The 2nd Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment also known as the 31st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army as part of the Pennsylvania Reserves infantry division during the American Civil War.
The 2nd Pennsylvania Reserves was organized in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in Fall 1861 and mustered into the service in May 1862 under the command of Colonel William B. Mann.
The regiment was attached to 1st Brigade, McCall's Pennsylvania Reserves Division, Army of the Potomac, to March 1862. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, I Corps, 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, Army of the Potomac, to August 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, III Corps, Army of 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, 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.
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 18âÂÂ21, 1861. Expedition to Grinnell's Farm December 6. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10âÂÂ15. McDowell's advance on Falmouth April 9âÂÂ19. Duty at Fredericksburg until June. Moved to White House June 9âÂÂ11. 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 16âÂÂ26. Battle of Groveton August 29; Second Battle of Bull Run August 30. Maryland Campaign September 6âÂÂ24. Battles of South Mountain September 14, and Antietam, September 16âÂÂ17. Duty in Maryland until October 30. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12âÂÂ15. "Mud March" January 20âÂÂ24, 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 1âÂÂ3. Pursuit of Lee July 5âÂÂ24. Bristoe Campaign October 9âÂÂ22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7âÂÂ8. Rappahannock Station November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Rapidan Campaign May 1864. Battles of the Wilderness May 5âÂÂ7. Laurel Hill May 8. Spotsylvania May 8âÂÂ12. Spotsylvania Court House May 12âÂÂ21. Assault on the Salient May 12. Harris Farm May 19. North Anna River May 23âÂÂ26. Jericho Ford May 25. On line of the Pamunkey May 26âÂÂ28. Totopotomoy May 28âÂÂ31. Left front June 1, 1864.
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.