Second Michigan infantry Regiment in the American Civil War

United States Regiments & Batteries > Michigan > Second Michigan Infantry Regiment

The Second Michigan Infantry Regiment lost 11 officers and 214 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 4 officers and 143 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War.

1861
May 25	The Second Michigan Infantry Regiment was mustered in at Detroit, Michigan, under the command Colonel Israel Richardson (West Point Class of 1841), Lieutenant Colonel Henry Chipman, and Major Adolphus Williams. It was the first three-year regiment from Michigan. Company A – “Scott Guards” – Captain Louis Dillman Company B – “Hudson Artillery” – Captain R. A. Beach Company C – “Battle Creek Artillery – Captain Cornelius Byington Company D – “Adrian Guards” – Captain William Humphrey Company E – “Niles Company” – Captain R.M. Brethschneider Company F – “Flint Union Greys” – Captain W. R. Morse Company G – “Constantine Union Guards” – Captain J.A. Lawson Company H – “East Saginaw Guards” – Captain W.L. Whipple Company I – “Kalamazoo Light Guards” – Captain D. May Company K – “Kalamazoo No. 2” – Captain C.S. May
June 6-10	Moved to Washington, D.C.; Attached to Richardson’s Brigade, Tyler’s Division, McDowell’s Army of Northeastern Virginia
June 10 – July 16	Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C. at Camp Winfield Scott on the bluffs overlooking the Chain Bridge
July 16-21	Advance on Manassas, Virginia Colonel Richardson was given command of the brigade and Lieuteant Colonel Chipman left the regiment for a captaincy in the regular army, leaving Major Williams in command.
July 17	Occupation of Fairfax Court House
July 18	Action at Blackburn’s Ford
July 21	Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) The regiment was not engaged, but helped cover the retreat of the army to Washington.
August	Attached to Richardson’s Brigade, Division of the Potomac; Duty in the Defenses of Washington
September 16	Captain Orlando Poe of the United States Engineers (West Point Class of 1856) was appointed Colonel of the regiment
October	Assigned to Richardson’s Brigade, Heintzelman’s Division, Army of the Potomac
October 21-24	Reconnaissance to Occoquan
November 12-14	Reconnaissance to Pohick Church, Va.
1862
March	Attached to 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 3rd Corps, Army of the Potomac
March 6	Major Williams was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain Louis Dillman promoted to major
March 17	Moved to the Virginia Peninsula
April 5-May 4	Siege of Yorktown Lieutenant Colonel Williams was lightly wounded
May 5	Battle of Williamsburg The regiment lost 17 killed, 38 wounded, and 5 missing. Lieutenant Wallace was killed and Lieutenant Colonel Williams and Lieutenant Dobson wounded
May 31-June 1	Battle of Fair Oaks, or Seven Pines The regiment lost 10 men killed. Lieutenant Colonel Williams and 46 enlisted men were wounded
June 1-2	Reconnaissance beyond Seven Pines
June	Colonel Poe and Lieutenant Colonel Williams took a leave of absence, leaving Major Louis Dillman in command
June 25-July 1	Seven days before Richmond The regiment lost 2 killed and 19 wounded
June 25	Oak Grove
June 29	Savage Station
June 30	Glendale and Charles City Cross Roads
July 1	Malvern Hill
July 2 – August 15	Duty at Harrison’s Landing
July 26	Lieutenant Colonel Williams became colonel of the 20th Michigan Infantry. Major Dillman was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain Cornelius Byington to major
August	Attached to 3rd Brigade. 1st Division, 3rd Corps
August 15-28	Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Centreville, Va.
August 29	Battle of Groveton Colonel Poe took command of the brigade, leaving Lieutenant Colonel Dillman in command of the regiment
August 30	Second Battle of Bull Run (Second Manassas)
September 1	Battle of Chantilly
September 3 to October 11	Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C.
October 11- November 19	March up the Potomac to Leesburg, then to Falmouth, Va.
November	Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Corps, Army of the Potomac
December 12-15	Battle of Fredericksburg
1863
January 20-24	“Mud March”
February 10	Moved to Newport News, Va.
Feberuary 16	Colonel Poe resigned to accept promotion to brigadier general of volunteers, with rank from Novemnber 29. Captain William Humphrey was promoted to colonel
March 19-23	Movement to Kentucky
April	Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Ohio. Private Franklin Thompson of Flint deserted near Lebanon, Kentucky after it was discovered that she was a woman, “and a good loking one at that,” according to Colonel Poe.
April 9-30	Duty at Camp Dick Robinson, Kentucky.
May	At Columbia
June	Attached to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Corps, Army of the Tennessee
June 7-14	Moved to Vicksburg, Mississippi.
June 14-July 4	Siege of Vicksburg
July 4-10	Advance on Jackson, Mississippi.
July 10-17	Siege of Jackson
