31st Cavalry Regiment ( United States ) The 31st Cavalry is a historical organization within the United States Army and the Alabama Army National Guard that began as a Troop of Cavalry under " The Alabama Militia Law of 1820 " . The unit was constituted on 24 July 1821 in the Alabama Militia as the 1st Regiment Cavalry Troop at Jackson , Alabama History . The last unit to fly a guidon with a 31st Cavalry designation was Troop E , 31st Cavalry , of the Alabama Army National Guard in Sylacauga , Alabama from 1973 to 2005 . Troop E was formed in 1973 without an official history . It was created as a new unit to be the Reconnaissance for the recently formed 31st Armored Brigade . When E - Troop of the 31st Cavalry was created , no one bothered to document the correct history of the unit . There was an unofficial and incorrect history done that attempted to trace the history of Troop E , 31st Cavalry , but that version would more correctly be titled a history of units that Occupied the Armory in Sylacauga , Alabama , - and not a history of the 31st Cavalry and its lineage . Because the 31st Armored Brigade traced its history and lineage from the former 31st Infantry Division , that history makes the 31st Cavalry a direct lineal descendent of the earlier 31st Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop of the 31st Infantry Division . The 31st Infantry Division was originally created in 1917 , and after service in World War I , World War II , and the Korean War , it was later deactivated in 1968 as a part of a Department of Defense budget restructuring in order to make funds available to modernize several other National Guard Divisions . From 1968 until 1974 the Alabama units that had formerly been assigned to the 31st Infantry Division were transferred to the 30th Armor Division . In 1974 the 31st Separate Armor Brigade was formed , and in consequence , they became the inheritors of the 31st Division lineage . Upon the creation of the new 31st Brigade , they drew their manpower from the Alabama units that had previously been a part of the 31st Infantry Division . " E " Troop is specifically named in the Order of Battle for the 31st Armor Brigade , dating from 2005 , back to the Brigades inception in 1974 . The " official " lineage of E Troop / 31st Cavalry states that it was constituted on 1 November 1973 , however , its lineage traces much further back into history . Prior to the 1973 - 4 creation of the 31st Cavalry , and its parent organization the 31st Armored Brigade , the 31st Infantry Division " Order of Battle " doesn ' t list a specific " 31st Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop " until prior to 1960 . During the period , from 1960 , until the disbandment of the Division in 1968 : the Reconnaissance Mission for the 31st Infantry Division was first assigned to the 2nd Reconnaissance Squadron , 198th Armor ( MSARNG ) ; and in 1965 to that unit ' s later incarnation as the 1st Squadron , 98th Cavalry ( MSARNG ) and in 1973 to the still later incarnation as A Troop / 98th Cavalry ( MSARNG ) now located in Louisville , Mississippi . While A Troop / 98th Cavalry , of the 155th Armor Brigade does claim the lineage of having once been the reconnaissance asset of the former 31st Infantry Division from 1960 to ' 68 , . . . their own unit history ends further historical lineage by tying their history to the 750th Tank Battalion ( with Headquarters in Greenville ) as created in 1959 . Alabama ‘ s " E Troop " is in no way lineal descended from Mississippi ' s 98th Cavalry , but is more akin to a prodigal brother , who after an absence of about 14 years had returned to claim their right as inheritor of the 31st Reconnaissance Mission after the 1968 demise of the 31st Infantry Division , and the 1974 creation of the 31st Brigade . According to the 31st Division Order of Battle , there was a " 31st Reconnaissance Company " from 1954 to 1960 . Prior to that , there was a " 31st Reconnaissance Troop " from 1945 to 1954 . Prior to that , there was a " 31st Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop " from 1942 to 1945 . According to the 1951 " Dixie Division " Year Book , the " 31st Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop " was reorganized and redesignated as the " 31st Reconnaissance Company " on 23 January 1948 . It