Historical Notes:
The Tennessee 31st (A.H. Bradford's) Infantry Regiment was assembled in October, 1861, at Camp Trenton, Gibson Couty, Tennessee. Its members were recruited in the counties of Weakley, McNairy, Haywood, Gibson, Madison, and Decatur. For a time the unit was stationed at Fort Pillow, then moved into Kentucky with Bragg. Later the 31st was assigned to General Stewart's, Strahl's, and Palmer's Brigade, and in December, 1862, consolidated with the 33rd Regiment. It participated in the campaigns of the Army of Tennessee from Murfreesboro to Atlanta , was part of Hood's operations, and fought in North Carolina. This regiment contained 765 officers and men in April, 1862, and suffered about 100 casualties at Perryville . The 31st/33rd lost twenty-three percent of the 379 engaged at Murfreesboro, then the 31st had 21 disabled at Missionary Ridge and in December, 1863, totalled 157 men and 137 arms. It was included in the surrender on April 26, 1865.
Officers:
Colonels-Alex W. Campbell, Jones, Robert N. Payne
Lieutenant Colonels-Warner P. Jones, Henry C. McNeill
Majors-Henry C. McNeill, Robert N. Payne
Of the field officers, Colonel Campbell was not re-elected at the reorganization. Colonel Jones was killed June 30, 1864; Lieutenant Colonel McNeill was killed July 22, 1864. Assignments:
Polk's Army of Mississippi, Colonel J. C. Tappan's Brigade
Major General John P. Mc Cown's Division.
Brigadier General Charles Clark's Division, Brigadier General Alexander P. Stewart's Brigade.
Cheatham's Division of Polk's Corps.
Stewart's Division, Major General John C. Breckinridge's Corps. Battles:
• Battle of Shiloh, April 6-7, 1862
• Seige of Corinth
• Battle of Perryville, Kentucky October 8, 1862
• Battle of Murfreesboro December 31, 1862
• Battle of Chickamauga September 19th and 20th, 1863
• Missionary Ridge November 26, 1863
• Retreat to Dalton, Georgia
• Dug Gap
• Mill Creek Gap
• Resaca
• Ellsbury Mountain
• Kennesaw Mountain
• The siege of Atlanta
• Battle of Jonesboro
• Spring Hill November 29
• Franklin November 30
• At Nashville, December 15, 1864
• Bentonville, North Carolina Rosters:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 1605 men.
Company A - Captains Egbert E. Tansil, B.J. Roberts - "The Western Stars." Men from Weakley County.
Company B - Captains Caleb McKnight, james G. House - Men from McNairy County.
Company C - Captains C.M. Cason, W.B. Clayton, J.K.P. Randolph - Men from McNairy County.
Company D - Captains A. H. Bradford, L. Houk, John R. Wills - Men from Haywood County.
Company E - Captains B. Robertson, A.T. Gay, D. H. Blankenship - Men from Gibson County.
Company F - Captains F.E. P. Stafford, J.T. Jacocks - Men from Madison County.
Company G - Captains W.Y. Baker, Samuel Sharp, W.R. Ramer - Men from McNairy County.
Company H - Captains Jonathan Luton, George W. Bright - Men from Decatur County.
Company I - Captains Thomas L. Bell, W.V. Sims - Men from Weakley County.
Company K - Captains John Elliott, John A. Hatler, George C. Thomas - Men from Weakley County. Bibliography for Research: