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31st Maine Regiment Infantry
in the Civil War

Regimental History
Thirty-first Infantry. — Cols., Thomas Hight, Daniel White; Lieut- Cols., Thomas Hight, Stephen C. Talbot, Edward L. Getchell; Majs., Stephen C. Talbot, Daniel White, George A. Bolton. This regiment was mustered into the U. S. service at Augusta, from March 1 to April 29, 1864, to serve for three years. The 4th and 6th companies of unassigned infantry, organized at Augusta in Oct., 1864, to serve for one year, were assigned to this regiment as Companies L and M. The 32nd Me. was consolidated with this regiment on Dec. 12, 1864, and the entire regiment was mustered out of service near Alexandria, Va., July 15, 1865. The men returned to Bangor on the 19th of the same month, where they were finally paid and discharged on the 27th. The 31st left the state for Washington April 18, 1864, and upon its arrival at Alexandria, Va., was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 9th corps. It at once marched to Bristoe Station, whence it was hastened to the front to aid in the concluding scenes of the conflict. The regiment almost immediately took part in the battle of the Wilderness, where it lost heavily in killed and wounded. From this time on it saw continuous hard service until the close of the war. In addition to the Wilderness it participated in the battles of Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon railroad, Poplar Spring Church and Hatcher's run. For its gallantry at the furious engagement of Bethesda Church on June 3, Gen. Griffin, commanding the brigade, issued the following congratulatory order : "It also gives me pleasure to add my evidence to the well-known fact that the 31st Me. has made for itself a most brilliant record, and won for itself imperishable renown." The casualties of the regiment were enormous, as it was so constantly engaged. It lost at Spottsylvania Court House 12 killed, 75 wounded and 108 missing. In the great battle of July 30, when the mine was exploded at Petersburg, the regiment was assigned an important position and was the first to enter the enemy's works. Its losses were 10 killed, 31 wounded and 47 captured. Again at the battle of Poplar Spring Church the regiment distinguished itself, and was the last to fall back when the enemy turned the right of the brigade and compelled a retreat. It lost here 5 killed, 15 wounded and 16 captured. During the winter of 1864-65 it garrisoned Forts Fisher and Davis until Feb. 11, when it was ordered to a point near Parke Station on the Army Line & City Point railroad, where it remained until April 2, when it assaulted the enemy's works and suffered severely. On the next day it participated in the pursuit of the enemy and on the 8th conducted a detachment of prisoners to Ford's station. On the 20th it embarked for Alexandria, Va., and was mustered out the following July.

Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 1

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