additionally states that prior to that , the Alabama - Mississippi National Guard was reorganized in 1946 , and the Jackson , Mississippi based " 31st Cavalry Recon Troop " was activated as a part of the " Dixie Division " on 26 February 1947 . According to the 31st Division in World War II Year Book , the 31st Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop was formed on 26 February 1942 from the officers of Headquarters Company of the 61st Infantry Brigade , and from men from across the 31st Division ' s various Regiments ( including the Alabama 167th Infantry and 117th Field Artillery ) who had been training in Reconnaissance as a " special duty " assignment since early in 1941 . Prior to the 1942 revision of the Division Level T / O & E ( Table of Organization and Equipment , ) the 31st Division was not authorized its own direct reconnaissance asset . These are the same unit , with era modified designations , and are the direct lineal forbears of the modern " E - Troop / 31st Cavalry . " Information available about National Guard units during the time period between the two World Wars is very sketchy , requiring a step all the way back to when the division was organized at Camp Wheeler , Georgia . ( near Macon , Georgia , ) on 1 October 1917 . The 31st Division was composed of National Guard Troops from Georgia , Alabama and Florida , and included as its reconnaissance asset the 1st Regiment of Alabama Cavalry . Shortly after the division was formed , the T / O & E for infantry divisions deleted a reconnaissance asset at that level , relinquishing that mission to the Corps Level only . The men , horses and equipment of the 1st Alabama Cavalry Regiment was divided into the 117th Field Artillery , the 106th Trench Mortar Battery , and the 118th Machine Gun Battalion . In a 1949 publication of the 31st Division World War II history , the 117th Field Artillery claims to have begun its existence as the 1st Alabama Cavalry that was organized in 1916 . Apparently the majority of former 1st Alabama Cavalry personnel gravitated to the horses of the then still " horse - drawn " Artillery . The 106th Trench Mortar Battery was organized in September 1917 at Camp Wheeler , Georgia as component of 31st Division ( 56th Field Artillery Brigade ) ( formed from troops , 1st Cavalry , AL NG ) . Moved overseas in October 1918 . Returned to the US January 1919 and demobilized at Camp Gordon , Georgia . The 118th Machine Gun Battalion was organized October 1917 at Camp Wheeler , GA as component of 31st Division ( 62nd Infantry Brigade ) ( formed from the Machine Gun Troop . , 1st Cavalry , AL NG , two companies , 1st Infantry , GA NG , and personnel from 1st Infantry , Florida NG ) . Moved overseas October 1918 . Skeletonized November 1918 . Returned to the US December 1918 and demobilized January 1919 at Camp Gordon , GA . As a Division , the 31st remained in training at Camp Wheeler until September 1918 . The first units sailed for overseas on 16 September 1918 , and the last units arrived in France on 9 November 1918 . Upon arrival in France the division was designated as a replacement division and ordered to the Le Mans area . The personnel of most of the units were withdrawn from the division and sent to other divisions as replacements , causing the 31st to exist only as a skeletonized division . After returning to the United States , the Division was demobilized in 1919 . . . . In 1923 , the division was reorganized as a National Guard Division drawing its personnel from Louisiana , Mississippi , Alabama , and Florida . As an " Infantry " Division , the 31st was still not authorized its own Reconnaissance Asset under the then current T / O & E . The division also did not reorganize the 106th Trench Mortar Battery , or any of its Machine Gun Battalions . Personnel from those units who desired to continue National Guard Service were reassigned to other units . The 117th Field Artillery had been reorganized in 1921 as the 141st Field Artillery under Colonel Allison Owen , and was Federally recognized on 26 March 1925 . In 1926 , another Battalion and a Squadron of Cavalry were transferred into the 141st , completing the regiment . On 17 January 1927 the 141st F . A . was redesignated as the 117th Field Artillery , and on 1 August 1933 , the regiment officially exchanged its horses for motorized transport . With but a couple of exceptions , the writer has not been able to identify any " Cavalry " units within the State of Alabama from the prohibitive 1865 to 1877 " Reconstruction " Period , until the formation of the 1st Alabama Cavalry in 1916 , and its subsequent absorption into the 31st Division immediately prior to World War I . . . . The 1874 Adjutant Generals Report lists the following units as accepted into the AL Militia , ( 1 ) the Canebrake Guards as Cavalry and armed with Spencer Carbines , ( 2 ) the Wilcox Rangers as Cavalry and armed " privately " , and ( 3 ) the Eutaw Guards as Cavalry armed with Spencer Carbines . And later , in 1898 the " Montgomery Mounted Rifles " were described as an independent Company of the Alabama Militia who had formed for the war with Spain in 1898 , but were not called into Active Federal Service , and did not deploy outside of its home state of Alabama . Prior to this incarnation , the Montgomery Mounted Rifles had once been a part of the First Alabama Cavalry during the American Civil War in the 1860s . Unanswered at this time is whether any of the other former companies of the First Alabama Cavalry , . . . or any other Cavalry Company from Alabama made an attempt to reform . It is known that in 1898 , that the former Confederate Fourth Alabama Infantry had reformed and joined into a Brigade with other Alabama units , and were sent to Mobile , Alabama , but did not deploy into combat in either Cuba , Puerto Rico , or the Philippines . With World War I looming overseas , the " First Alabama Cavalry " had been formed as a result of the " National Defense Act of 1916 " , and its Troops were spread throughout the state . Their first Lieutenant Colonel was David Bibb Graves , who would later become Alabama ' s fortieth and forty - second Governor . Immediately after its formation , the Regiment was assigned to the Alabama Brigade , and sent westward to New Mexico to participate in the Mexican Punitive Expedition against Poncho Villa . With valuable combat experience under their belt , they returned to Alabama in 1917 just in time to be assigned to the 31st Division as described earlier . Going back to the period of the American Civil War , the lineage of the 31st Cavalry divides through the two different 1st Alabama Cavalry Regiments . There were in fact two different 1st Alabama Cavalry Regiments : one US ; and one CS . Each was , Cavalry , and each were from Alabama , each can claim common lineage , but one unit served the Confederacy , while the other ( obviously ) served the Union . Ironically , they fought against each other in several campaigns and battles throughout that terrible struggle . Of the several Companies of the First Alabama Cavalry , the " Montgomery Mounted Rifles " were the only Company who had acquired recent actual combat experience . While they were still an independent Company , and were training with other southern troops at General Braxton Bragg s " Camp of Instruction " in Pensacola , Florida , the " Montgomery Mounted Rifles " , landed on Santa Rosa Island , Florida on 19 July 1861 . They attacked a small boat from the Union ship - Mohawk , that was attempting to resupply the Union held Fort Pickens there on that island . The Federal crew suffered a number of wounded , and the officer in charge of the landing party was killed . Prior to the Civil War period , the Cavalry was formed as Independent Company ' s , that referred to themselves as " Alabama Mounted Volunteers . " To differentiate between the different Company ' s , they referred to themselves either by the name of their Commander , or by a name given to themselves , ( much like modern sports team names . ) It is as these loosely knit independent Company ' s that the lineage of the Cavalry in Alabama traces back through the Mexican - American War , the Creek War and the Seminole Wars , and back to the Alabama Militia Law of 1820 . According to the Alabama Militia Law of December 1820 , the Militia of Alabama included every able bodied male between the age of 18 and 45 . The State was divided into Four Divisions , which was sub - divided into Nine Brigades , and sub - divided into Thirty - Two Regiments , and each of those divided into between two to five Companies each . Section 42 . of the Law