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 The 5th West Virginia Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 5th West Virginia Cavalry Regiment was organized from the 2nd West Virginia Infantry Regiment on January 26, 1 ...

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

on January 26, 1864.

Colonels

George R. Latham George Robert Latham (March 9, 1832 – December 16, 1917) was a 19th-century Virginia farmer, lawyer and politician who helped found the state of West Virginia during the American Civil War, during which he served as a colonel in the Union ...

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

Mustering

Service

Colonels

See also

References

External links