Dec. 12th 1861 to Mar. 13th 1862 cont.

The 2nd Michigan goes into Winter Quarters for their first time which they named Camp Michigan

* Jan. 7th 1862

Over 600 privates of the 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry signed a petition to be transferred into an artillery unit

* Jan.14th 1862

General McLellan tells the Regiment that he wishes them to remain Infantry.

* Jan.19th 1862

The 2nd Lt. of Company "H" is shot while on picket. A second soldier (Coy "I" went off for provisions at noon and had not returned. According to the Civil War Letters of Perry Mayo there was 1 Killed and 1 Wounded.

* Jan. 25th

The 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry received their FIRST rifled muskets.

* Feb. 2nd

A pair of boxing gloves comes into the Regiment. Matches between men of the 2nd will keep them entertained during the long winter encampment.

* Feb. 14th

Almost the entire 2nd Mich. try to volunteer to the call for 600 men from division to man gun boats in the Western Theater. They were told that only sailors could go.

* Feb. 24th

The 2nd Mich. march 3 � miles to Windsor Hill as support for the 37th NY which had been attacked while on picket duty. They returned to camp without further incident.

* March 6th

Three men per Company are detailed as Pioneers for the Regiment.

* March 5th

All the sick men in the Regiment are sent to Alexandria in preparation for a move.

* March 8th

The 2nd Mich. comes under command of Charles S. Hamilton Division in (Heintzelman�s) Third Corps. General Richardson has been transferred to the 2nd Corps.

* March 11th

The 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry gets a new stand of Colors from the War Department.

* March 11th

Lt. Col. Larnerd has resigned and Major Williams is promoted in his place as Lt. Col.

March 14th 1862

The Regiment moves to Fort Lyon near Alexandria arriving there at approximately 10am. The Regiment pitches their Shelter (AKA Dog) tents for the first time while they wait to board ships.

* March 14th

R.H. Eldred of Company "K" and signal officer of the Brigade dies in the Georgetown Hospital of "Brain Fever".

March 17th 1862

The 2nd Mich. board the Steamer Vanderbilt along with the 37th NY. The ships start their journey down the river to the Bay soon after sunrise of the 18th.

March 20th 1862

At Approximately 1pm the Regiment lands in Hampton Roads> They immediately march about a mile and a �. Arriving at approximately 3pm they start setting up their shelter tents.

March 24th 1862

At approximately 9am the Regiment moves, Via Hampton, for 2 miles then camp on the road to Richmond.

April 4th 1862

The Regiment starts marching and by 10pm are 2 miles beyond Big Bethel.

April 5th 1862

The 2nd resumes the march until they arrive near Yorktown.

Apr.5th-May 4th 1862

Siege of Yorktown

* April 16th

At Approximately 11am Sgt. Bishop of Company "F" is killed by an enemy shell. He was standing near the Federal Artillery pieces when he was hit.

* April 20th or 21st

Palmer Shepherd died of Small Pox at the General Hospital.

* May 4th

Yorktown was evacuated and the Federal Army moves in. At 4pm the 2nd Regiment moves through Yorktown and camp 2 miles above the city.

May 5th 1862

Battle of the Williamsburg

*

At approximately 8am the 2nd Michigan marches, in rain which continued without intermission till midnight, on some really bad roads.

Companies "F" and "I" are immediately sent into dense pine woods to support the 5th Michigan.

A Company of Volunteers manned a guns of a battery in the middle of the road. Every horse had been killed and the gunners lay killed or wounded amongst them.

After dark the 40th NY came and relieved the Regiment.

Colonel Poe is wounded in the hand.
Captain Morse , Coy "F", is shot through the leg.
William Fox, Coy "C", is wounded in the leg.
Cpl Wallace, Coy "I" is Killed in Action
Pvt. George A Willson, Coy "I", loses an arm and Pvt. Charles Allen, Coy "I", Killed in Action

Casualties in this Battle are 17 Killed in Action, 38 Wounded and 5 Missing.

May 9th 1862

The Regiment start marching again and does not stop until the 20th

May 10th 1862

The Regiment camps 17 miles past Williamsburgh.

May 13th 1862

The 2nd Mich. marched 2 miles and went into camp again.

May 14th 1862

Marched 7 to 8 miles

May 15th 1862

Marched 4 to 5 miles and camped in a large flat area near Cumberland Landing on the Pamunkey River.

May 19th 1862

They moved back 1 mile at 7am towards New Kent Court House.

May 20th 1862

At 5am te 2nd Michigan resumes the march and moved 5 miles and set up camp at Baltimore Store.