stated that there may be one Troop of Cavalry , and one Company of Artillery in each regiment , organized in the same manner and liable to perform the same duties as volunteer companies . In Section 3 , The County of Jackson , Alabama was designated as the First Regiment of the Alabama Militia , and thus was the origin of the 1st Regiment Cavalry Troop , the earliest documentable unit in the lineage of the modern E Troop / 31st Cavalry . Each Company consisted of not less than forty Privates and was commanded by a Captain , followed by a Lieutenant and an Ensign , four Sergeants , four Corporals and two Musicians . According to the Alabama Military Register , The first Commander of the 1st Regiment of Alabama Militia was Colonel Louis Kirby , who received his commission on 28 March 1821 , and the 1st Regiments Cavalry Troop Commander was Captain John Hampton , who received his commission on 24 July 1821 . Prior to Alabama becoming a US Territory , US Dragoons and Tennessee Mounted Militia rode through what is now Alabama during the War of 1812 . The US campaign was in retaliation for the 1813 " Red Stick " Creek Indian attack that killed over 400 settlers at Fort Mims just north of Mobile , Alabama . The " Red Sticks " got their name because of the US war with Great Britain , a schism had developed between two factions of the Creek Confederacy during the War of 1812 . During a ceremony , the two factions chose their allegiance by drawing either a " red stick " for war with the Americans ( and an alliance with the British with the hope of reclaiming lost lands ) , while the others chose a " white stick " for peace with the Americans . In the resulting Creek War , General Andrew Jackson commanded combined forces of Tennessee Militia , U . S . Regulars , and Cherokee and Southern " White Stick " Creek Indians . Jackson defeated the Red Stick Creeks at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814 , and afterwards initiated construction of a Fort atop the site of the old French Fort Toulouse near present day Wetumpka , Alabama . Jackson briefly traveled to Washington and in his absence the Fort was named " Jackson " in his honor . After Jackson ' s return , he imposed the Treaty of Fort Jackson upon the entire Creek Nation , regardless that the Southern half of the Creek Confederacy had been his " White Stick " Ally . The defeat of the Creeks allowed Jackson to take his troops on to New Orleans where he defeated a numerically superior English force in January 1815 . It was many of those Tennessee Militiamen who later migrated into the Alabama Territory that filled the ranks of the first Alabama Militia . Chronological History . 1820 - Authorized by Article # 34 - Sections 3 and 42 " The Alabama Militia Law of 1820 " and mustered for service in Jackson County as the Cavalry Troop of the 1st Regiment of the Alabama State Militia . 1833 - Reorganized for service against the Creek and Seminole Indians as several independent Companies of Cavalry , including ( but not limited to ) : the " Autauga Light Horse " on 10 January 1833 ; the " Maplesville Light Horse " in 1833 ; the " Centerville Light Horse Company " on 18 January 1834 ; the " Canebreak Legion of Calvery " ( s . i . c . ) on 9 January 1835 ; Fry ' s Company of Alabama Mounted Volunteers on 5 September 1836 ; the " Coosa Calvery " ( s . i . c . ) on 23 December 1836 ; Bryson ' s Company of the North Alabama Mounted Volunteers on 26 October 1837 ; the " Greensborough Cavalry Company " in 1839 ; the " Dallas Mounted Guards " in 1845 ; the " Eutaw and Clinton Dragoons " in 1845 . 1846 - 48 - Reorganized as a Regiment of Independent Company ' s of Alabama Mounted Volunteers for service in the War with Mexico , including : the " Bouge Chitto Dragoons " on 1 March 1848 ; the " Catoma Light Horse of Montgomery Co . " on 4 March 1848 ; the " Lowndesboro Cavalry " in 1848 ; the " Montgomery Dragoons " in 1848 . During the Mexican - American War , the Alabama Mounted Volunteers served first on the Rio Grande , and subsequently with General Winfield Scott ' s forces at Veracruz , Alvarado , Tampico , and Jalapa . 1855 - 58 - Reorganized for the 3rd Seminole War of 1855 – 1858 as Independent Company ' s , including : the " Dale Dragoons " in 1850 ; the " Marshall Cavaliers " in 1850 ; and the " Alabama Dragoons " of Montgomery on 18 February 1854 . 