31st Cavalry Regiment (United States) - History

History

The last unit to fly a guidon with a 31st Cavalry designation was Troop E, 31st Cavalry, of the Alabama Army National Guard in Sylacauga, Alabama from 1973 to 2005. Troop E was formed in 1973 without an official history. It was created as a new unit to be the Reconnaissance for the recently formed 31st Armored Brigade. When E-Troop of the 31st Cavalry was created, no one bothered to document the correct history of the unit. There was an unofficial and incorrect history done that attempted to trace the history of Troop E, 31st Cavalry, but that version would more correctly be titled a history of units that Occupied the Armory in Sylacauga, Alabama, - and not a history of the 31st Cavalry and its lineage. Because the 31st Armored Brigade traced its history and lineage from the former 31st Infantry Division, that history makes the 31st Cavalry a direct lineal descendent of the earlier 31st Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop of the 31st Infantry Division.

The 31st Infantry Division was originally created in 1917, and after service in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War, it was later deactivated in 1968 as a part of a Department of Defense budget restructuring in order to make funds available to modernize several other National Guard Divisions. From 1968 until 1974 the Alabama units that had formerly been assigned to the 31st Infantry Division were transferred to the 30th Armor Division. In 1974 the 31st Separate Armor Brigade was formed, and in consequence, they became the inheritors of the 31st Division lineage. Upon the creation of the new 31st Brigade, they drew their manpower from the Alabama units that had previously been a part of the 31st Infantry Division. "E" Troop is specifically named in the Order of Battle for the 31st Armor Brigade, dating from 2005, back to the Brigades inception in 1974. The "official" lineage of E Troop / 31st Cavalry states that it was constituted on 1 November 1973, however, its lineage traces much further back into history. Prior to the 1973-4 creation of the 31st Cavalry, and its parent organization the 31st Armored Brigade, the 31st Infantry Division "Order of Battle" doesn't list a specific "31st Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop" until prior to 1960. During the period, from 1960, until the disbandment of the Division in 1968: the Reconnaissance Mission for the 31st Infantry Division was first assigned to the 2nd Reconnaissance Squadron, 198th Armor (MSARNG); and in 1965 to that unit's later incarnation as the 1st Squadron, 98th Cavalry (MSARNG) and in 1973 to the still later incarnation as A Troop / 98th Cavalry (MSARNG) now located in Louisville, Mississippi. While A Troop / 98th Cavalry, of the 155th Armor Brigade does claim the lineage of having once been the reconnaissance asset of the former 31st Infantry Division from 1960 to '68, ... their own unit history ends further historical lineage by tying their history to the 750th Tank Battalion (with Headquarters in Greenville) as created in 1959. Alabama‘s "E Troop" is in no way lineal descended from Mississippi's 98th Cavalry, but is more akin to a prodigal brother, who after an absence of about 14 years had returned to claim their right as inheritor of the 31st Reconnaissance Mission after the 1968 demise of the 31st Infantry Division, and the 1974 creation of the 31st Brigade.

According to the 31st Division Order of Battle, there was a "31st Reconnaissance Company" from 1954 to 1960. Prior to that, there was a "31st Reconnaissance Troop" from 1945 to 1954. Prior to that, there was a "31st Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop" from 1942 to 1945. According to the 1951 "Dixie Division" Year Book, the "31st Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop" was reorganized and redesignated as the "31st Reconnaissance Company" on 23 January 1948. It additionally states that prior to that, the Alabama-Mississippi National Guard was reorganized in 1946, and the Jackson, Mississippi based "31st Cavalry Recon Troop" was activated as a part of the "Dixie Division" on 26 February 1947. According to the 31st Division in World War II Year Book, the 31st Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop was formed on 26 February 1942 from the officers of Headquarters Company of the 61st Infantry Brigade, and from men from across the 31st Division's various Regiments (including the Alabama 167th Infantry and 117th Field Artillery) who had been training in Reconnaissance as a "special duty" assignment since early in 1941. Prior to the 1942 revision of the Division Level T/O & E (Table of Organization and Equipment,) the 31st Division was not authorized its own direct reconnaissance asset. These are the same unit, with era modified designations, and are the direct lineal forbears of the modern "E-Troop / 31st Cavalry."

