The 2nd Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment also known as the 31st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry was an

infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and mar ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscript ...

that served in the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. It proved essential to th ...

as part of the

Pennsylvania Reserves The Pennsylvania Reserves were an infantry division in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Noted for its famous commanders and high casualties, it served in the Eastern Theater, and fought in many important battles, including Antietam ...

infantry division during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

Organization

Service

The 2nd Pennsylvania Reserves was organized in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

in Fall 1861 and mustered into the service in May 1862 under the command of

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

William B. Mann. The regiment was attached to 1st Brigade, McCall's Pennsylvania Reserves Division,

Army of the Potomac The Army of the Potomac was the principal Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It was created in July 1861 shortly after the First Battle of Bull Run and was disbanded in June 1865 following the surrender of the Confede ...

, to March 1862. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division,

I Corps I Corps, 1st Corps, or First Corps may refer to: France * 1st Army Corps (France) * I Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars * I Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French A ...

, Army of the Potomac, to April 1862. 1st Brigade, McCall's Division, Department of the Rappahannock, to June 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division,

V Corps 5th Corps, Fifth Corps, or V Corps may refer to: France * 5th Army Corps (France) * V Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars * V Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French Ar ...

, Army of the Potomac, to August 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, III Corps,

Army of Virginia The Army of Virginia was organized as a major unit of the Union Army and operated briefly and unsuccessfully in 1862 in the American Civil War. It should not be confused with its principal opponent, the Confederate Army of ''Northern'' Virginia ...

, to September 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, I Corps, Army of the Potomac, to February 1863. 1st Brigade, Pennsylvania Reserves Division, XXII Corps,

Department of Washington Department of Washington, was a department of the Union Army constituted on April 9, 1861. It consisted of the District of Columbia to its original boundaries, and the State of Maryland as far as Bladensburg. It was merged into the Military D ...

, to June 1863. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, V Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June 1864. The 2nd Pennsylvania Reserves mustered out June 16, 1864.

Detailed service

Moved to Easton, Pa., May 29, 1861, then to Harrisburg, Pa., July 24. Moved to Baltimore, then to Sandy Hook, near Harpers Ferry, Va. Ordered to Darnestown, Md., August 28; then to Tennallytown, Md., September 25 and joined McCall. Moved to Langley, Va., October 10, 1861, and duty at Camp Pierpont until March 1862. Reconnaissance toward Dranesville October 18-21, 1861. Expedition to Grinnell's Farm December 6. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-15. McDowell's advance on Falmouth April 9-19. Duty at Fredericksburg until June. Moved to White House June 9-11. Seven Days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Battles of Mechanicsville June 26. Gaine's Mill June 27. Savage's Station June 29. Charles City Cross Roads and Glendale June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison's Landing until August 16. Movement to join Pope August 16-26. Battle of Groveton August 29; Second Battle of Bull Run August 30. Maryland Campaign September 6-24. Battles of South Mountain September 14, and Antietam, September 16-17. Duty in Maryland until October 30. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. "Mud March" January 20-24, 1863. Ordered to Washington, D.C., and duty in the defenses there until June 25. Rejoined the Army of the Potomac. Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee July 5-24. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Rappahannock Station November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Rapidan Campaign May 1864. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7. Laurel Hill May 8. Spotsylvania May 8-12. Spotsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient May 12. Harris Farm May 19. North Anna River May 23-26. Jericho Ford May 25. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Left front June 1, 1864.

Casualties

The regiment lost a total of 151 men during service; 4 officers and 73 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 3 officers and 71 enlisted men died of disease.

Commanders

* Colonel William B. Mann - resigned November 1, 1861 * Colonel

William McCandless William McCandless (September 29, 1834 – June 17, 1884) was an American military officer and politician from Pennsylvania. He served in the Union Army during the American Civil War and commanded a regiment and then a brigade in the Pennsylva ...

* Lieutenant Colonel George A. Woodward - commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg * Captain James N. Byrnes - commanded at the Battle of Antietam * Captain Timothy Mealey - commanded at the Battle of Fredericksburg after Col. McCandless was promoted to brigade command

Notes

References

* * * * {{CWR

External links

Library of Congress picture of a camp follower 31st Pennsylvania Infantry US Civil war

2nd Pennsylvania Reserves monument at Gettysburg
Military units and formations established in 1861 Military units and formations disestablished in 1864 Units and formations of the Union Army from Pennsylvania