2nd West Virginia Infantry
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The 2nd West Virginia Infantry Regiment was an
infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...
regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...
that served in the Union Army during the
American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
. Many of its soldiers were actually from
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
. The regiment fought in
Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
and
West Virginia West Virginia is a mountainous U.S. state, state in the Southern United States, Southern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.The United States Census Bureau, Census Bureau and the Association of American ...
. On May 23, 1863, the regiment was converted to a mounted infantry by Brigadier General William W. Averell. The regiment was immediately sent to a camp for instruction and supplied. After its training, it usually fought as part of a brigade commanded by Averell. On January 26, 1864, it was converted to the 5th West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment.


Mustering

The 2nd West Virginia Infantry Regiment (originally known as the 2nd Virginia) was mustered into Federal service in mid-1861 by companies as follows; *Company "A" was recruited in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...
, and not accepted by its home state. It moved to Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia), and was mustered in on May 21, 1861. *Company "B" known as the "Grafton Guards," from Grafton was mustered in on May 25, 1861, at Wheeling. Commanded by Captain George R. Latham. *Company "C" from Wheeling was mustered in there on June 1, 1861. *Company "D" was recruited in Pittsburgh and not accepted by its home state. It moved to Wheeling and was mustered in on June 14, 1861. *Company "E" from Wheeling was mustered in there on June 16, 1861. *Company "F" was recruited in Pittsburgh and not accepted by its home state. It moved to Wheeling and was mustered in on June 24, 1861. *Company "G" was recruited in Pittsburgh and not accepted by its home state. It moved to Wheeling and was mustered in on June 13, 1861. *Company "H" was recruited in
Ironton, Ohio Ironton is a city in Lawrence County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Its population was 10,571 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located in southern Ohio, southernmost Ohio along the Ohio River, it is northwest of Huntingt ...
, and not accepted by its home state. It moved to Wheeling and was mustered in on June 28, 1861. *Company "I" was recruited in
Washington County, Pennsylvania Washington County is a County (United States), county in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 209,349. Its county seat is Washington, Pe ...
, and not accepted by its home state. It moved to Wheeling and was mustered in on July 10, 1861. *Company "K" from Parkersburg, Virginia (now West Virginia) was mustered in there on July 21, 1861.


Service

The regiment was converted to the 5th West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment on January 26, 1864.


Colonels

* George R. Latham


See also

*
West Virginia Units in the Civil War West Virginia, which seceded from Virginia to join the Union, provided the following units to the Union Army during the American Civil War. Units raised in the western counties prior to the creation of the state of West Virginia were often known ...
*
West Virginia in the Civil War The U.S. state of West Virginia was formed out of western Virginia and added to the Union as a direct result of the American Civil War (see History of West Virginia), in which it became the only modern state to have declared its independence ...


References


The Civil War Archive


External links


Posthumous Medal Presentation (August 2011)
to Pvt. August Sponholtz, KIA on March 10, 1863 Units and formations of the Union army from West Virginia 1861 establishments in the United States 1864 disestablishments in the United States Military units and formations established in 1861 Military units and formations disestablished in 1864 {{AmericanCivilWar-unit-stub