July 18-22	Destruction of Mississippi Central Railroad at Madison Station
July 23	Duty at Milldale
July 30	Lieutenant Colonel Dillman resigned
August	Attached to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Corps, Army of the Ohio
August 4-12	Moved to Covington, Kentucky
August 17-18	To Crab Orchard, Kentucky.
August 18 – October 17	Burnside’s Campaign in East Tennessee
September 10-26	March to Knoxville, Tennessee, over the Cumberland Mountains
September 27- October 3	Duty near Knoxville
October 10	Action at Blue Springs
November 4-December 23	Knoxville Campaign
November 16	Action at Campbell’s Station
November 17-December 5	Siege of Knoxville
November 24	Assault on Confederate works Major Cornelius Byington, Adjutant Noble, Lieutenants Gilpin and Frank Zoellner and 80 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded.
November 29	Repulse of Longstreet’s assault on Fort Saunders
December 14	Granger’s Mills
December	Operation in East Tennessee
1864
January	Attached to 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Corps, Army of the Ohio. 198 men reenlisted as Veteran Volunteers
February 4	Veterans on furlough
April	Attached to 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 9th Corps, Army of the Potomac
April 1	Captain Edwin March of the 27th Michigan was transferred in and promoted to lieutenant colonel
April 4	Veterans rejoined Corps at Annapolis, Md.
May 4	Campaign from the Rapidan to the James River
May 5-7	Battle of the Wilderness The Second Michigan Infantry Regiment was commanded by Colonel Humphrey. The regiment lost 6 men killed and 32 wounded and missing.
May 8-21	Battle of Spotsylvania Court House Colonel Humphrey temporarily took command of the brigade until he was wounded. Captain James Farrand, commanding the regiment, and one enlisted man were killed and 9 men were wounded
May 10	Ny River
May 12	Assault on the Salient
May 23-26	North Anna River
May 23-24	Ox Ford Lieutenant Nelson Fletcher was killed
May 26-28	On line of the Pamunkey
May 28-31	Totopotomoy
June 1-12	Battle of Cold Harbor
June 1-3	Bethesda Church Lieutenant George Williams and 1 enlisted man were killed or mortally wounded and 36 men wounded.
June 17	First Assault on Petersburg Captain James Bradley and 7 other men were killed, 74 men were wounded, and 4 missing. Colonel William Humphrey took command of the brigade, leaving Lieutenant Colonel March in command of the regiment
June 18	First Assault on Petersburg (cont.) Lieutenant Sherman was mortally wounded, 14 enlisted men were killed, Lieutenant Colonel March, Lieutenant Schneider and 66 enlisted men were wounded and 2 men were missing
July	Attached to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 9th Corps
July 30	Mine Explosion, Petersburg Captain John Young, Lieutenant John Bush and four enlisted men were killed, 14 men were wounded and 37 men missing.
August 18-21	Weldon Railroad Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel March, the regiment lost 1 killed, 2 wounded and 2 missing.
August 25	Ream’s Station
September	Attached to 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Corps
September 29- October 2	Poplar Springs Church, Pegram’s Farm The regiment lost 7 wounded and 12 missing
September 30	Colonel Humphrey mustered out, and Lt. Colonel March was promoted to colonel
October 8	Reconnaissance on Vaughan and Squirrel Level Roads
October 27-28	Boydton Road, Hatcher’s Run The 2nd Michigan Infantry Regiment lost 7 wounded and 7 missing, including Captain Frederick Schneider, who was wounded and captured.
October 29	Moved to a position on the City Point and Petersburg Railroad
December 18	Captain Schneider promoted to lieutenant colonel, but not exchanged until February 1865
1865
March 25	Fort Steadman, Petersburg Commanded by Captain J. C. Broughton
March 28-April 9	Appomattox Campaign
April 2	Fall of Petersburg
April 3	Occupation of Petersburg
April 3-9	Pursuit of Lee
April 17	Colonel March resigned, and Lieutenant Colonel Schneider was promoted to colonel
April 22-28	Moved to Washington, D.C.
May 23	Grand Review
July 29	Mustered out under Colonel Frederick Schneider
August 1	The Second Michigan Infantry Regiment was discharged at Detroit, Mich.

Advance on Manassas, Virginia

Siege of Yorktown

Battle of Williamsburg

Battle of Fair Oaks, or Seven Pines

Seven days before Richmond

Oak Grove

Savage Station

Glendale and Charles City Cross Roads

Malvern Hill

Battle of Chantilly

“Mud March”

Movement to Kentucky

Siege of Vicksburg

Siege of Jackson

Burnside’s Campaign in East Tennessee

Knoxville Campaign

Action at Campbell’s Station

Siege of Knoxville

Assault on Confederate works

Repulse of Longstreet’s assault on Fort Saunders

Operation in East Tennessee

Campaign from the Rapidan to the James River

Assault on the Salient

North Anna River

Ox Ford

Totopotomoy

Bethesda Church

First Assault on Petersburg (cont.)

Weldon Railroad

Poplar Springs Church, Pegram’s Farm

Boydton Road, Hatcher’s Run

Appomattox Campaign

Pursuit of Lee