Information available about National Guard units during the time period between the two World Wars is very sketchy, requiring a step all the way back to when the division was organized at Camp Wheeler, Georgia. (near Macon, Georgia,) on 1 October 1917. The 31st Division was composed of National Guard Troops from Georgia, Alabama and Florida, and included as its reconnaissance asset the 1st Regiment of Alabama Cavalry. Shortly after the division was formed, the T/O & E for infantry divisions deleted a reconnaissance asset at that level, relinquishing that mission to the Corps Level only.

The men, horses and equipment of the 1st Alabama Cavalry Regiment was divided into the 117th Field Artillery, the 106th Trench Mortar Battery, and the 118th Machine Gun Battalion.

In a 1949 publication of the 31st Division World War II history, the 117th Field Artillery claims to have begun its existence as the 1st Alabama Cavalry that was organized in 1916. Apparently the majority of former 1st Alabama Cavalry personnel gravitated to the horses of the then still "horse-drawn" Artillery.

The 106th Trench Mortar Battery was organized in September 1917 at Camp Wheeler, Georgia as component of 31st Division (56th Field Artillery Brigade) (formed from troops, 1st Cavalry, AL NG). Moved overseas in October 1918. Returned to the US January 1919 and demobilized at Camp Gordon, Georgia.

The 118th Machine Gun Battalion was organized October 1917 at Camp Wheeler, GA as component of 31st Division (62nd Infantry Brigade) (formed from the Machine Gun Troop., 1st Cavalry, AL NG, two companies, 1st Infantry, GA NG, and personnel from 1st Infantry, Florida NG). Moved overseas October 1918. Skeletonized November 1918. Returned to the US December 1918 and demobilized January 1919 at Camp Gordon, GA.

As a Division, the 31st remained in training at Camp Wheeler until September 1918. The first units sailed for overseas on 16 September 1918, and the last units arrived in France on 9 November 1918. Upon arrival in France the division was designated as a replacement division and ordered to the Le Mans area. The personnel of most of the units were withdrawn from the division and sent to other divisions as replacements, causing the 31st to exist only as a skeletonized division. After returning to the United States, the Division was demobilized in 1919. ... In 1923, the division was reorganized as a National Guard Division drawing its personnel from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. As an "Infantry" Division, the 31st was still not authorized its own Reconnaissance Asset under the then current T/O & E. The division also did not reorganize the 106th Trench Mortar Battery, or any of its Machine Gun Battalions. Personnel from those units who desired to continue National Guard Service were reassigned to other units.

The 117th Field Artillery had been reorganized in 1921 as the 141st Field Artillery under Colonel Allison Owen, and 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.

With but a couple of exceptions, the writer has not been able to identify any "Cavalry" units within the State of Alabama from the prohibitive 1865 to 1877 "Reconstruction" Period, until the formation of the 1st Alabama Cavalry in 1916, and its subsequent absorption into the 31st Division immediately prior to World War I. ... 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. And later, in 1898 the "Montgomery Mounted Rifles" were described as an independent Company of the Alabama Militia who had formed for the war with Spain in 1898, but were not called into Active Federal Service, and did not deploy outside of its home state of Alabama. Prior to this incarnation, the Montgomery Mounted Rifles had once been a part of the First Alabama Cavalry during the American Civil War in the 1860s. Unanswered at this time is whether any of the other former companies of the First Alabama Cavalry, ... or any other Cavalry Company from Alabama made an attempt to reform. It is known that in 1898, that the former Confederate Fourth Alabama Infantry had reformed and joined into a Brigade with other Alabama units, and were sent to Mobile, Alabama, but did not deploy into combat in either Cuba, Puerto Rico, or the Philippines.

With World War I looming overseas, the "First Alabama Cavalry" had been formed as a result of the "National Defense Act of 1916", and its Troops were spread throughout the state. Their first Lieutenant Colonel was David Bibb Graves, who would later become Alabama's fortieth and forty-second Governor. Immediately after its formation, the Regiment was assigned to the Alabama Brigade, and sent westward to New Mexico to participate in the Mexican Punitive Expedition against Poncho Villa. With valuable combat experience under their belt, they returned to Alabama in 1917 just in time to be assigned to the 31st Division as described earlier.

Going back to the period of the American Civil War, the lineage of the 31st Cavalry divides through the two different 1st Alabama Cavalry Regiments. There were in fact two different 1st Alabama Cavalry Regiments: one US; and one CS. Each was, Cavalry, and each were from Alabama, each can claim common lineage, but one unit served the Confederacy, while the other (obviously) served the Union. Ironically, they fought against each other in several campaigns and battles throughout that terrible struggle.

Of the several Companies of the First Alabama Cavalry, the "Montgomery Mounted Rifles" were the only Company who had acquired recent actual combat experience. While they were still an independent Company, and were training with other southern troops at General Braxton Braggs "Camp of Instruction" in Pensacola, Florida, the "Montgomery Mounted Rifles", landed on Santa Rosa Island, Florida on 19 July 1861. They attacked a small boat from the Union ship - Mohawk, that was attempting to resupply the Union held Fort Pickens there on that island. The Federal crew suffered a number of wounded, and the officer in charge of the landing party was killed.

Prior to the Civil War period, the Cavalry was formed as Independent Company's, that referred to themselves as "Alabama Mounted Volunteers." To differentiate between the different Company's, they referred to themselves either by the name of their Commander, or by a name given to themselves, (much like modern sports team names.) It is as these loosely knit independent Company's that the lineage of the Cavalry in Alabama traces back through the Mexican-American War, the Creek War and the Seminole Wars, and back to the Alabama Militia Law of 1820.

According to the Alabama Militia Law of December 1820, the Militia of Alabama included every able bodied male between the age of 18 and 45. The State was divided into Four Divisions, which was sub-divided into Nine Brigades, and sub-divided into Thirty-Two Regiments, and each of those divided into between two to five Companies each. Section 42. of the Law stated that there may be one Troop of Cavalry, and one Company of Artillery in each regiment, organized in the same manner and liable to perform the same duties as volunteer companies. In Section 3, The County of Jackson, Alabama was designated as the First Regiment of the Alabama Militia, and thus was the origin of the 1st Regiment Cavalry Troop, the earliest documentable unit in the lineage of the modern E Troop / 31st Cavalry. Each Company consisted of not less than forty Privates and was commanded by a Captain, followed by a Lieutenant and an Ensign, four Sergeants, four Corporals and two Musicians. According to the Alabama Military Register, The first Commander of the 1st Regiment of Alabama Militia was Colonel Louis Kirby, who received his commission on 28 March 1821, and the 1st Regiments Cavalry Troop Commander was Captain John Hampton, who received his commission on 24 July 1821.

Prior to Alabama becoming a US Territory, US Dragoons and Tennessee Mounted Militia rode through what is now Alabama during the War of 1812. The US campaign was in retaliation for the 1813 "Red Stick" Creek Indian attack that killed over 400 settlers at Fort Mims just north of Mobile, Alabama. The "Red Sticks" got their name because of the US war with Great Britain, a schism had developed between two factions of the Creek Confederacy during the War of 1812 . During a ceremony, the two factions chose their allegiance by drawing either a "red stick" for war with the Americans (and an alliance with the British with the hope of reclaiming lost lands), while the others chose a "white stick" for peace with the Americans. In the resulting Creek War, General Andrew Jackson commanded combined forces of Tennessee Militia, U.S. Regulars, and Cherokee and Southern "White Stick" Creek Indians. Jackson defeated the Red Stick Creeks at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814, and afterwards initiated construction of a Fort atop the site of the old French Fort Toulouse near present day Wetumpka, Alabama. Jackson briefly traveled to Washington and in his absence the Fort was named "Jackson" in his honor. After Jackson's return, he imposed the Treaty of Fort Jackson upon the entire Creek Nation, regardless that the Southern half of the Creek Confederacy had been his "White Stick" Ally. The defeat of the Creeks allowed Jackson to take his troops on to New Orleans where he defeated a numerically superior English force in January 1815. It was many of those Tennessee Militiamen who later migrated into the Alabama Territory that filled the ranks of the first Alabama Militia.