MEDHURST & CO.
Fine Images and Documents
Email: medhurstmd@aol.com
Phone: 913-851-8462
Fine Images and Documents
Email: medhurstmd@aol.com
Phone: 913-851-8462
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Lewis Frederick Rice Back marked by the famous Boston photographer Whipple this
beautiful portrait shows Rice as a Major. $125.00
Residence Boston MA; a 22 year-old Civil Engineer.
Enlisted on 2/20/1862 as a 1st Lieutenant.
On 2/20/1862 he was commissioned into "G" Co. MA 31st Infantry
He was Mustered Out on 9/9/1865 at Mobile, AL
Promotions:
* Capt 10/10/1863 (As of Co. D)
* Major 3/13/1865 by Brevet
* Major 6/7/1865 (Not Mustered)
Intra Regimental Company Transfers:
* 1/1/1864 from company G to company D
Other Information:
died 4/12/1909 in Brookline, MA
After the War he lived in Boston, MA
THIRTY-FIRST REGIMENT
MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
THREE YEARS (Re-enlisted)
The 31st Regt. Mass. Vol. Inf. was raised by Gen. Butler
in the fall of 1861 and early part of the winter following. It
was first known as the Western Bay State Regiment. It was
organized at Camp Seward, Pittsfield, and its members were
mustered into service mostly during November and December. A
contention having arisen between Governor Andrew and Gen.
Butler over the latter's authority to raise troops in
Massachusetts, the 31st was at first in charge of Acting Lieut.
Col. Charles M. Whelden of Pittsfield. About Feb. 1, 1862, the
regiment was transferred to Camp Chase, Lowell, and on the 20th
it embarked for the seat of war. After delays at Fort Monroe
and Port Royal, on March 23 it reached Ship Island in the Gulf
of Mexico. The questions in dispute between Governor Andrew
and Gen. Butler having been settled, Oliver P. Gooding,
formerly first lieutenant in the 10th U. S. Inf., was
commissioned colonel to date from Feb. 8, and most of the other
field and staff and line officers were commissioned to date
from Feb. 20. The regiment was now officially known as the
31st Mass., and was assigned to Gen. Thomas Williams' (2d)
Brigade.
After the fall of Forts Jackson and St. Philip it was sent
to New Orleans, where it was the first regiment to land.
During the summer and fall it did guard and provost duty at
New Orleans and the forts. With the organization of the 19th
Corps in January, 1863, seven companies of the 31st became a
part of the 3d Brigade, 3d Division, the three other companies
being stationed at Fort Pike. The main body of the regiment
now joined the forces at Baton Rouge and in the middle of March
cooperated with the fleet in its passage of the batteries at
Port Hudson.
It now proceeded to Algiers and joined the Teche
expedition, Col. Gooding being in command of the brigade. It
was engaged with loss at Fort Bisland, April 13, then advanced
through Opelousas to Alexandria on the Red River. Returning
thence via Simsport and Bayou Sara to Port Hudson it was
present during the siege, losing 64 men mostly in the assault
of the 14th of June, 18 being killed or mortally wounded.
After the formal surrender, July 9, it accompanied Gen.
Weitzel's expedition to Donaldsonville, returning to Baton
Rouge, Sept. 2. On the 9th, it was rejoined by the three
companies from Fort Pike, and now became a part of the 2d
Brigade, 1st Division.
In December, 1863, the 31st was armed and equipped as
cavalry and stationed at Carrollton, being commonly known as
the 6th Mass. Cav. During the winter 330 men re-enlisted and
were re-mustered Feb. 23. The regiment now formed a part of
the 4th Cavalry Brigade under Col. N. A. M. Dudley.
Feb. 9, 1864, it crossed the Mississippi to Algiers and
proceeded up the Mississippi to Donaldsonville, thence via La
Fourche Bayou to Thibodeau. Turning west and northwest it
followed its old route of April and May, 1862, through
Opelousas to Alexandria on the Red River, reaching the latter
place March 20. Advancing from here up the Red River toward
Shreveport, on April 8 it met the enemy at Sabine Cross Roads
above Natchitoches, where the main Union force was defeated,
the 31st losing 62, of whom 11 were killed or mortally wounded.
Retreating southward it was engaged with loss at Cane River,
Hudnot's Plantation, Moore's Plantation, and elsewhere in the
neighborhood of Alexandria. Diverging toward Simsport it was
engaged at Yellow Bayou just north of that city May 18, losing
32 men of whom nearly half were killed or mortally wounded.
Arriving at Simsport on the 19th, three days later the regiment
reached Morganzia on the Mississippi. On July 3 the regiment
returned to Algiers, the re-enlisted men proceeding thence to
Cairo and homeward to Massachusetts on veteran furloughs,
starting from Algiers July 21, and returning September 19.
Before leaving for home they turned in their horses, but on
their return they were again equipped as cavalry. They were
then stationed opposite Donaldsonville to keep down the
guerrilla bands, and were later engaged in the operations
against Mobile, Ala., occupying that city after its surrender
until the close of the regiment's service.
It was mustered out Sept. 9, 1865, transported to New
Orleans, and from there sent to Massachusetts. Boston Harbor
was reached Sept. 24, and on the 30th the regiment, since
February only a battalion of five companies, was paid off and
discharged.
