The 2nd West Virginia Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Half of its companies were recruited from southwestern Pennsylvania. The other half of its companies were recruited from northwestern Virginia (eventually West Virginia) and Ohio regions near the Ohio River. The regiment was known as the 2nd Virginia Infantry prior to the creation of the state of West Virginia, and should not be confused with the Confederate 2nd Virginia Infantry Regiment.
The regiment conducted all of its fighting in Virginia and West Virginia. After May 1862, its commander in the field was usually Colonel George R. Latham. Until the spring of 1863, it usually fought as part of a brigade commanded by Brigadier General Robert H. Milroy. During May and June 1863, the regiment was converted to a mounted infantry by Brigadier General William W. Averell. During 1863 the mounted regiment was part of three of Averell's raids that threatened the Confederate Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. The major battles that were part of these raids were the Battle of White Sulphur Springs and the Battle of Droop Mountain.
On January 26, 1864, the regiment was reorganized as the 5th West Virginia Cavalry Regiment. On the same day, the 3rd West Virginia Infantry Regiment, which had been a mounted infantry and was often part of the same infantry brigade, was reorganized as the 6th West Virginia Cavalry Regiment. On December 14, 1864, the remaining battalion of the 5th West Virginia Cavalry was absorbed by the 6th West Virginia Cavalry.
Background and organization Background Fighting in the American Civil War began on April 12, 1861. The state (or commonwealth) of Virginia seceded from the United States on April 17, 1861, and joined seven southern states (three additional states seceded later) in the Confederate States of America. In the northwestern portion of Virginia, many people (especially non-slaveholders) preferred to remain loyal to the United States (a.k.a. the Union). Many others from this region remained loyal to Virginia and fought for the Confederacy. Virginians loyal to the United States approved pursuing their own statehood on October 24, 1861, and the northwestern portion of Virginia officially became the state of West Virginia on June 20, 1863.
During the Civil War and prior to the creation of West Virginia, the Confederacy had a 2nd Virginia Infantry Regiment, as did the Union. Reports from Union officers made early in the war sometimes referred to the loyal Union regiments as Virginia regiments. To avoid confusion, authors typically call the pro-Union Virginia regiments "West Virginia" regiments. Adding to the potential confusion for the Union's 2nd West Virginia Infantry Regiment, it became a mounted infantry regiment in 1863, and became the 5th West Virginia Cavalry Regiment in 1864. Toward the end of the year it was consolidated into the 6th Virginia Cavalry Regiment. Effective December 10, 1864, the 1st and 4th West Virginia Infantry regiments were combined into a new unit named 2nd West Virginia Veteran Infantry Regiment, and this unit has no relationship with the original 2nd West Virginia Infantry Regiment.
Organization
Original leaders of the regiment were Colonel John W. Moss, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Moran, and Major James D. Owen. All three were commissioned effective July 3, 1861. Among captains that would eventually be promoted were George R. Latham, Thomas Gibson, Douglas D. Barclay, Alexander Scott, and Patrick McNally. The companies served as detachments until they were brought together in Beverly, Virginia, during late July 1861. The 2nd West Virginia Infantry Regiment was the first Union regiment in Virginia (later West Virginia) enlisted for three years of service. A Wheeling newspaper called the regiment "2nd Virginia Regiment" in a July 17, 1861, article.
The regiment's CompanyA was organized in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, during April 1861. It was not accepted by the state, so it moved to Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia), and was mustered in on May 21, 1861. CompaniesD,F, andG were also from Pittsburgh and mustered in at Wheeling. Other companies from outside of Virginia were: CompanyH from Ironton, Ohio; and CompanyI from Washington County, Pennsylvania. The companies organized solely in Virginia were: CompanyB in Grafton; and CompanyC in Wheeling. Two companies had soldiers from multiple states. CompanyE was from Belmont County, Ohio; Monroe County, Ohio; and three Virginia counties—Ritchie, Taylor, and Wetzel. CompanyK was from Parkersburg, Virginia; and Bridgeport, Ohio.
West Virginia regiments were typically smaller than the average size because of the difficulties of recruiting in a state with mixed loyalties. The average regiment size during the American Civil War was about 1,000 when they were first organized. Each regiment had ten companies consisting of 97 enlisted men and three officers. In the case of the 2nd West Virginia Infantry and its successor, the 5th West Virginia Cavalry, it had a total enrollment of 1,069 (including replacements after the initial organization). Immediately after the regiment was organized, CompanyB was detached to Belington, Virginia, where it protected the area from Confederate guerrillas patrolling the mountains. Before 1862, sixty–five soldiers were discharged, and CompanyG was detached for artillery service.
