Mississippi 31st Infantry Regiment

Historical Notes:
The Mississippi 31st Infantry Regiment was organized in March, 1862, using the 6th (Orr's) Mississippi Infantry Battalion as its nucleus. The unit served in Rust's, L. Hebert's, and Featherston's Brigade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. It was part of the garrison at Vicksburg, then fought at Baton Rouge and Jackson. Later it continued the fight under General Featherson in the Army of Tennessee. The 31st was active throughout the Atlanta Campaign, endured Hood's winter operations in Tennessee, and saw action in North Carolina. It lost 10 killed and 37 wounded at Baton Rouge, and of the 215 engaged at Peach Tree Creek, seventy-six percent were disabled. In December, 1864, there were 86 men present for duty, and only a handful surrendered in April, 1865. Officers:
Colonels: John A. Orr, elected to Congress; Marcus D. L. Stephens, wounded at Franklin, TN
Lieutenant-Colonels: M. D. L. Stephens, promoted February 17, 1864; James W. Drane.
Majors: H. E. Topp, killed at Jackson, MS; James W. Drane, promoted; Francis M. Gillespie, killed at Peachtree Creek, GA; Thomas J. Pulliam.
Surgeons: J. M. Blackwell, H. C. Orr.
Assistant Surgeons: H. C. Orr, J. R. Ford.
Adjutants: J. N. Campbell, J. C. Rasberry, W. J. Vandegraff.
Quartermasters: L. S. Bolling, B. F. Fitzpatrick.
Commissaries: B. F. Fitzpatrick, Simon Myers.
Assignments:
June 16, 1862 -- Garrison: Vicksburg, Mississippi, Department of Mississippi & East Louisiana
August 1862 -- Helm's Brigade, Clark's Division, Breckinridge's Command, District of the Mississippi, Department #2
September 1862 -- Helm's Brigade, District of the Mississippi, Department #2
October 1862 -- Helm's Brigade, Department of the Mississippi and East Louisiana
December 1862 -- Thompson's Brigade, Rust's Division, 1st Corps, Army of North Mississippi, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana
Jan 31, 1863 -- Rust’s Brigade, Loring’s Division, Fourth Military District, Department of Mississippi & East Louisiana
March 1863 -- Featherston's Brigade, Loring's Division, 2nd Military District, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana
Apr 1, 1863 -- Hebert’s Brigade, Maury’s Division, Department of Mississippi & East Louisiana
May 30, 1863 -- Second [Featherston's] Brigade, Loring’s Division, Department of the West
Sep 30, 1863 -- Featherston’s Brigade, Loring’s Division, Department of Mississippi & East Louisiana
Jan 20, 1864 -- Featherston’s Brigade, Loring’s Division, Department of Alabama, Mississippi & East Louisiana
Apr 15, 1864 -- Featherston’s Brigade, Loring’s Division, Army of Mississippi
Jun 1, 1864 -- Featherston’s Brigade, Loring’s Division, 3rd Corps, Stewart’s Corps, Army of Tennessee
Battles:

May 18-Jul 27, 1862 Bombardment Vicksburg, MS

Aug 5, 1862 Engagement Baton Rouge, LA

Mar 25, 1863 Skirmish Fore's Plantation

Apr 10, 1863 Engagement Franklin, TN

May 14, 1863 Capture Jackson, MS

May 15-Jul 3, 1863 Campaign Vicksburg, MS

May 16, 1864 Battle Champion Hill, MS

Feb-Mar, 1864 Campaign Meridian, MS

May 25-Jun 4, 1864 Engagement New Hope Church, GA

May-Sep, 1864 Campaign Atlanta, GA

Jul-Sep, 1864 Siege Atlanta, GA

Jul 20, 1864 Battle Peach Tree Creek, GA

Jul 28, 1864 Battle Ezra Church, GA

Aug 31-Sep 1, 1864 Battle Jonesboro, GA

Dec 15-16, 1864 Battle Nashville, TN

Feb-Apr 26, 1865 Campaign Carolinas

Rosters:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 2051 men.

Company A -- Orr Guards [J.A. Orr] (raised in Pontotoc County, MS)
Company B -- Dixie Guards, aka Avent Company, & aka Avent Rebels (raised in Choctaw County, MS)
Company C -- Capt. Hill’s Company, aka Chickasaw Guards, & aka Old Chickasaw (raised in Chickasaw County, MS)
Company D -- Dixie Rebels (raised in Calhoun County, MS)
Company E -- Choctaw Rebels, aka Choctaw Greys (raised in Choctaw County, MS)
Company F -- Calhoun Tigers (raised in Calhoun County, MS)
Company G -- Orr Guards [H.C. Orr] (raised in Pontotoc County, MS)
Company H -- Capt. Jenning’s Company (raised in Itawamba County, MS)
Company I -- Jackson Rifles (raised in Choctaw County, MS)
Company K -- Capt. McWhorter’s Company (raised in Pontotoc County, MS)
Bibliography for Research: