B
2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry
History
1861
This is the closest I can get to the 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry. Our Version of the history was created from information I collected from different sources
The Second Infantry was recruited and enlisted for Federal duty under the first proclamation of President Lincoln on April 13, 1861, calling for 75,000 volunteers of the organized militia of the States to serve three months service. From Michigan militia companies, the Regiment was formed and accepted into Federal service as a three month Regiment. Whereupon the companies rendezvoused under that order; but, under subsequent instruction from the war department it was re-organized and re-enlisted as a three year Regiment, allowing those who so desired to withdraw from Federal service.
The members of the companies who remained were recognized as in the service of the State until mustered into the service of the United States. The militia accepted into Federal service were the "Detroit Scott Guard", the "Adrian Guard", the "Hudson Artillery" (as Infantry), the "Flint Union Guard", the "Battle Creek Artillery" (as Infantry), the "Constantine Union Guard", the "East Saginaw Guard", the "Kalamazoo Light Guard", the "Kalamazoo No. 2" and the "Niles Company". With the exception of the "Kalamazoo No. 2" and the "Niles Company", the Regiment was made up of these uniformed companies and ordered to wait at their home locations in organized units until needed.
The companies assigned to the Regiment had been anxiously waiting at their respective locations for acceptance into service and on receipt of the order on April 25th 1861 to rendezvous at Detroit, with remarkable promptness immediately commenced their movement, all being in camp by the 27th., much to the surprise of Colonel Israel B. Richardson (Photo on Right) who had expected that many days would elapse before they would reach camp, as a consequence of which, the quarters they reported to were not prepared for their reception. While in the process of organization the Regiment was ordered to Fort Wayne, near Detroit, where its recruitment was completed, being mustered into Federal service on May 25, 1861, with 1013 officers and men on its rolls, making them the first of the three year Regiments to be raised in the State. The Regiment moved from Fort Wayne on June 06th., for the field in Virginia, arriving in Washington D.C. on June the 10th., a few day�s later took up quarters at camp Winfield Scott on Washington Heights near the "Chain Bridge".
The Ladies of Niles gave a National Colors of silk to Company E before it left that city to join the Regiment in Detroit, which afterwards became the Regimental Colors. The flag was carried by the Regiment through all of its hard fought battles up to and including Fredricksburg, when it had became so tattered by wear and by some 40 bullet holes, that it was deemed unserviceable and was transferred back to the ladies who treasured it highly. It possesses a gallant record, having come out gloriously from every engagement it was in, while eleven of its upholders or defenders were either killed or wounded.
The Regiments first engagement was at Blackburn�s Ford on July 18, 1861, with a small loss in wounded, serving in General Tyler�s Division, Colonel Richardson being in command of the Brigade and Lt. Colonel Chipman having been appointed a Captain in the regular army, the command of the Regiment devolved upon Major Williams.
The Regiment, although not actually engaged at Bull Run, had the dubious honor, together with the Third Michigan, of covering the retreat of the Union troops from that disastrous field. During the winter the Regiment lay near Alexandria.
Colonel Israel B. Richardson having been put in charge of a Brigade is replaced by Orlando M. Poe (Photo on Right). Orlando M. Poe is promoted from Lieutenant in the United States Engineer Corp to Colonel of the 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry on September 16, 1861. He was a young but very competent officer and eventually liked and respected by both officers and men of the Regiment. (Col. O.M. Poe was one of the Engineer officers for General McClellan and when the General fell out of favor so did the Colonel of the 2nd Mich. Vol. Inf.)
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