May 23rd 1862

The Regiment moves again several miles and bivouac in an open field.

May 25th 1862

At 6am the 2nd Mich. moves to some woods crossing the Chickahominy at Bottom Bridge at 8am and setting up camp 14 miles from Richmond.

May 31st - June 1st 1862

Battle of Seven Pines (Fair Oaks)

*

Company "D", "G" and "I" are deployed in the rear to arrest stragglers from the battle.

Company "A" and "B" fall in for the fight with the 37th NY

Company "C", "E", "F", "H" and "K" fight with Colonel Poe commanding them.

Sgt. George Hayes is wounded in action but recovers fully.

Casualties in this battle are 10 Killed in Action and 47 Wounded.

June 3rd-25th 1862

Battle Around Richmond

* June 3rd

The 2nd Michigan moves 1 � miles to the front and joins the Brigade.

* June 4th

Doctor Hitchcock of Kalamazoo is there to help take care of the sick and wounded.

* June 8th

The Regiment moves up 1 mile on the Richmond & York River Rail Road then back � that distance.

* June 19th

Two men of Company "D" were shot and severely wounded while on picket.

* June 20th

A soldier from Company "B" is accidentally shot by his own men wounding him severely in the arm.

* June 20th

A soldier of Company "D" was shot while scouting.

June 25th-July 1st 1862

Battle of Seven Days

*

What occurred during the battles during the Seven days was chaotic to say the least.

General Lee now in command of the army of Virginia pushed the Federal forces back from Richmond all the way to Harrison�s Landing were the Union held.

The fact that any soldier was able to write during these days is amazing as Charles B. Hayden did.

The 2nd Michigan were involved in this mass retreat and directly in 3 of its 7 battles which were White Oak Swamp (June 29th), Glendale (June 30th) and Malvern Hill (July 1st).

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*

On June 29th 1862 the 2nd Michigan covers the retreat of the army at White Oak Swamp.

Casualties at this battle was 3.

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*

On June 30th 1862 the 2nd Michigan is in support of the 20th Indiana then takes their place in line at the battle of Glendale.

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*

On July 1st 1862 the 2nd Michigan were held in support of Artillery at the battle of Malvern Hill.

July 1st - Aug. 15th 1862

The 2nd Michigan joined the rest of the army in and Harrison�s Landing and recuperates.

* July 17th

Doctor Lyon of Kalamazoo is in camp with the 2nd Michigan.

* July 18th

The 2nd moves camp a short distance

* August 12th

Adjutant Mahon returns. He is immediately presented with a paper signed by all the line officers of the Regiment with the exception of Lt. C.B. Hayden. This paper states that they believe he had for the last two months been unnecessarily absent, that they had lost confidence in him as an officer and that they wanted his resignation. He (Adjutant Mahon) put in his resignation but it came back disapproved.

Charges were later that day laid against the Adjutant and he resigned from that position immediately.

One Final note on that day. The 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Band is disbanded and its members sent home.

August 15th 1862

At 2am the Regiment is ordered to move at 5am. The 2nd eats breakfast and pack their kit. They leave at 5am towards Charles City Court House. The 2nd Mich. is assigned to protect the Brigade wagon train. They reach the Court House at 3pm then marched 6 miles on a safe road and bivouac near Jones� Bridge.

August 16th 1862

The Brigade moves onto an island in the Chickahominy and bivouac.

August 17th 1862

The Regiment starts moving at 4am and march between 24 and 26 miles. The rest for 3 hours and then guard a road till hooker�s advance came up. They cross the Jones�s Bridge then Diascund Bridge crossing the Chickahominy down the Williamsburgh Road near Roper�s Church and move for 35 miles.

August 18th 1862

The 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry reached Williamsburgh about noon and camped just above the camp.

August 19th 1862

The Regiment starts traveling at 7am for 12 miles.

August 20th 1862

The 2nd Mich. start marching a little after noon reaching Yorktown to the wharf. The Regiment board the Steamer Empress.

August 21st 1862

The Regiment disembarked just at dark and camped opposite Fort Lyon and west of the Orange & Alexandria Rail Road.

August 22nd 1862

They were fed then marched to the Alexandria Rail Road depot at 2pm.

August 23rd 1862

They boarded the trains in Alexandria at about 9am and departed. They reached Warrenton Junction about 2pm Via Manassas Junction. They start setting up camp but before it is completed they are ordered back 1 � miles to Cedar Creek to guard a bridge.

August 24th 1862

The Regiment marched at approximately 9am and halted on the Rail Road about 3 miles beyond Warrenton. At 3pm they moved forward � of a mile.