Source: Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors & Marines in the Civil War
beautiful portrait shows Rice as a Major. $125.00
Residence Boston MA; a 22 year-old Civil Engineer.
Enlisted on 2/20/1862 as a 1st Lieutenant.
On 2/20/1862 he was commissioned into "G" Co. MA 31st Infantry
He was Mustered Out on 9/9/1865 at Mobile, AL
Promotions:
* Capt 10/10/1863 (As of Co. D)
* Major 3/13/1865 by Brevet
* Major 6/7/1865 (Not Mustered)
Intra Regimental Company Transfers:
* 1/1/1864 from company G to company D
Other Information:
died 4/12/1909 in Brookline, MA
After the War he lived in Boston, MA
THIRTY-FIRST REGIMENT
MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
THREE YEARS (Re-enlisted)
The 31st Regt. Mass. Vol. Inf. was raised by Gen. Butler
in the fall of 1861 and early part of the winter following. It
was first known as the Western Bay State Regiment. It was
organized at Camp Seward, Pittsfield, and its members were
mustered into service mostly during November and December. A
contention having arisen between Governor Andrew and Gen.
Butler over the latter's authority to raise troops in
Massachusetts, the 31st was at first in charge of Acting Lieut.
Col. Charles M. Whelden of Pittsfield. About Feb. 1, 1862, the
regiment was transferred to Camp Chase, Lowell, and on the 20th
it embarked for the seat of war. After delays at Fort Monroe
and Port Royal, on March 23 it reached Ship Island in the Gulf
of Mexico. The questions in dispute between Governor Andrew
and Gen. Butler having been settled, Oliver P. Gooding,
formerly first lieutenant in the 10th U. S. Inf., was
commissioned colonel to date from Feb. 8, and most of the other
field and staff and line officers were commissioned to date
from Feb. 20. The regiment was now officially known as the
31st Mass., and was assigned to Gen. Thomas Williams' (2d)
Brigade.
After the fall of Forts Jackson and St. Philip it was sent
to New Orleans, where it was the first regiment to land.
During the summer and fall it did guard and provost duty at
New Orleans and the forts. With the organization of the 19th
Corps in January, 1863, seven companies of the 31st became a
part of the 3d Brigade, 3d Division, the three other companies
being stationed at Fort Pike. The main body of the regiment
now joined the forces at Baton Rouge and in the middle of March
cooperated with the fleet in its passage of the batteries at
Port Hudson.
It now proceeded to Algiers and joined the Teche
expedition, Col. Gooding being in command of the brigade. It
was engaged with loss at Fort Bisland, April 13, then advanced
through Opelousas to Alexandria on the Red River. Returning
thence via Simsport and Bayou Sara to Port Hudson it was
present during the siege, losing 64 men mostly in the assault
of the 14th of June, 18 being killed or mortally wounded.
After the formal surrender, July 9, it accompanied Gen.
Weitzel's expedition to Donaldsonville, returning to Baton
Rouge, Sept. 2. On the 9th, it was rejoined by the three
companies from Fort Pike, and now became a part of the 2d
Brigade, 1st Division.
In December, 1863, the 31st was armed and equipped as
cavalry and stationed at Carrollton, being commonly known as
the 6th Mass. Cav. During the winter 330 men re-enlisted and
were re-mustered Feb. 23. The regiment now formed a part of
the 4th Cavalry Brigade under Col. N. A. M. Dudley.
Feb. 9, 1864, it crossed the Mississippi to Algiers and
proceeded up the Mississippi to Donaldsonville, thence via La
Fourche Bayou to Thibodeau. Turning west and northwest it
followed its old route of April and May, 1862, through
Opelousas to Alexandria on the Red River, reaching the latter
place March 20. Advancing from here up the Red River toward
Shreveport, on April 8 it met the enemy at Sabine Cross Roads
above Natchitoches, where the main Union force was defeated,
the 31st losing 62, of whom 11 were killed or mortally wounded.
Retreating southward it was engaged with loss at Cane River,
Hudnot's Plantation, Moore's Plantation, and elsewhere in the
neighborhood of Alexandria. Diverging toward Simsport it was
engaged at Yellow Bayou just north of that city May 18, losing
32 men of whom nearly half were killed or mortally wounded.
Arriving at Simsport on the 19th, three days later the regiment
reached Morganzia on the Mississippi. On July 3 the regiment
returned to Algiers, the re-enlisted men proceeding thence to
Cairo and homeward to Massachusetts on veteran furloughs,
starting from Algiers July 21, and returning September 19.
Before leaving for home they turned in their horses, but on
their return they were again equipped as cavalry. They were
then stationed opposite Donaldsonville to keep down the
guerrilla bands, and were later engaged in the operations
against Mobile, Ala., occupying that city after its surrender
until the close of the regiment's service.
It was mustered out Sept. 9, 1865, transported to New
Orleans, and from there sent to Massachusetts. Boston Harbor
was reached Sept. 24, and on the 30th the regiment, since
February only a battalion of five companies, was paid off and
discharged.
Source: Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors & Marines in the Civil War
Rice photo from HDS