31st Infantry Regiment, United States Colored Troops
The 31st Infantry Regiment, United States Colored Troops was a regiment raised in New York State during the American Civil War that recruited black soldiers.
History
The Regiment was raised at Hart's Island on the 29 of April, 1864, and became active on the 14 November 1864, in Virginia. The 30th Connecticut Colored Volunteers was amalgamated into it on the 18 May 1864. The Commanding Officer was Colonel Henry C. Ward. among the regiments recruits were Bermudians Robert Tappin (who had previously served in the United States Navy from 1863 to 1864), John Wilson and Joseph Thomas.
The Regiment was assigned successively to: the Middle Department (April, 1864); the 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 9th Corps, Army of the Potomac (April to November, 1864); the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 25th Corps (November, 1864, to April, 1865); the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 10th Corps (April to August, 1865); and the District of New Berne, North Carolina, until it was demobilised on the 7 November 1865, when it's men mustered out.
From its becoming active in Virginia, took part in the advance from the Rapidan to the James River, then guarded trains through the Wilderness forest 'til June, 1864. It took part in the Battle of Cold Harbor from the 2nd to the 12th of June. It took part in the sieges of Petersburg and Richmond from the 16 June 'til the 2 April. From November 1864 to March 1865, the Regiment took part in Bermuda Hundred Campaign. It was took part in the Battle of Appomattox Court House on the 9 April 1865. From May to June, 1865, it was assigned to the Department of Texas and posted on Rio Grande.[1]
The regiment lost: 2 officers and 35 enlisted men killed, 1 officer and 19 enlisted men died-of-wounds; 1 officer and 100 enlisted men to disease; 3 enlisted men to by accidents; another 3 enlisted men drowned; 1 murdered; 1 enlisted man died of sunstroke; and 15 enlisted men died of unknown causes; 5 enlisted men died while prisoners of war.[2]