August 26th 1862

The Regiment marched 4 miles on the Fredericksburg Road and relieve the 3rd Michigan on picket

Doctor Bonine, the Regimental Surgeon, and Hospital Steward (just Paroled) as Assistant Surgeon rejoin the Regiment..

August 27th 1862

The 2nd Michigan returns to camp, took rations and at 10am were at Warrenton Junction & soon after at Cedar Bridge. They then marched from Cedar Creek, crossing the bridge, marched towards Greenwich arriving at 8pm a total of 24 miles.

August 28th 1862

At 3am the Regiment moved to the Rail Road bridge across Broad Run arriving there at 9am. The Confederates had destroyed the bridge on the day before. The Brigade moved forward in column to Manassas Junstion. They remained there 3 hours then moved forward towards Centreville Via Black Burn Ford.

*

The Regiment fired at some rebels but all except 1 make it out without injury. The 2nd Michigan was deployed as skirmishers and advanced through the woods towards Centreville. They captured 1 prisoner after marching a total of 15 miles during that day.

August 29th 1862

Battle of 2nd Bull Run (2nd Mannasas)

*

At 5am the Regiment moved down the Road towards the old battlefield of Manassas. The Regiment was the advance guard and captured about 50 prisoners.

As soon as the 2nd Mich. reached the battlefield General Kearney sent 1 Company to hold a house, 2 Companies to support a section of Artillery, 2 Companies as Skirmishers in the woods in front and 5 Companies ("C","I" + 3 others) as Skirmishers on the extreme right.

It is difficult to figure out what group was involved in what at this point. I do know that both groups that were skirmishers were involve in battle. What happened next is a big part of the Civil War History. The Federal Forces were defeated severely and once again the 2nd Michigan (as the First Bull Run) covered the retreat.

August 30th 1862

The Brigade was now more than a mile in advance during the retreat. Orders came for the Brigade to fall back and for the 2nd Regiment to move as skirmishers by the right flank down the stream towards Centreville.

The line came under fire while moving . Half the 2nd Regiment crossed a ford while the other returned fire on the enemy position with support of Artillery from the other side of the ford.

Part of the Regiment (40 men) still on the other side of the ford had to form Square to repulse 2 Companies of Cavalry. Two of the men were injured from this attack. This group returned to the main road and rejoined the Regiment and the Brigade. The 2nd Michigan marched in good order to Centreville Via 2 creeks which they forded.

September 1st 1862

They left Centreville at approximately 2pm marching towards Fairfax.

One of the 2nd Mich. is killed and another taken prisoner (He was released on his parole).

September 2nd 1862

At 2am on September 2nd. The 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry quietly left their position. They were the last Regiment to leave the Triangle which the Confederates where closing upon the Brigade. They reached Fairfax at Sunrise.

The Regiment remained in Fairfax until 11am then started marching with the Division to Fairfax Station then Pohick Church traveling over a good road for 11 miles.

September 3rd 1862

The Regiment marched at 5am passing Pohick Church and (old) Camp Michigan. The Regiment was in the advance and marched for 14 miles arriving at noon at Hunting Creek Flats (Between Fort Lyon and Alexandria) and set up camp.

Sept.17th -Oct. 11th 1862

The 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry was recuperating in their old camp South West of Alexandria.

October 11th 1862

The 2nd Mich. moves up the Potomac towards Leesburg.

October 27th 1862

The Regiment is camped near Edwards� Ferry Maryland. Part of the 2nd are on picket about 5 miles from the Ferry down the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.

October 28th 1862

At 9am the Regiment start marching towards Poolsville halting for dinner near Conrad�s Ferry. They forded the Potomac into Virginia at Conrad�s Ford.

October 31st 1862

The 2nd Mich. pull up camp and march down the road from Leesburgh to Winchester and camped 3 miles out of Winchester.

November 2nd 1862

At 3pm the regiment marches by way of Mount Gilead.

November 3rd 1862

Once more departing at 3pm the 2nd Mich. marches, Via Mountsville, to a location approximately 2 miles from Middleburgh.

November 5th 1862

The 2nd Mich. marched through Middlesburgh then crossed and re-crossed the Manassas Gap Rail Road at White Plains Station and bivouacked at White Plains.

November 5th 1862

General McLellan is removed from command and replaced by Ambrose E. Burnside.

November 6th 1862

The Pet Lambs march at 6:30am through Salem down a byroad for 14 to 15 miles and stoped at 9pm approximately 4 miles west of Warrenton.

November 8th 1862

The Regiment moved forward about 2 miles and bivouacked once more.

