The 2nd West Virginia Infantry Regiment was an

infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...

that served in the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. Many of its soldiers were actually from

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

. The regiment fought in

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

and

West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the Bur ...

. On May 23, 1863, the regiment was converted to a mounted infantry by Brigadier General

William W. Averell William Woods Averell (November 5, 1832 – February 3, 1900) was a career United States Army officer and a cavalry general in the American Civil War. He was the only Union general to achieve a major victory against the Confederates in the V ...

. 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 the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

, 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 and the county seat of Lawrence County, Ohio, United States. Located in southernmost Ohio along the Ohio River northwest of Huntington, West Virginia, the city includes the Downtown Ironton Historic District. The populatio ...

, 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 in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 209,349. Its county seat is Washington. Washington County is part of the Pittsburgh, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county i ...

, 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 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