1860 - 61 - Reorganized as Independent Company ' s to be a part of the " Alabama Volunteer Corps " in anticipation of disunion and imminent Civil War , including : the " Coffee Mounted Guards " on 21 February 1860 ; the " McKinley Cavalry " in 1860 ; the " Montgomery Mounted Rifles " in 1860 ; the " Pleasant Hill Cavalry " in 1860 ; the " Prattville Dragoons " in December 1860 ; the " Sumter Mounted Guards " in 1860 ; the " Wilcox Dragoons " , in 1860 ; the " Pearson Dragoons " of Tallapoosa Co . in 1861 ; and the " Powell ' s Dragoons " of Calhoun Co . , also in 1861 . 1861 - 65 - Reorganized as 1st Alabama Cavalry Regiment , ( CSA ) formed at Montgomery on 12 November 1861 , including the " Montgomery Mounted Rangers " as Company " A ; " the " Pearson Dragoons " as Company " D ; " " Powell ' s Dragoons " as Company " E ; " and the " Montgomery Mounted Rifles " as Company " K . " It surrendered on 26 April 1865 as part of Hagan ' s Brigade , Allen ' s Division , at Salisbury , North Carolina , about 150 strong . This regiment participated in more engagements of one kind or another than any other unit in either army . 1862 - 65 - Concurrently also Reorganized 1st Alabama Cavalry ( USV ) formed in 1862 in Huntsville , AL - While the vast majority of personnel came from Winston County , the 1st Ala Cav . USV drew troops from 38 different Alabama Counties . By the time Gen . William Sherman ' s forces entered Atlanta in late 1864 , the " 1st Ala . Cav . ' s " reputation was secure . One general called the Alabama troops " invaluable . " And Major General John A . Logan , commanding the 15th Army Corps in Sherman ' s forces , praised the troopers as " the best scouts I ever saw . " General Sherman , chose them as his escort on the march from Atlanta to the sea . On 20 October 1865 the Regiment mustered out in Huntsville , AL . 1865 - 74 - Disbanded during the Post Civil War Reconstruction era . 1874 - The 1874 Adjutant Generals Report lists the following units as accepted into the AL Militia , ( 1 ) the Canebrake Guards as Cavalry and armed with Spencer Carbine s , ( 2 ) the Wilcox Rangers as Cavalry and armed " privately " , and ( 3 ) the Eutaw Guards as Cavalry armed with Spencer Carbine s . 1898 ( + / - ) - Reconstituted as Montgomery Mounted Rifles , Alabama Militia for service in the Spanish - American War , but was never activated for Federal Service . June 1916 - Reconstituted as 1st Regiment Alabama Cavalry , National Guard 25 August 1917 - Reassigned as 1st Regiment Alabama Cavalry , 31st Division , National Guard September 1917 - Reorganized as 106th Trench Mortar Battery , 31st Division , National Guard . Organized at Camp Wheeler , GA as component of 31st Division ( 56th FA Brigade ) ( formed from troop , 1st Cavalry , AL NG ) . Moved overseas October 1918 . Returned to the US January 1919 and demobilized at Camp Gordon , GA . 1 October 1917 - Also Reorganized as 118th Machine Gun Bn , 31st Division , National Guard at Camp Wheeler , GA as component of 31st Division ( 62nd Infantry Brigade ) ( formed from MG Trp , 1st Cavalry , AL NG , two companies , 1st Infantry , GA NG , and personnel from 1st Infantry , FL NG ) . Moved overseas October 1918 . Skeletonized November 1918 . Returned to the US December 1918 and demobilized January 1919 at Camp Gordon , GA . Reorganized in 1921 as the 141st Field Artillery from the former 117th Field Artillery , 106th Trench Mortar Battery , and personnel of the former 31st Division Machine Gun Battalions , the 141st F . A . was Federally recognized on 26 March 1925 . In 1926 , another Battalion and a Squadron of Cavalry were transferred into the 141st , completing the regiment . On 17 January 1927 the 141st F . A . was redesignated as the 117th Field Artillery , and on 1 August 1933 , the regiment officially exchanged its horses for motorized transport . 25 November 1940 - The Division was activated , and initially stationed at Camp Blanding , Florida without an integral Reconnaissance asset . . 26 February 1942 - While at Camp Bowie , Texas - Reorganized as 31st Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop . It was formed out equal numbers of men from the Divisions four Infantry Regiments and Engineers , . . . the 31st Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop was reincarnated under its current name . 