SECOND REGIMENT INFANTRY. Arise! let our banner be flung to the skies! See, the northern battalions are roused to the fight! The 2d Infantry was recruited and called into service as a three months' regiment, and was rendezvoused as such under the following order; but, on instructions from the War Department, it was reorganized and enlisted for three years, allowing those who did not desire to enter the service for that term to withdraw, and the members of companies who remained were recognized as in the service of the State from the date of the order referred to until mustered into the service of the United States, and were paid by the State accordingly: MILITARY DEPARTMENT, MICHIGAN, GENERAL ORDER No. 6. I. The 2d Regiment Michigan Infantry is now formed, and the following officers are hereby appointed: Israel B. Richardson, to be colonel; Henry L. Chipman, to be lieutenant colonel; A. W. Williams, to be major. II. The following companies will constitute the regiment, viz.: Scott Guard, Adrian Guard, Hudson Artillery (as infantry), Flint Union Guard, Battle Creek Artillery (as infantry), Constantine Union Guard, East Saginaw Guard, Kalamazoo Light Guard, Kalamazoo No. 2, Niles Company. III. The captains of these companies will report forthwith by letter to their colonel, at Detroit, and await his orders before moving. IV. The colonel will, in orders, designate the letters of companies and the rank of the captains respectively, and complete the organization. * By order of the Commander-in-Chief, JNO. ROBERTSON, With the exception of the Kalamazoo (No. 2) and Niles, the regiment was made up of the uniformed militia companies, and all were recruited and organized at the places named. On the receipt of his appointment, Colonel Richardson promptly issued the following order: I. Quarters for the accommodation of this regiment being now in preparation for its reception, its different companies will commence their movements upon this place on Tuesday next, under direction of their respective captains. II. Each company will so arrange its movements as to arrive in this city during the day time, the captain reporting in person to the colonel, who will designate the position of each to occupy in "line of battle.' IV. The quarters at the Agricultural Fair Grounds to be occupied by the regiment will hereafter be known under the name of Cantonment Blair. * I. B. RICHARDSON, Colonel Second Michigan Infantry. The companies assigned to this regiment had been anxiously awaiting at their respective locations for acceptance into service, and on the receipt of the order of the 26th to rendezvous at Detroit, with remarkable promptness immediately commenced their movement, and all were in camp on the evening of the 27th, much to the surprise of the colonel who had expected that some days would elapse before they would reach camp, and as a consequence the quarters were not in good condition for their reception. Extract from Colonel Richardson's Battalion Order No. 4, dated at Cantonment Blair, May 1st, 1861: The different companies composing this regiment will take their positions in line of battle from right to left in the following order, and will be known hereafter by the annexed letters: While in process of organization the regiment was transferred to Fort Wayne, near Detroit, where its recruitment was completed, being mustered into the service of the United States May 25th, 1861, with 1,013 officers and men on its rolls, being the first of the three years' regiments raised in the State. FIELD AND STAFF. Colonel, Israel B. Richardson (formerly of the regular army), Pontiac. Lieutenant Colonel, Henry L. Chipman, Detroit. Major, Adolphus W. Williams, Lansing. Surgeon, Alonzo B. Palmer, Ann Arbor. Assistant Surgeon, Henry F. Lyster, Detroit. Adjutant, Wm. J. Lyster, Detroit. Quartermaster, A. Captain, Louis Dillman, Detroit. Second Lieutenant, Gustave Kast, Detroit. Chaplain, First Lieutenant, John V. Ruehle, Detroit. B. Captain, Reuben A. Beach, Hudson. First Lieutenant, Cyrus E. Bigelow, Hudson. Second Lieutenant, Tilson C. Barden, Hudson. C. Captain, Cornelius Byington,_Battle_Creek. First Lieutenant, Joseph M. Barton, Battle Creek. Second Lieutenant, Joseph F. Gilman, Battle Creek. D. Captain, William Humphrey, Adrian. First Lieutenant, Frank M. Wood, Adrian. Second Lieutenant, William L. Burlingame, Adrian. E. Captain, Robert Brethschneider, Niles. First Lieutenant, Benjamin Brownell, Niles. Second Lieutenant, Jerome Beals, Niles. F. Captain, William R. Morse, Flint. ond Lieutenant, James Farrand, Flint. G. First Lieutenant, William Turver, Flint. Sec Captain, John A. Lawson, Constantine. First Lieutenant, Richard T. Morton, Constantine. Second Lieutenant, William J. Lyster, Detroit. H. Captain, William L. Whipple, Detroit. First Lieutenant, Emil Moores, Detroit. Second Lieutenant, John Leidlin, Saginaw. I. Captain, Dwight May, Kalamazoo. First Lieutenant, William J. Handy, Kalamazoo. Second Lieutenant, John M. Norvell, Detroit. K. Captain, Charles S. May, Kalamazoo. First Lieutenant, George W. Park, Kalamazoo. Second Lieutenant, Harry C. Church, Kalamazoo. The regiment moved from its rendezvous at Fort Wayne, June 6th, for the field in Virginia, arriving in Washington on June 10th, and a few days later took up its quarters at Camp Winfield Scott, on Washington Hights. The ladies of Niles gave a National color of silk to Company E before it left that city to join the regiment in Detroit, which afterward became the regimental color. It was carried by the regiment through all its hard fought battles up to and including