Thirty-first Indiana Infantry. — Cols., Charles Cruft, John Osborn, John T. Smith, James R. Hallowell; Lieut. -Cols., John Osborn, Charles M. Smith, John T. Smith, Francis L. Neff, William H. Fairbanks, James R. Hallowell, Silas Grimes; Majs., Frederick Arn, Charles M. Smith, Henry L. McCalla, John T. Smith, Francis L. Neff, William H. Fairbanks, James R. Hallowell, Silas Grimes, Craven P. Reed. This regiment was organized at Terre Haute and was mustered in Sept. 15, 1861. It left the state the following week, went into camp at Calhoun, Ky. , and from there proceeded to Fort Donelson, where it participated in the battle and was present at the surrender losing 12 killed, 52 wounded and 4 missing. It moved to Fort Henry, thence to Pittsburg landing and was actively engaged at Shiloh, losing 22 killed, 110 wounded and 10 missing. It was assigned to the 4th division, Army of Ohio, in command of Gen. Nelson. It was in the siege of Corinth and at its conclusion joined the march through Alabama and Mississippi into Tennessee, being stationed at various places. Col. Cruft was appointed brigadier- general on July 16, and Lieut. -Col. Osborn was made his successor. The regiment fell back to Louisville in September, but returned to Nashville when Bragg was driven from Kentucky. It moved in December for Murfreesboro and participated in the three days' battle at Stone's river, losing 5 killed and 46 wounded. It was then at Cripple creek until June, guarding a mountain pass, then moved toward Chattanooga and participated in the battle of Chickamauga, where it lost 4 killed and 66 wounded. At Bridgeport, Ala., it reenlisted as a veteran organization, Jan. 1, 1865, and was furloughed home in February. It was stationed at Ooltewah, Tenn., until the beginning of the Atlanta campaign, when, as part of the 4th corps, it participated in the various skirmishes and battles attending that movement. After the capture of Atlanta the regiment joined in pursuit of Hood's army to Pulaski, Tenn., proceeding from there to Nashville, where it took part in the battle in December, afterward pursuing Hood's army as far as Huntsville, Ala. It was in a brief campaign in eastern Tennessee, and then was at Nashville from April until the middle of June, 1865, when it was ordered to New Orleans, and from there to Texas, marching to the interior of the state and being stationed at Green Lake. It was mustered out Dec. 8, 1865. The original strength was 1,038; gain by recruits, 563; reenlistments 285; total, 1,886. Loss by death, 366; desertion, 76; unaccounted for, 13. |