1944 - 45 - The 31st Infantry Division was ordered to the Southwest Pacific , and arrived in Oro Bay , New Guinea , 24 April 1944 . Overseas , the Troop seldom worked as a unit , but attached elements to the Regimental Combat Teams for all operations in which the Division participated . For amphibious warfare , the Troop was provided with " tank landing craft " which it habitually employed as the first wave on landings as the Cavalrymen would clear the way across the beaches for the incoming Infantry . Alerted on 25 June 1944 for movement to Aitape , the 124th Regt . Combat Team ( with a Platoon of the 31st Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop ) left Oro Bay and landed at Aitape , New Guinea , 3 – 6 July 1944 . The combat team moved up to advanced positions and took part in the general offensive launched 13 July , running into bloody fighting along the Drinumor River . Meanwhile , the remainder of the Division relieved the 6th Infantry Division ( United States ) in the Sarmi - Wakde Island area , 18 July 1944 , and engaged small units of the enemy , trying not to provoke a large scale counterattack . Over 1 , 000 Japanese were destroyed in these actions . In mid - August the Division began to stage for the Morotai operation , leaving Aitape and Maffin Bay , 11 September 1944 . The Division made an assault landing on Morotai , 15 September 1944 . During the occupation of Morotai , elements of the Division seized Mapia , 15 – 17 September , and waded ashore on the Asia Islands , 19 – 20 September . Other elements reverted to Sansapor , where they maintained and operated the base . On 22 April 1945 , the Division landed on Mindanao to take part in the liberation of the Philippines . Moving up the Sayre Highway and driving down the trail , the 31st forced the enemy to withdraw into the interior and blocked off other Japanese in the Davao Region . With the surrender of General Tomoyuki Yamashita ‘ s Japanese forces on the Philippine Island of Mindanao , and the end of hostilities on 15 August 1945 , the 31st Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop continued long range reconnaissance patrols into the hills of the Philippine ' s to contact and accept the surrender of various scattered detachments of the Imperial Japanese Army . In December , 1945 , the Dixie Division returned home and was deactivated on 21 December 1945 at Camp Stoneman , California and returned to National Guard duty . In 1946 , the Alabama and Mississippi National Guards were reorganized , and the Jackson , Mississippi based " 31st Cavalry Recon Troop " was assigned as a part of the 31st " Dixie Division . " 26 February 1947 - Redesignated as 31st Reconnaissance Troop , 31st Infantry Division ( United States ) . 23 January 1948 - Reorganized and redesignated as the " 31st Reconnaissance Company , " 31st Infantry Division ( United States ) . 16 January 1951 - Activated for Korean War service , and deployed to Camp Attebury , Indiana , as " Training Troops . The Division " was later ordered for deployment to Korea as " Combat Troops , " but did not deploy as the " cease - fire " was called prior to their departure . Later transferred to Ft . Carson Co . in February 1954 , prior to deactivation and return to National Guard Service . 1960 - 68 - The reconnaissance mission of 31st Infantry Division was assigned to 98th Cavalry ( MSARNG ) . 1 November 1973 - Reorganized E Troop , 31st Cavalry , ( Superquick Cav ) , 31st Armored Brigade 3 September 2002 - Activated " Operation Noble Eagle " and deployed to Ft . Stewart , GA In October 2002 , E Troop , 31st Cavalry was reassigned as the Brigade Reconnaissance Team ( BRT ) to the 149th Armored Brigade , 35th Infantry Division , while its former parent organization , the 31st Armor Brigade was reclassified as the 31st Chemical Brigade . 16 May 2004 - The 149th Armored Brigade was reassigned from the 35th Infantry Division to the 38th Infantry Division . E Troop , 31st Cavalry maintained its assignment as the BRT ( Brigade Reconnaissance Team ) to the 149th Armored Brigade . 2005 - Deactivated and personnel and equipment reassigned to D Company , 1st Battalion 167th Infantry . Campaigns . Campaign Participation Credit Decorations Heraldry . Distinctive Unit Insignia Coat of Arms