The National tribune., 1896-10-01
The 31st Ind.

The 31st Ina.
The 31st Ind. was one of the 300 fighting
regiments given by Col. Fox, and its claim
to that distinction is supported by the loss
of five officers and lis men in action out of
a total enrolment of 1862 The regiment
was organized at Terre Haute, Ind, Sept 20,
1861. Soon after its organization it moved
into Kentucky, encamping at Calhoun, where
it remained until Feb. II, 1862, when it was
ordered to join Grants forces in the attack
on Fort Donelson. Under command of the
gallant Maj. Frederick Arm the regiment
took a conspicuous part in the assault. Its
loss was nine killed. SO wounded, and one
missing At Shiloh the regiment was fiercely
engaged, and lost 81 killed, ia wounded,
and some missing. Among the killed was
the gallant Maj. Arm. At the time the regi-
ment was in Humans Brigade, Hurlbut's
Division. The command was in Buelrs
campaign of 1862. At Stone River the regi-
ment lost 5 killed, As wounded, and large
number missing. At the time it was in
Crufts Brigade. Palmer's Division, Critten-
den's Corps. It was at Chickamauga, and
lost heavily. When the Army of the Cum
berland was recognized, in October, 1862,
the 31st Ind. was assigned to Crufts Bri-
gade, Palmer's Division, Fourth Corps. In
the pursuit of Hood after the evacuation of
Atlanta the command lost 10 men killed
and 33 wounded. Col. Chas Cruft, the first
commander of the regiment, was promoted
Brigadier-General, July Is, 1862, and was
the commander of Cruft's Brigade, in which
the 31st served during the most of its en-
listment. Col. John Osborn, who succeeded
Col. Cruft in command of the regiment, re-
signed July IA, 1863. Col John T. Smith
also resigned, March IL, 1865, and when
mustered out the regiment was commanded
by Lieut.-Col. James r. Hollowell. The
War Department credits the command with
tie following battles: Fort Donelson, Ken
esaw Mountain, Fort Henry, Shiloh, Perry
Vile, Stone River, Hoover's Gap, Chicka-
manga, Pine Top Resaca. Smyrna Station,
Atlanta, Jonesb0rO, Lovejoy's Station,
Franklin, Nashville, and Rocky Face Ridge
In all II engagements. It took part in many
other smaller battles and sklrmishes, but
with little loss. Besides the loss in action,
five officers and 253 men died of disease,
accidents, and in prison.
The 2Sth Me.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: This regi-
ment was organized at Augusta, Me-, Oct.
Is, 1862, to serve nine months, and left Oct.
rs, with orders to go to Washington, d. C.
1t stopped at New York, and was ordered to
Fort Schuyler to report to Maj.-Gen. Banks
| for duty. 1t garrisoned Fort Schuyler until
Nov. rs, when it marched for east New York,
| and there went into camp. Jan. II, 1863, it
embarked for Fortress Monroe, and from
thence went to New Orleans, arriving there
on the 29th. Jan. 81 it disembarked at Chal-
| mette, seven miles below New Orleans and
encamped on Jackson's old battle-ground.
Feb. Is it was ordered to Pensacola, Fla,
and disembarked at Warrent0n Navy-yard,
Feb. II. 1t remained at Pensacola until its
| evacuation, March %, and then returned to
WarrentOn Maynard. On the Oath it en-
barked for New Orleans, where, Immediately
on its arrival, it was ordered to duty at Don
aldsonville, Bayou La Fourche, and Plaque
| mine- May 81 six companies were ordered
to Port Hudson, and these were assigned to
Gen. Nickerson's Brigade, of Dwight's Divis-
ion. The others remained at New Orleans
and at Fort Butler, Donaldsonville, La.
That portion of the regiment at Port Hud-
son was employed for two weeks, day and
night, in building batteries and doing picket
duty, and participated in the advance, on
June IA, but suffered no loss. June 90 it
was ordered to assault the rebel works, and
advanced to within q short distance of the
enemy's Notifications; but not being sup
| ported retired in good order, with loss Of
only three killed and nine wounded. June
| % that portion of the regiment garrisOning
| Fort Butler, DonaldsonviIle, La, was as
| sailed by an overwhelming force of the
enemy, and repulsed them at every point
with heavy loss. July the six companies
| at Port Hudson were ordered to march tG
Springfield Landing, and there embark tG
reinforce Fort Butler, then besieged by the
enemy, who had succeeded in blockading the
river. They arrived July 5, and on the
| evening of that day occurred the fendish
murder of Maj. Bullen, of this regiment, then
commanding at Fort Butler, by Private Fran.
els Scott, of the LIST La. Coming, as it did
! Immediately after the gallant defense of the
fort by Maj Bullen and his command, the
murder seemed more atrocious. On July 10
the entire regiment proceeded to Baton
Rouge, La, and there remained until Aug.
6, when it started for Maine, passing up the
Mississippi by boat to Cairo then by rail to
Augusta, arriving there on the 18th. Aug.
4. \ - 800