HISTORICAL NOTES:
The 2nd West Virginia Infantry Regiment was formed primarily from Pennsylvania men. Company H was from Ohio, and Company K was from Parkersburg, Virginia. The regiment fought in Virginia and West Virginia. 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.ASSIGNMENTS:
Moved with 1st West Virginia Infantry May 25 along line of Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Guard Glover's Gap until May 28. Action with Capt. Roberts' Command May 27. Moved to Grafton May 28. Detached as Body Guard to Gen. Geo. B. McClellan on his assuming command of the Army of West Virginia. Participated in the West Virginia Campaign July 6-17. Assigned to 2nd Regiment as Company "A." Company "B," Grafton Guards, organized May 20, 1861. Moved to Wheeling, W. Va., and mustered in May 25. Moved to Mannington June 28, thence to Grafton July 1, and to Phillippi July 4. West Virginia Campaign July 6-17. Laurel Hill July 7. Carrick's Ford July 13. Moved to Beverly and assigned to 2nd Regiment as Company "B." (A detachment of Company at Bealington until January 25, 1862, guarding supply trains between Webster and Beverly and scouting. Company "C" organized at Wheeling and mustered in June 1, 1861. Moved to Beverly, W. Va., July 1, and joined Regiment. Company "D" organized at Pittsburg, Pa., and mustered in at Wheeling, W. Va., June 14, 1861. Moved to Clarksburg, W. Va. Guard supply train to Rich Mountain (Cos. "C," "D," "E") July 5-6, thence march to Beverly. Company "E" organized at Wheeling, W. Va., and mustered in June 16, 1861. Moved to Clarksburg, W. mustered in June 16, 1861. Moved to Clarksburg, W. Va. Guard supply train to Rich Mountain July 5-6, thence march to Beverly. Company "F" organized at Pittsburg, Pa., and mustered in at Wheeling, W. Va., June 24, 1861. Company "G" organized at Pittsburg, Pa., and mustered in at Wheeling, W. Va., June 13, 1861. Companies "F" and "G" left Wheeling July 5, and Joined Regiment at Beverly. Company "H" organized at Ironton, Ohio, and mustered in at Wheeling, W. Va., June 28, 1861, Company "I" organized in Washington County, Pa. Moved to Wheeling, W. Va., July 9-10, and mustered in July 10. Moved to Grafton, Webster and Beverly July 22-27. Company "K" organized at Parkersburg, W. Va., and mustered in July 21, 1861. Regiment attached to Army of Occupation, W. Va., to September, 1861. Cheat Mountain, District West Virginia, to March, 1862. Cheat Mountain District, Dept. of the Mountains, to April, 1862. Milroy's Brigade, Dept. of the Mountains, to June, 1862. Milroy's Independent Brigade, 1st Army Corps, Pope's Army of Virginia, to September, 1862. Defenses of Washington, D.C., to October, 1862. Beverly, W. Va., District of West Virginia, Dept. of Ohio, to March, 1863. 4th Separate Brigade, 8th Army Corps, Middle Department, to June, 1863. Averill's 4th Separate Brigade, West Virginia, to December, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, West Virginia, to January, 1864.
OFFICERS:
George R. Latham
SERVICE:
Duty at Beverly, W. Va., until September 11, 1861. Laurel Fork Creek August 20. Ordered to Elkwater September 11. Operations on Cheat Mountain September 11-17. Cheat Mountain Pass September 12. Camp Allegheny September 13. Expedition to Huntersville December 31, 1861, to January 6, 1862. Huntersville January 3, 1862. At Cheat Mountain Summit until April 5. Dry Fork, Cheat River, January 8 (Co. "B"), and February 8. Advance on Staunton April 5-May 8. Monterey April 12. Battle of McDowell May 8. Near Franklin May 26. Battle of Cross Keys June 8. At Strasburg June 20-July 5. Advance to Luray July 5-11. Moved to Sperryville July 11, thence to Woodville July 22, and duty there until August 9. Battle of Cedar Mountain August 9. Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Fords of the
Rappahannock August 21-23. Freeman's Ford, Hazel River, August 22. Waterloo Bridge August 23-25. Gainesville August 28. Groveton August 29. Bull Run August 30. Duty in the Defenses of Washington until September 29. Moved to Beverly, W. Va., September 29-October 9. Duty there until April 24, 1863. Cockletown January 22, 1863. Expedition into Pocahontas County February 10-12 (Detachment). Scout to Franklin April 11-18. Beverly April 24. Regiment mounted at Grafton. West Union May 6. Averill's Raid through Hardy, Pendleton, Highland, Bath, Greenbrier and Pocahontas Counties August 5-31. Jackson River August 25. Rocky Gap near White Sulphur Springs August 26-27. Seneca Trace Crossing, Cheat River, September 25 (Detachment). Averill's Raid on Lewisburg and the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad November 1-17. Mill Point November 5. Droop Mountain November 6. Averill's Raid from New Creek to Salem on Virginia & Tennessee Railroad December 8-25. Gatewood's December 12. Salem December 16. Scott's or Barber's Creek December 19 (Detachment). Covington December 30. At Martinsburg until January 26, 1864. Designation changed to 5th West Virginia Cavalry January 26, 1864.
ROSTERS:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 41 men.
Company "A" was recruited in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 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, 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, 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.
HISTORICAL NOTES: