HISTORICAL NOTES:
The regiment left the state for Washington D.C. on May 9, 1861 and was on duty in the defense of Washington until June 1, 1861. The regiment advanced to Vienna and Falls Church, VA, June 1 to June 3, 1861 and remained on duty there until July 16, 1861. The 2nd Connecticut advanced to Centreville, VA July 16, 1861 to July 21, 1861 as part of the Union Army commanded by Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell. The 2nd Connecticut Regiment was commanded by Col. A. H. Terry. They were combined with the 1st and 3rd Connecticut Regiments and the 2nd Maine Regiment as the First Brigade, commanded by Col. Erasmus D. Keyes, part of First Division, commanded by Brig. Gen. Daniel Tyler. On July 21st, the First Division was ordered to attack the Confederate forces, commanded by Col. N. G. Evans, at the Stone Bridge across Bull Run on the Warrenton Turnpike while the Second and Third Divisions were to march northwest to attempt a flanking movement against the Confederate left. Keyes' Brigade and the 2nd Connecticut crossed Bull Run at a ford just north of the Stone Bridge and advanced to the Robinson House where they were met by opposition. After gaining some advantage during the day, the Union advance was stalled as the Confederate forces rallied around Stonewall Jackson and eventually carried the day. The Confederate Army was commanded by Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. The Union forces retreated to Washington D.C. The regiment was mustered out August 7, 1861, in New Haven, CT, due to expiration of term of service. The regiment lost 2 killed or mortally wounded and two died of disease.
The `Battle Flag' of the 2nd Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Regiment is on display at the Connecticut State House in Hartford, CT.
Camp of the second Connecticut regiment at Washington, in a grove on the north side of the city- Near th[e] New York 7th
Digital ID: (digital file from original item, recto) ppmsca 21277 https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.21277 OFFICERS: ASSIGNMENTS:
Attached to Mansfield's command, Dept. of Washington, to June, 1861. Key's 1st Brigade, Tyler's Division, McDowell's Army of Northeastern Virginia to August, 1861.
SERVICE:
Duty at Camp Corcoran. Defenses of Washington, D.C., till June 1, 1861. Advance on Vienna and Falls Church, Va., June 1-8, and picket duty there till July 16. Advance on Manassas, Va., July 16-21. Occupation of Fairfax C. H. July 17. Battle of Bull Run July 21. Mustered out July 31, 1861.
ROSTERS:
This roster is from the National Archives CWSS system which shows 12 companies with only a few names for companies L and M. It disagrees with the roster published in the Catalogue of the First: Second, Etc., Regiment of Conn. Volunteers which shows 4 Infantry Companies, numbered A through D and 6 Rifle Companies numbered A - F. This is an unusual designation not seen in other states, but I believe that CWSS has incorrectly merged the disparate companies. This makes for an interesting conundrum since both are considered "source" documents for research. The Catalogue predates the creation of the service record cards of the CWSS by 30 to 40 years, and was done by the state, not the WPA, so I consider it more accurate.
The roster of this regiment contains the names of 904 men.
Companies as identified by the Catalogue of the First: Second, Etc., Regiment of Conn. Volunteers
Infantry Company A was largely formed by men from Middlesex County.
Infantry Company B
Infantry Company C was largely formed by men from New Haven County.
Infantry Company D was largely formed by men from New Haven County.
Rifle Company A
Rifle Company B
Rifle Company C was largely formed by men from New London County.
Rifle Company D
Rifle Company E was largely formed by men from Litchfield County.
Rifle Company F was largely formed by men from New Haven County. BIBLIOGRAPHY: