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January |
In Kansas and Nebraska under the command of Colonel Dixon S. Miles.
Headquarters and Companies E and F at Fort Kearny
Companies A, D and I, at Fort Abercrombie
Company B at Fort Scott
Companies C and K at Fort Ripley
Company G and H at Fort Riley
Company H at Fort Larned
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February |
Company B moved from Kansas to St. Louis, Mo.
Company D under Captain Nathaniel Lyon transferred to St. Louis Arsenal |
June 13-17 |
Expedition to Booneville, Mo.(Company B) |
June 13 |
Capture of Jefferson City, Mo. (Company B) |
June 17 |
Action at Booneville, Mo. (Company B) |
July |
Headquarters and Companies C and K reach Washington, D.C. Attached to Porter's 1st Brigade, Hunter's Division, McDowell's Army of Northeast Virginia
Companies B in the field in Missouri
Company E moved to St., Louis, Mo. |
July |
Lyon's Springfield, Mo. Campaign (Company B) |
July 16-21 |
Advance on Manassas, Va. (Companies C and K) |
July 21 |
Battle of Bull Run (Companies C and K)
Colonel Myles commanded a division, in the advance, while companies C&K were under the overall command of Major Geroge Sykes |
August |
Attached to Porter's City Guard, Washington, D.C. Companies A, D and I join regimental headquarters at Georgetown |
August 2 |
Companies B and E engaged with the enemy at Dug Springs, Mo. Captain Steele was in command, with Company B commanded by 1st Sergeant Griffin and Company E commanded by 1st Sergeant G. H. McLoughlin. One man of E Company was wounded. |
August 10 |
Battle of Wilson's Creek, Mo. (Company E) |
December |
Regiment (except Company H at Fort Larned, Kan., under Captain A. Sully) concentrated at Washington Attached to Syke's Regular Infantry Brigade, Army Potomac for Provost Duty in and around Washington |
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March |
Moved to the Virginia Peninsula. attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps, Army Potomac |
April 5-May 4 |
Siege of Yorktown |
June 25-July 1 |
Seven days before Richmond |
June 26 |
Battle of Mechanicsville |
June 27 |
Gaines' Mill
The strength of the battalion going into action was 446. Kept the enemy in check five hours against overwhelming odds, losing 138 men in killed, wounded and missing, including Sergeant Lacey, who was severely wounded and became an officer about a month later.
The following are extracts from an account of the regiment at Gaines' Mill, written by Major F. E. Lacey who was the first sergeant of Company I in this the first heavy fight of the regiment in the Civil War.
"Bright and early on the morning of the 26th camp was broken, everything packed up, and we moved to Mechanicsville to support McCall's Pennsylvanians who were at that point. Early on the morning of the 27th our line is formed in a sunken road near the old mill which gives the battle its Union name. A grave, a fatal blunder is here made. All the entrenching tools are sent to the rear. We are here between three and four hours before the action commences,--ample time to construct works which would have cost the enemy dearly to approach. About 11 o'clock A. M., the Confederate skirmishers come slowly and cautiously into view, followed by artillery. During this time the infantry is taking position in a strip of timber immediately in our front. The first gun is fired by the rebels; a little later a shot from the enemy kills four of our men. A shell from one of our guns blows up a caisson in a Confederate battery just opposite to us. The artillery duel lasts about half an hour. Soon after it ends the enemy's infantry comes out of the woods to attack us. As they are forming line the Second opens fire on them and sends them reeling to the timber. A fresh regiment takes its place and meets the same fate. Two musicians of I Company--mere boys--go out under a heavy fire and bring in some wounded men. Their names are Robert Nelson and Bartly Scanlan. A body of Confederates now comes out of the timber; the Second springs at them with cold steel and drives them back to the woods.
Here Brinley was killed and Jordan severely wounded--shot through the knee--two gallant officers, a great loss to the regiment. The intrepid bearer of the National colors, --Sergeant Thomas Madigan of A Company, a veteran of the Mexican War, --received a wound from which he died a few days later. The brave old fellow had participated in every battle in which the regiment was engaged in the war with Mexico. The next to take his place, --Corporal Konsmiller, a fine young German, --was shot through the head and killed.