Service as infantry Several of the companies served before they were designated as part of the 2nd West Virginia Infantry. For example: the unit that became CompanyA was known as the "Washington Rifle Guards". During May, June, and July 1861 it provided service guarding the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, as the body guard for Major General George B. McClellan, and participated in the Western Virginia campaign during the first half of July—all before it became CompanyA of the 2nd West Virginia Infantry during July. Once the companies of the regiment were unified, they were stationed in Beverly through September 11, 1861. On September 12 the regiment was sent to Elkwater, Virginia (now West Virginia). On the next day, it helped lead the attack in the Battle of Cheat Mountain against Confederate General Robert E. Lee, and drove the Confederates from their camp near a foot hill by the mountain. The regiment was led by Colonel Moss.
On November 13, the regiment's CompanyG was detached for artillery service. On January 7, 1862, the regiment was ordered to a Union camp on the top of Cheat Mountain where they relieved the 9th Indiana Infantry Regiment. They remained at the summit of the mountain for almost three months, conducting mostly picket and guard duty. From this windy and snowy camp they could see a Confederate camp across the valley in the Allegheny Mountains. CompanyB rejoined the regiment on January 22. At the end of March 1862, more regiments joined the 2nd West Virginia Infantry at the top of Cheat Mountain, and by April the regiment became part of Milroy's Brigade in the Mountain Department. The Mountain Department was led by Major General John C. Frémont.
Frémont and the Mountain Department
The 2nd West Virginia Infantry Regiment is credited with fighting in the Battle of McDowell on May 8, 1862, while part of a brigade commanded by Brigadier General Robert H. Milroy. CompanyB did some fighting, but the remainder of the regiment was held back in support of the artillery. Union forces were defeated by an army commanded by Major General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson. Milroy's casualty report did not list the 2nd West Virginia Infantry.
The regiment's Colonel Moss and Lieutenant Colonel Moran resigned during late May, and CompanyB's Captain George R. Latham was promoted to colonel commanding the regiment. Captain Alexander Scott of CompanyF was promoted to lieutenant colonel around that time. On May 21 Latham led a force of 500 soldiers in the capture a gang of bushwhackers, while Major James D. Owens commanded the remaining portion of the regiment.
The regiment continued to be part of Milroy's Brigade, and fought in the June8 Battle of Cross Keys. Milroy's Brigade consisted of the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th West Virginia Infantry regiments; plus the 25th Ohio Infantry, a detachment of the 1st West Virginia Cavalry, and three light artillery batteries. Casualties for the regiment were three killed, 19 wounded, and two captured or missing. Major Owens commanded the regiment.
Pope and the Army of Virginia
On June 26, 1862, Major General John Pope became commander of the newly organized Union Army of Virginia. The regiment continued as part of Milroy's Independent Brigade, only now it was part of the 1st Army Corps in Pope's Army of Virginia. Fremont refused to accept command of the 1st Army Corps, so Major General Franz Sigel was named commander, and he assumed command on June 30. Milroy's Brigade led the advance as Pope's Army moved toward Sperryville, Virginia, on July 4. Major Owens resigned effective July 7, making him the third of the regiment's top three original officers to resign. CompanyD's Captain Thomas Gibson was appointed major on that day, with a commission date of July 31.
The 1st Corps arrived at Culpeper, Virginia, on the morning of August 9. They remained there until the evening, and could hear the Battle of Cedar Mountain nearby. At that time they were rushed to the front, but did not engage in any serious fighting. The regiment is listed as participating in the August9 defeat in the battle, but the entire 1st Army Corps (including the 2nd West Virginia Infantry) is not listed in the casualties report.
For the period of August 16 through September 2 (Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia), the regiment's fighting included the First Battle of Rappahannock Station (a.k.a. Waterloo Bridge) on August 23–25, and Second Battle of Bull Run (a.k.a. Gainesville) beginning on August 28. Casualties for the regiment during the period were 24 killed, 90 wounded, and 24 missing or captured. This totaled to 138 casualties of the brigade's 437. During the fighting at Second Bull Run on August 29, the regiment lost about one fifth of its soldiers present. Lieutenant Colonel Scott lost his horse to gunfire while he was riding; and Lieutenant Hamilton B. James of CompanyE was killed.
Changes in command
By September 3, the exhausted regiment camped near Washington, D.C., and the Army of Virginia was merged into the Army of the Potomac. The regiment remained there until September 29, and then returned to western Virginia. The trip west took the regiment to Pittsburgh by railroad before moving on to western Virginia. Major Gibson, a Pittsburgh native, resigned to accept a position as one of the original majors of the newly recruited 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment that was mustered into service on November 23. The 2nd West Virginia Infantry's Captain Henry C. Flesher of CompanyF was promoted to major, with a commission date effective November 11, 1862.
With the exception of detachments for guard duty, the regiment spent most of its wintertime at Beverly. During December, the regiment was detached from Major General Milroy after he was promoted. In January 1863 the regiment became part of the District of West Virginia, Department of Ohio, and the brigade was commanded by Colonel Augustus Moor. Major Flesher resigned effective February 22, 1863, and Captain Patrick McNally of CompanyH was promoted to major with a commission date of March 16.