the 31st Mass., and was assigned to Gen, Thomas Williams' (2d) Brigade.
After the fall of Forts Jackson and St. Philip it was sent to New Orleans where it was the first regiment to land. During the summer and fall it did guard and provost duty at New Orleans and the forts. With the organization of the 19th Corps in January, 1863, seven companies of the 31st became a part of the 3d Brigade, 3d Division, the three other companies being stationed at Fort Pike. The main body of the regiment now joined the forces at Baton Rouge and in the middle of March cooperated with the fleet in its passage of the batteries at Port Hudson.
It now proceeded to Algiers and joined the Teche expedition, Col. Gooding being in command of the brigade. It was engaged with loss at Fort Bisland, April 13, then advanced through Opelousas to Alexandria on the Red River. Returning thence via Simsport and Bayou Sara to Port Hudson it was present during the siege, losing 64 men mostly in the assault of the 14th of June, 18 being killed or mortally wounded. After the formal surrender, July 9, it accompanied Gen. Weitzel's expedition to Donaldsonville, returning to Baton Rouge, Sept. 2. On the 9th it was rejoined by the three companies from Fort Pike, and now became a part of the 2d Brigade, I at Division.
In December, 1863, the 31st was armed and equipped as cavalry and stationed at Carrollton, being commonly known as the 6th Mass. Cav. During the winter 330 men re-enlisted and were re-mustered Feb. 23. The regiment now formed a part of the 4th Cavalry Brigade under Col. N. A. M. Dudley.
Feb. 9, 1864, it crossed the Mississippi to Algiers and proceeded up the Mississippi to Donaldsonville, thence via La Fourche Bayou to Thibodeau. Turning west and northwest it followed its old route of April and May, 1862, through Opelousas to Alexandria on the Red River, reaching the latter place March 20. Advancing from here up the Red River toward Shreveport, on April 8 it met the enemy at Sabine Cross Roads above Natch- itoches, where the main Union force was defeated, the 31st losing 62, of whom 11 were killed or mortally wounded.
Retreating southward it was engaged with low at Cane River, Hudnot's Plantation, Moore's Plantation, and elsewhere in the neighborhood of Alexandria. Diverging toward Simsport it was engaged at Yellow Bayou just north of that city May 18, losing 32 men of whom nearly half were killed or mortally wounded.
Arriving at Simsport on the 19th, three days later the regiment reached Morganzia on the Mississippi. On July 3 the regiment returned to Algiers, the re- enlisted men proceeding thence to Cairo and homeward to Massachusetts on veteran furloughs, starting from Algiers July 21, and returning September 19. Before leaving for home they turned in their horses, but on their return they were again equipped as cavalry. They were then stationed opposite Donaldsonville to keep down the guerrilla bands, and were later engaged in the operations against Mobile, Ala., occupying that city after its surrender until the close of the regiment's service.
It was mustered out Sept. 9, 1865, transported to New Orleans, and from there sent to Massachusetts. Boston Harbor was reached Sept. 24, and on the 30th the regiment, since February only a battalion of five companies, was paid off and discharged.
Regiment lost during service 52 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 150 Enlisted men by disease. Total 205.
Assignments
SERVICE.--Operations against Forts St. Phillip and Jackson, Mississippi River, April 18-28, 1862. Moved to New Orleans April 29-30. Occupation of New Orleans May 1. (The first Union Regiment to enter city.) Provost duty at New Orleans until August. Garrison duty at Forts St. Phillip and Jackson until January, 1863. (3 Cos. at Fort Pike until September, 1863. Rejoined Regiment September 9.) Skirmish at Bayou Bontecou November 21, 1862, and Deserted Station December 10. Moved to Carrollton January, 1863, and duty there until March 6. Moved to Baton Rouge March 6-7. Expedition to Port Hudson March 7-27. Moved to Algiers April 1, thence to Berwick City April 9. Operations in Western Louisiana April 9-May 14. Teche Campaign April 11-20. Fort Bisland April 12-13. March from Opelousas to Alexandria and Simsport May 5-18. Moved to Bayou Sara, thence to Port Hudson May 22-25. Siege of Port Hudson May 25-July 9. Skirmish at Thompson's Creek May 25 (Detachment). Assaults on Port Hudson May 27 and June 14. Expedition to Clinton June 3-8. Surrender of Port Hudson July 9. Moved to Baton Rouge July 11, thence to Donaldsonville July 15-August 1. Moved to Baton Rouge September 1 and duty there until December 9. Moved to New Orleans December 9 and there converted into a Cavalry Regiment known as 6th Massachusetts Cavalry. Bonfonca November 26. Duty at Carrollton until February 29, 1864. March to Berwick Bay and Brashear City February 29-March 9. Red River Campaign March 10-May 22. Advance to Alexandria March 11-26. Bayou Rapides March 20. Monett's Ferry and Cloutiersville March 29-30. Natchitoches March 31. Crump's Hill, Piney Woods, April 2. Wilson's Farm April 7. Bayou de Paul, Carroll's Mill and Sabine Cross Roads April 8. Pleasant Hill April 9. Monett's Bluff, Cane River Crossing, April 23. Hudnot's Plantation May 1. Near Alexandria May 2-9. Retreat to Morganza May 13-20. Near Alexandria May 14. Mansura May 16. Near Moreauville May 17. Yellow Bayou May 18. At Morganza until July 3. Expedition to the Atchafalaya May 30-June 6. Expedition to Tunica Bend June 19-21. Moved to New Orleans July 3. Veterans absent on furlough July 21 to September 19. Non-Veterans guard prisoners at New Orleans until September--. Duty in Defenses of New Orleans until March, 1865. Non-Veterans mustered out November 19, 1864. Ordered to Donaldsonville November 27, and operating against guerrillas until February, 1865. Operations near Hermitage Plantation December 14, 1864, to January 5, 1865. Expedition from Plaquemine to the Park January 26 to February 4 (Detachment). Skirmish at the Park February 4 (Detachment). Consolidated to a Battalion of five Companies. Ordered to Carrollton February 9, 1865; thence moved to Barrancas, Fla., March 6-9. March to Fort Blakely, Mobile Bay, March 20-April 1. Siege of Fort Blakely April 1-9. Occupation of Mobile April 12 and duty there until September. Mustered out September 9, 1865. Moved to Boston September 11-24, and discharged September 30, 1865.
