31st Cavalry Regiment (United States) - Chronological History

Chronological History

1820 - Authorized by Article #34 - Sections 3 and 42 "The Alabama Militia Law of 1820" and mustered for service in Jackson County as the Cavalry Troop of the 1st Regiment of the Alabama State Militia.

1833- Reorganized for service against the Creek and Seminole Indians as several independent Companies of Cavalry, including (but not limited to): the "Autauga Light Horse" on 10 January 1833; the "Maplesville Light Horse" in 1833; the "Centerville Light Horse Company" on 18 January 1834; the "Canebreak Legion of Calvery" (s.i.c.) on 9 January 1835; Fry's Company of Alabama Mounted Volunteers on 5 September 1836; the "Coosa Calvery" (s.i.c.) on 23 December 1836; Bryson's Company of the North Alabama Mounted Volunteers on 26 October 1837; the "Greensborough Cavalry Company" in 1839; the "Dallas Mounted Guards" in 1845; the "Eutaw and Clinton Dragoons" in 1845.

1846-48 - Reorganized as a Regiment of Independent Company's of Alabama Mounted Volunteers for service in the War with Mexico, including: the "Bouge Chitto Dragoons" on 1 March 1848; the "Catoma Light Horse of Montgomery Co." on 4 March 1848 ; the "Lowndesboro Cavalry" in 1848; the "Montgomery Dragoons" in 1848. During the Mexican-American War, the Alabama Mounted Volunteers served first on the Rio Grande, and subsequently with General Winfield Scott's forces at Veracruz, Alvarado, Tampico, and Jalapa.

1855-58 - Reorganized for the 3rd Seminole War of 1855–1858 as Independent Company's, including: the "Dale Dragoons" in 1850; the "Marshall Cavaliers" in 1850; and the "Alabama Dragoons" of Montgomery on 18 February 1854.

1860-61 - Reorganized as Independent Company's to be a part of the "Alabama Volunteer Corps" in anticipation of disunion and imminent Civil War, including: the "Coffee Mounted Guards" on 21 February 1860; the "McKinley Cavalry" in 1860; the "Montgomery Mounted Rifles" in 1860; the "Pleasant Hill Cavalry" in 1860; the "Prattville Dragoons" in December 1860; the "Sumter Mounted Guards" in 1860; the "Wilcox Dragoons", in 1860; the "Pearson Dragoons" of Tallapoosa Co. in 1861; and the "Powell's Dragoons" of Calhoun Co., also in 1861.

1861-65 - Reorganized as 1st Alabama Cavalry Regiment, (CSA) formed at Montgomery on 12 November 1861, including the "Montgomery Mounted Rangers" as Company "A;" the "Pearson Dragoons" as Company "D;" "Powell's Dragoons" as Company "E;" and the "Montgomery Mounted Rifles" as Company "K." It surrendered on 26 April 1865 as part of Hagan's Brigade, Allen's Division, at Salisbury, North Carolina, about 150 strong. This regiment participated in more engagements of one kind or another than any other unit in either army.

1862-65 - Concurrently also Reorganized 1st Alabama Cavalry (USV) formed in 1862 in Huntsville, AL - While the vast majority of personnel came from Winston County, the 1st Ala Cav. USV drew troops from 38 different Alabama Counties. By the time Gen. William Sherman's forces entered Atlanta in late 1864, the "1st Ala. Cav.'s" reputation was secure. One general called the Alabama troops "invaluable." And Major General John A. Logan, commanding the 15th Army Corps in Sherman's forces, praised the troopers as "the best scouts I ever saw." General Sherman, chose them as his escort on the march from Atlanta to the sea. On 20 October 1865 the Regiment mustered out in Huntsville, AL.

1865-74 - Disbanded during the Post Civil War Reconstruction era.

1874 - The 1874 Adjutant Generals Report lists the following units as accepted into the AL Militia, (1) the Canebrake Guards as Cavalry and armed with Spencer Carbines, (2) the Wilcox Rangers as Cavalry and armed "privately", and (3) the Eutaw Guards as Cavalry armed with Spencer Carbines.

1898 (+/-) - Reconstituted as Montgomery Mounted Rifles, Alabama Militia for service in the Spanish-American War, but was never activated for Federal Service.

June 1916 - Reconstituted as 1st Regiment Alabama Cavalry, National Guard

25 August 1917 - Reassigned as 1st Regiment Alabama Cavalry, 31st Division, National Guard

September 1917 - Reorganized as 106th Trench Mortar Battery, 31st Division, National Guard. Organized at Camp Wheeler, GA as component of 31st Division (56th FA Brigade) (formed from troop, 1st Cavalry, AL NG). Moved overseas October 1918. Returned to the US January 1919 and demobilized at Camp Gordon, GA.