We are now in a critical position, fighting in open ground, the foe in the woods. The enemy repeatedly tries to break our line, but fails; the old Second never wavers but stands like an iron wall. The left wing of the corps having been driven back a considerable distance, we fall back and form in an old peach orchard. This position is held until nearly sunset. Resistance now seems to be in vain, our ranks are fearfully thinned, so we fall back in line of battle with colors flying. We soon Come to a bunch of timber and are halted; the left wing does not hear the command and continues its march through the woods. The reason for the halt is explained. A crippled battery is left behind us, the enemy is near at hand, the right wing is asked to save the battery and responds with a hearty cheer, and at the same time dashes to the front led by Lieutenant Parker, 2d Infantry, one of General Sykes' aides. The battery is passed, the wing halts within thirty yards of the advancing enemy, opens fire and brings them to a stand. Lieutenant Drum greatly distinguishes himself. Now the fearless Parker receives a volley: he sways in his saddle and falls from his horse dead. The guns are saved; but at what a cost! We lose more men in this last charge than at any time during the day. The remnant falls back and at dark is united with the left wing and the battle of Gaines' Mill, after eight hours of hard fighting, is ended.
The regiment left its camp on the Gainesville road early on the morning of August 30, and moved in the direction of Bull Run Creek, and was formed in line of battle on the left bank of the creek between 8 and 9 o'clock A. M., remaining in that position until about 3.30 P. M., when orders were received to fall back and take position on the right bank of the creek in the timber, near the crest of the ridge. It remained here some fifteen or twenty minutes before the enemy opened his fire, which was intensely severe and continued so for about three-quarters of an hour, when it was ordered to fall back to the timber across the road. Both officers and men conducted themselves, without a single exception, in the coolest and most determined manner, although casualties were very numerous.
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June 30 |
Turkey Bridge |
July 1 |
Malvern Hill
Suffered no loss. Was part of the rear guard in the retreat to Harrison's Landing. |
July |
At Harrison's Landing |
August 16-28 |
Moved to Fortress Monroe, then to Centerville |
August 28 - September 2 |
Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia |
August 29 |
Battle of Groveton |
August 30 |
Bull Run
Lieutenant William Kidd was killed and Lieutenants Ellinwood and Markley wounded. 71 enlisted men were killed, wounded or missing. |
September 2 |
Left camp at Centerville and marched to Antietam Creek |
September 6-22 |
Maryland Campaign
Attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps.
Regimental commander Colonel Dixon Miles, commanding Union forces at Harpers Ferry, was mortally wounded while surrendering the post. Colonel Sidney Burbank succeeded him as commander of the regiment. |
September 15 |
Went into position near the village of Sharpsburg, Md., remaining there two days exposed to the enemy's artillery and sharpshooters. |
September 17 |
Battle of Antietam
Under the command of Lieutenant John Scroggs Poland, rossed Antietam Creek and went into action in support of Tidball's battery.
Lieutenant J. S. Poland, who was in command of the regiment in this fight, makes the following statement in his report:
"Lieutenant McKee, commanding Companies I and A, 2d Infantry, while deploying to the front was severely wounded and compelled to leave the field. The command of these companies devolved upon 1st Sergeant F. E. Lacey, commanding Company I, 2d Infantry, who handled them well. In advancing to the fence at which our line was to rest, the skirmishers were obliged to pass over a ridge completely commanded by the enemy's sharpshooters and battery posted to the left of the cornfield in front of the right of my line. When we appeared above the crest the enemy opened with a heavy fire of case shot and canister. The line did not waver but rapidly moved to the fence. The right advanced beyond, however, before I could convey the order to them to halt at the fence, and by a well directed fire compelled the enemy's cannoneers to leave their guns. *** Lieutenant McLoughlin and Sergeant Lacey commanded the companies on the right. Sergeant Lacey was soon after wounded and unwillingly compelled to leave the field. Our position was held until all the ammunition had been expended on the left and nearly all on the right."
In a very short time the regiment was relieved by the 17th Michigan and the 1st Battalion of the 14th U. S. Infantry. The regiment camped on the battle-field, and on the 29th crossed the Potomac at the ford below Shepherdstown, W. Va., in pursuit of the enemy, and moved about a mile beyond the river where they were discovered in force. The regiment skirmished all day, but had no casualties and recrossed the river that night. In this fight 1st Sergeant Daniel W. Burke, of B Company, distinguished himself by returning and spiking a piece of artillery in the face of the enemy's sharpshooters. |
September 19-20 |
Shepherdstown Ford |
October |
Rest and reequipment at Sharpsburg |
October 29-
November 19 |
Movement to Falmouth, Va. |
December 12-15 |
Battle of Fredericksburg
At 2.15 P.M., on the 13th of December, 1862, the regiment left its bivouac near Falmouth and formed under cover of the Phillips house and close to the pontoon bridge. It crossed the river shortly after and went into position on the left of the road on the south side of the village.