November 10th 1862

A little before sundown the 2nd Mich. advanced across the Rappahannock River at Waterloo then 2 miles further and bivouacked.

November 12th 1862

The Regiment moved back to the camp of the 10th of November.

November 14th 1862

Orders came transferring the 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry to William W. Burns� Division, Orlando B. Willcox�s Ninth Corps.

In the verbal orders it was mentioned that the 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry would be consolidated with another Regiment. When the officers confronted Colonel Poe the officers got showed them (the orders) and they said nothing about consolidation.

November 15th 1862

The Regiment starts moving at 10am and bivouacked near Sulphur Springs. (the Soldiers there before the Regiment arrived were shelled)

November 16th 1862

At approximately 11am the 2nd Mich. marches down the Orange and Alexandria Rail Road to Bealeton Station and from there they marched 3 miles beyond Warrenton to the Camp of August 25th-26th 1862 (Warrengton ) and continued from there 1 mile and bivouacked.

A difficulty here arose between the 2nd Mich. and the 79th NY (highlanders) about some rails which resulted in several black eyes for each side.

The Brigade (Consisting of the 2nd , 17th , 20th Mich., and 79th NY) continue their move down the Fredericksburg Road.

November 17th 1862

After dinner the Regiment marches 10 miles and bivouacked.

November 18th 1862

The 2nd Mich. marched at 5am and halted at 11am having traveled 10 to 11 miles.

*

The 2nd Michigan started marching at 7am and finally arrived at their destination opposite Fredericksburgh having gone through Falmouth.

*

The 2nd Michigan started marching at 7am and having gone through Falmouth finally arrived at their destination at 2pm opposite Fredericksburgh. A final distance of 9 to 10 miles.

Nov. 19th-Feb. 13 1862

Siege of Fredericksburgh

* November 22nd

Sgt. Charley Morse was accidentally shot in the arm.

* November 25th

This is the first Half of their first 3 year enlistment there is approximately 600 left out of the original 1000 and new recruits which had been added to the Regiment since leaving Detroit.

Captain Handy resigned was accepted and Major Underwood was discharged on this date.

* November 27th

The 2nd Mich. moved their camp back 1 miles to the rear and get better access to wood and water.

* November 29th

They moved to a burnt Rail Road bridge to support a battery of artillery which overlooks the city.

* December 10th

Preperatory orders came to the Regiment to be ready to move.

December 11th 1862

At the start of the Battle of Fredericksburgh over 180 pieces of artillery drive the snipers out of the town so the pontoon bridge could be laid. 200 men of the 7th Michigan laid one of these in 20 minutes.

December 12th 1862

The 2nd Michigan crossed just below the old Rail Road bridge without molestation on a pontoon of 19 boats..

Private Eddy Company "H" KIA by artillery
Private (?) of Company "D" is Wounded.

*

Daylight they filed to the left down the river to the lower edge of the town and closed in mass on the levee under cover of the 8� bank:

11am The Confederates start firing artillery near the upper bridge.

2pm The Batteries behind the Regiment engage the Rebel Batteries to the right and left.

3pm Rebel Batteries fire on the bank where the Brigade are positioned.

Near Darkness: The Rebels withdraw from the upper portion of the town.

Darkness: The Regiment is marched across a small stream to the left and move a short distance to the front and reach a sheltered ravine.

* December 13th

The Main Battle

*

Soon after Sunrise the 2nd Michigan moves down the river � a mile and took sheltered positions near a bank.

9am Musketry opened towards the Regiment left followed soon after by artillery on a plain above the Regiments and to left.

11am The Battle opened with great fury to the right of the town opposite Falmouth with little intermission till after dark. The 2nd Michigan are ordered forward then back again once they had reached the plain above.

At Night the Regiment bivouacked where they had laid during the day in wait.

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* December 14th

Skirmishing along the entire line and brisk skirmishes during the night made the entire schedule for that day.

Doctor Stone of Kalamazoo came to meet the Regiment in this Location.

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* December 15th

Some picket firing and Enemy artillery shell the town. The 2nd Michigan moves up the river near the bridge and 4 Company ("E","G"," "," ") are put on picket

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* December 16th

Soon after midnight the Regiment starts moving off silently and quietly as possible by the left flank and filed into the road. They moved down rapidly to the little stream which emptied in just below town.

The 2nd Michigan was the last regiment over the last of the Pontoon Bridges once more covering the retreat and return to their positions across of Frederickburgh.

* December 1862

When the Regiment was called upon to help fill a Regular Artillery Battery the 2nd Mich. sent 30 men (3 per Company)