1 October 1917 - Also Reorganized as 118th Machine Gun Bn, 31st Division, National Guard at Camp Wheeler, GA as component of 31st Division (62nd Infantry Brigade) (formed from MG Trp, 1st Cavalry, AL NG, two companies, 1st Infantry, GA NG, and personnel from 1st Infantry, FL NG). Moved overseas October 1918. Skeletonized November 1918. Returned to the US December 1918 and demobilized January 1919 at Camp Gordon, GA.

Reorganized in 1921 as the 141st Field Artillery from the former 117th Field Artillery, 106th Trench Mortar Battery, and personnel of the former 31st Division Machine Gun Battalions, the 141st F.A. was Federally recognized on 26 March 1925. In 1926, another Battalion and a Squadron of Cavalry were transferred into the 141st, completing the regiment. On 17 January 1927 the 141st F.A. was redesignated as the 117th Field Artillery, and on 1 August 1933, the regiment officially exchanged its horses for motorized transport.

25 November 1940 - The Division was activated, and initially stationed at Camp Blanding, Florida without an integral Reconnaissance asset..

26 February 1942 - While at Camp Bowie, Texas - Reorganized as 31st Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop. It was formed out equal numbers of men from the Divisions four Infantry Regiments and Engineers, ... the 31st Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop was reincarnated under its current name.

1944-45 - The 31st Infantry Division was ordered to the Southwest Pacific, and arrived in Oro Bay, New Guinea, 24 April 1944. Overseas, the Troop seldom worked as a unit, but attached elements to the Regimental Combat Teams for all operations in which the Division participated. For amphibious warfare, the Troop was provided with "tank landing craft" which it habitually employed as the first wave on landings as the Cavalrymen would clear the way across the beaches for the incoming Infantry. Alerted on 25 June 1944 for movement to Aitape, the 124th Regt. Combat Team (with a Platoon of the 31st Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop) left Oro Bay and landed at Aitape, New Guinea, 3–6 July 1944. The combat team moved up to advanced positions and took part in the general offensive launched 13 July, running into bloody fighting along the Drinumor River. Meanwhile, the remainder of the Division relieved the 6th Infantry Division (United States) in the Sarmi-Wakde Island area, 18 July 1944, and engaged small units of the enemy, trying not to provoke a large scale counterattack. Over 1,000 Japanese were destroyed in these actions. In mid-August the Division began to stage for the Morotai operation, leaving Aitape and Maffin Bay, 11 September 1944. The Division made an assault landing on Morotai, 15 September 1944. During the occupation of Morotai, elements of the Division seized Mapia, 15–17 September, and waded ashore on the Asia Islands, 19–20 September. Other elements reverted to Sansapor, where they maintained and operated the base. On 22 April 1945, the Division landed on Mindanao to take part in the liberation of the Philippines. Moving up the Sayre Highway and driving down the trail, the 31st forced the enemy to withdraw into the interior and blocked off other Japanese in the Davao Region. With the surrender of General Tomoyuki Yamashita‘s Japanese forces on the Philippine Island of Mindanao, and the end of hostilities on 15 August 1945, the 31st Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop continued long range reconnaissance patrols into the hills of the Philippine's to contact and accept the surrender of various scattered detachments of the Imperial Japanese Army. In December, 1945, the Dixie Division returned home and was deactivated on 21 December 1945 at Camp Stoneman, California and returned to National Guard duty.

In 1946, the Alabama and Mississippi National Guards were reorganized, and the Jackson, Mississippi based "31st Cavalry Recon Troop" was assigned as a part of the 31st "Dixie Division."

26 February 1947 - Redesignated as 31st Reconnaissance Troop, 31st Infantry Division (United States).

23 January 1948 - Reorganized and redesignated as the "31st Reconnaissance Company," 31st Infantry Division (United States).

16 January 1951 - Activated for Korean War service, and deployed to Camp Attebury, Indiana, as "Training Troops. The Division "was later ordered for deployment to Korea as "Combat Troops," but did not deploy as the "cease-fire" was called prior to their departure. Later transferred to Ft. Carson Co. in February 1954, prior to deactivation and return to National Guard Service.

1960-68 - The reconnaissance mission of 31st Infantry Division was assigned to 98th Cavalry (MSARNG). 1 November 1973 - Reorganized E Troop, 31st Cavalry, (Superquick Cav), 31st Armored Brigade

3 September 2002 - Activated "Operation Noble Eagle" and deployed to Ft. Stewart, GA

In October 2002, E Troop, 31st Cavalry was reassigned as the Brigade Reconnaissance Team (BRT) to the 149th Armored Brigade, 35th Infantry Division, while its former parent organization, the 31st Armor Brigade was reclassified as the 31st Chemical Brigade.

16 May 2004 - The 149th Armored Brigade was reassigned from the 35th Infantry Division to the 38th Infantry Division. E Troop, 31st Cavalry maintained its assignment as the BRT (Brigade Reconnaissance Team) to the 149th Armored Brigade.

2005 - Deactivated and personnel and equipment reassigned to D Company, 1st Battalion 167th Infantry.