"At 5 P. M., the battalion was ordered to move to the crest of the hill, 100 yards in advance of its former position, to protect the withdrawal of a battery. During this forward movement the battery was withdrawn and the battalion halted in rear of a ditch, the banks of which afforded good cover."
At 10 P. M., they advanced to within about 80 yards of the stone wall occupied by the enemy.
"On the morning of the 14th the enemy opened a murderous fire, driving in our pickets. The battalion was ordered to lie down behind a slight elevation of ground (about one foot), giving some protection, where it was obliged to remain until dark, under a terrific fire, the plane of which passed not more than a foot over the ground on which they lay."
"To move even was sure to draw the fire of the enemy's sharpshooters, who were posted in the adjacent houses and in tree tops, and whose fire we were unable to return. Thus the troops remained twelve long hours unable to eat, drink or attend to the calls of nature, for so relentless was the enemy that not even a wounded man or our stretcher-carriers were exempted from their fire."
"Never did discipline shine more resplendently, never was the reputation of a regiment more nobly, more incontrovertably confirmed than that of the Second: never could a battalion more signally gain the title of brave and excellent soldiers than on that ever-to-be-remembered Sabbath of December 14, 1862."
The regiment remained in Fredericksburg until the morning of the 16th, when it returned to its old camp near Potomac Creek. Sixteen men were wounded in this battle and three missing.
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January 20-24 |
"Mud March" |
April 27-May 6 |
Chancellorsville Campaign |
May 1-5 |
Battle of Chancellorsville
Chancellorsville campaign commenced. The following are extracts from an account written by Patrick Breen, who was a corporal in the color guard of the regiment during this battle, and afterwards 1st sergeant of C Company and Ordnance sergeant, U. S. A. He is now retired and living at Vincennes, Ind.
On May 1st, advancing in open country in line of battle, Captain Salem S. Marsh commanding, the regiment halted on the right of the Sixth Infantry in the centre of a field. It was on the right of the entire 5th Corps. Not more than five minutes had elapsed after halting in line before a volley of musketry was poured into our ranks by the unseen enemy, who had been hidden from view by the heavy timber not more than 200 yards in our front. After the first fire was delivered by the enemy we commenced to peg away at the rebels in the timber. In a few minutes the regiment, with the brigade, fell back about 25 yards and opened again on the enemy. The fire of the regiment had a telling effect on the rebels as they could be seen limping off the field every minute. The regiment remained in its new position but a short time when it was discovered that the rebels were moving around our flank. Captain Marsh, ever on the alert, was quick to discover the intentions of the enemy and immediately thwarted the move by changing front to the half-right, at the same time maintaining his position in line with the brigade. Shortly after this a rebel bullet struck him in the forehead, killing him instantly. The command now devolved on Captain S. A. McKee. During the short time that Captain Marsh was in command of the regiment, he endeared himself to the very hearts of his men by his bearing as a soldier and an officer, and his gentlemanly manner at all times, no matter what the occasion.
After we attained the timber to the right of the turnpike and were supported by Hancock's Division, the rebels gradually advanced, very cautiously, and we did not open fire on them until within short range, and then with such effect that they very soon retired from the contest, leaving their dead and badly wounded in our hands. Thus ended the day for the Second Infantry at the battle of Chancellorsville. We laid all the next day behind improvised breast works, rudely thrown up with whatever implements were at hand at the time; even the bayonet was brought into use in this entrenching business. The regiment remained in the entrenchments until the evening of the 3d, and the retreat of the army having commenced that evening in a drenching rain, the morning of the 4th found the 2d Division, 5th Corps, the last troops crossing the river, covering the retreat of the Army of the Potomac, and the 2d Infantry was with it. |
June 11-July 24 |
Gettysburg Campaign |
June 13 |
Company H joined Regiment at Benson's Mills, Va., from Fort Larned, Kansas |
June 29 |
The regiment left Frederick on the march north to Pennsylvania |
June 30 |
13 officers and 224 men present for duty |
July 1-3 |
Battle of Gettysburg
Arrived about 8 A. M. July 2, and went into position on the right of the 5th Corps. Twenty men of the regiment were thrown forward as skirmishers into a body of woods, beyond which and to the right could be seen the enemy's pickets. After a skirmish of nearly two hours, during which there was considerable firing and some casualties, the line was marched by a flank movement to the left and rear about two miles, where it rested until about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, at which time it moved in the direction of the heavy cannonading on the extreme left of the Union line of battle. As it advanced the rapidity of the firing increased and staff officers rode up rapidly to hurry the command to the front, which was done at a double-time.
