31st New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 31st New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, "Baxter's Light Guard" or the "Montezuma Regiment", was an infantry
regiment
that served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
The regiment was mustered out of service on June 4, 1863, and those men who had signed three year enlistments or who re-enlisted were transferred to the 121st New York
on April 19, 1864.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
that served in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Service
The regiment was organized in New York City, New York and was mustered in for a two year enlistment on May 14, 1861.The regiment was mustered out of service on June 4, 1863, and those men who had signed three year enlistments or who re-enlisted were transferred to the 121st New York
121st New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 121st New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, commonly known as the "Onesers", was a volunteer regiment recruited during the American Civil War from Otsego County and Herkimer County, New York. The Hon. Richard Franchot was appointed colonel of the regiment and authorized to establish his...
on April 19, 1864.
Total strength and casualties
The regiment suffered 6 officers and 62 enlisted men who were killed in action or mortally wounded and 3 officers and 1 officer and 29 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 98 fatalities.External links
- New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center - Civil War - 31st Infantry Regiment History, photographs, table of battles and casualties, and historical sketch for the 31st New York Infantry Regiment.