2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment

United States Regiments & Batteries > Michigan

The 2n Michigan Volunteer 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 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment was mustered in at Detroit, Mich., under the command Colonel Israel Richardson, 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, Va.

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 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 Army 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 Army 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 (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 Army 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, Ky.
May At Columbia
June Attached to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee
June 7-14 Moved to Vicksburg, Miss.
June 14-July 4 Siege of Vicksburg
July 4-10 Advance on Jackson, Miss.
July 10-17 Siege of Jackson
July 18-22 Destruction of Mississippi Central Railroad at Madison Station
July 23 Duty at Milldale
July 30 Lt. Colonel Dillman resigns
August Attached to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Ohio
August 4-12 Moved to Covington, Ky.
August 17-18 To Crab Orchard, Ky.
August 18 – October 17 Burnside’s Campaign in East Tennessee
September 10-26 March to Knoxville, Tenn., 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 Army Corps, Army of the Ohio. 198 men reenlisted as Veteran Volunteers
February 4 Veterans on furlough
April Attached to 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
April 1 Captain Edwin March of the 27th Michigan 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 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment  was commanded by Colonel Humphrey, the regiment lost 6 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 1 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 Army 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 Army 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 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
Assault on and fall of Petersburg
April 3 Occupation of Petersburg
April 3-9 Pursuit of Lee
April 17 Colonel March resigned, and Lt. 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 2nd Michigan Infantry Regiment was discharged at Detroit, Mich.