As soon as the brigade reached the vicinity of Round Top, it formed line to the right, with the 2d Infantry on the right of the line, and advanced at a double-quick down a steep hill and across a marsh fifty yards wide and ankle deep with mire. During this movement the regiment suffered from a severe fire of sharpshooters from the right, left, and front. The marsh being passed, the Second moved rapidly forward and drove a body of the enemy's sharpshooters from a rocky and exposed elevation, pursuing them into the woods beyond. Here it halted and took shelter behind a low stone wall and remained inactive while column after column of Union infantry moved across and perpendicular to its front. After these troops had passed, the regiment was ordered forward beyond the wall with instructions to wheel to the left in a rye field. The wheel was about half completed when the enemy was observed to be moving rapidly to outflank the right, so the Second halted and opened a rapid and continuous fire, which was sharply returned.
Major A. T. Lee, 2d Infantry, commanding the regiment, was wounded at this time, but gallantly retained command until the loss of blood compelled him to retire just at the close of the battle, Captain McKee succeeding him. The enemy continued to grow stronger on the right flank and the regiment was ordered to retire. The word was scarcely given when three lines of the enemy, elevated one above another on a slope to the right, poured in a most destructive fire, almost decimating the regiment and cutting off the color staff, causing the colors to fall into the hands of the color bearer. Under a most withering fire from the sharpshooters on the left and a column of the enemy's infantry on the right and rear, overwhelmed with a perfect storm of shot and shell, the regiment fell back slowly, recrossed the stone wall, the rocky elevation and the marsh in as good order as the formation of the ground would admit, and returned to its original position on the crest of the hill.
The regiment was only engaged from about 5.30 P. M. until about dark, and in this short time lost Lieutenant Goodrich and seven men killed, and Major Lee and Lieutenants McLoughlin, Burke and Lacey, with 53 men, wounded. On the third and last day of Gettysburg the regiment was in reserve, and although held in readiness was not engaged again during the battle. |
July 5-24 |
Pursuit of Lee |
July 23 |
Reconnoissance near Manassas |
July 29 |
Reached Warrenton, having marched 320 miles since June 1 |
August-September |
To New York for Draft Riots |
October 9-22 |
Bristoe Campaign |
November 7-8 |
Advance to line of the Rappahannock |
November 26-December 2 |
Mine Run Campaign |
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Winter |
Captain McKee killed by guerrillas while riding between camps |
March |
Assigned to 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps |
April 11 |
Near Greenwich (Companies C, H, K) |
April |
Assigned to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps |
May 1-June 12 |
Rapidan Campaign
On May 1 there were 10 officers and 181 men present for duty, and during the campaign the loss of was five officers wounded and 45 men killed, wounded and missing. |
May 1 |
The regiment set out from Rappahannock Station at sunrise and encamped that night at Brandy Station. |
May 2 |
Crossed the Rapidan at Germannia Ford at noon and was ordered forward to attack up the road leading to Mine Run, driving the enemy some distance back on the pike. It was severely engaged all the afternoon and returned that night to its original position. |
May 3 |
Placed on picket duty until two o'clock on the morning of the 8th. |
May 5-7 |
Battle of the Wilderness |
May 8-21 |
Spotsylvania Court House |
May 8 |
The regiment rejoined the brigade at Laurel Hill and was engaged there all day.
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May 22-26 |
North Anna River |
May 26-28 |
On line of the Pamunkey |
May 28-31 |
Totopotomoy |
June 1 |
The regiment's strength was less than 100 men, and was consolidated to a single company (C company) with a full compliment of officers and non-commissioned officers. |
June 1-12 |
Cold Harbor
The company-strength regiment lost 8 men killed and wounded and two officers and 19 men captured. |
June |
Assigned to Provost Guard, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps |
June 1-3 |
Bethesda Church |
June 16-18 |
Before Petersburg |
June 16 |
Siege of Petersburg |
July 30 |
Mine Explosion, Petersburg (Reserve) |
August 18-21 |
Weldon Railroad |
September 29-October 2 |
Poplar Springs Church, Peeble's Farm |
October |
Moved to Newport Barracks, Ky. until October 1865 |
December |
The regiment's total enlisted strength was 405.
Headquarters and Companies A, B, , E, G, I and K at Newport Barracks Ky.;
Company C at Elmira, N. Y.
Company F at Sandusky, Ohio
Company H at Trenton, N. J. |
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Fall |
Regiment concentrated at Crittenden Barracks except for Company H at Jeffersonville, Ind..
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