Fredericksburg, when it had become so tattered by wear, and by some forty bullet holes, that it was deemed unserviceable, and was returned to the donors, who treasure it highly. It possesses a gallant record, having come out gloriously from every engagement, while eleven of its upholders or defenders were either killed or wounded. Its first engagement was at Blackburn's Ford, Va., July 18th, 1861, with a small loss in wounded, serving in General Tyler's Division. Colonel Richardson being in command of the brigade and Lieutenant Colonel Chipman having been appointed a captain in the regular army, the command of the regiment devolved upon Major Williams. In Lossing is found the following: Toward noon Tyler went out on a reconnoissance toward Blackburn's Ford, taking with him Richardson's brigade, a squadron of cavalry, and Ayres's battery, and holding Sherman's brigade in reserve. He found the Confederates in heavy force. Beauregard, who had been informed of all of McDowell's movements by spies and traitors, was there, and had ordered up from Manassas some North Carolina and Louisiana troops, who had just arrived there on their way to Winchester. The woods were so thick that his forces were mostly concealed, as well as his batteries, excepting one on an open elevation. Hoping to draw their fire and discover their position, Ayres's battery was placed on a commanding eminence, and a 20-pound cannon, under Lieutenant Edwards, was fired at random. Only the battery in view responded, and grapeshot from it killed two cavalry horses and wounded two men. Richardson now sent forward the Second Michigan regiment as skirmishers. They were soon engaged in a severe contest in the woods, on a level bottom near the Run. The Third Michigan, First Massachusetts, and Twelfth New York were pushed forward to support the advance, and these, too, were soon fighting severely." General Tyler, commanding the troops at Blackburn's Ford, says in his report of the affair: "Having satisfied myself that the enemy was in force, and also as to the position of his batteries, I ordered Colonel Richardson to withdraw his brigade, which was skillfully but unwillingly accomplished, as he requested permission with the 1st Massachusetts and 2d and 3d Michigan regiments to charge the enemy and drive him out. It is but justice to these regiments to say that they stood firm, maneuvered well, and I have no doubt would have backed up manfully the proposition of their gallant commander." The regiment, although not actually engaged at Bull Run, had the honor, together with the Third Michigan, of covering the retreat from that disastrous field. The correspondent of the New York Tribune, in writing regarding the stampede from Bull Run, says: "I was told that a few regiments, beside the three faithful ones of Blenker's brigade, had come in in fair order, and that they were the 2d and 3d Michigan, and the Massachusetts 1st, of Richardson's brigade. I should be glad if it were so." The following is a report of Colonel Richardson on the subject, made to General McDowell, through his Assistant Adjutant General: DEPARTMENT N. E. VIRGINIA, CAPTAIN: Permit me to correct an unintentional error that has crept into Brigadier General McDowell's official report of the engagement of July 21st: By command of Brigadier General McDowell, given me in presence of Colonel Jackson, 18th New York Volunteers, and of Captain Whipple of the Engineer corps, to conduct the retreat, and to cover the retreat with my brigade, I did so cover the retreat from Centreville. I brought up the rear with my brigade in the following order: 12th New York leading, followed by 1st Massachusetts; the 3d Michigan taking up position, kept in rear, and followed by the 2d Michigan. About one mile this side of Centreville we were obliged to halt on account of other regiments, and the 2d Michigan then took the position of the 3d Michigan, and thus marching in good order we reached Arlington about 4 o'clock P. M. on Monday, the 22d, and went into camp, having moved in rear of all other regiments and batteries. At Fairfax we were so far in rear that no troops (of our own forces) were in sight. Will you do my brigade the credit of this correction. CAPTAIN JAMES B. FRY, Assistant Adjutant General, Arlington. Lossing is good authority on this point, and says: I. B. RICHARDSON, Colonel. "Leaving the sick, and wounded, and dying, who could not be removed, under proper care-takers in a stone church at Centreville (which was used a long time as a hospital), the army moved forward at a little past ten o'clock, with Colonel Richardson's brigade as a rear-guard. Most of them reached the camps near Washington, which they had left in high spirits on the 16th, before daylight. Richardson left Centreville at two o'clock in the morning, when all other troops and batteries had retired, and twelve hours afterward he was with his brigade on Arlington Hights." During the winter the regiment lay near Alexandria, and in March, in command of Colonel Orlando M. Poe, Lieutenant of the U. S. Engineer corps, who had been commissioned Colonel, September 16th, 1861, in place of Richardson appointed Brigadier General, entered on the Peninsula campaign under General McClellan, serving in Berry's brigade, Kearny's division, Heintzelman's corps, being the 3d brigade, 3d division, 3d corps, and took part in the seige of Yorktown, and was in the engagements following: At Williamsburg, May 5th, at Fair Oaks, May 31st, at Charles City Cross Roads, June 30th, and on July 1st at Malvern Hill; its casualties at Williamsburg being seventeen killed, thirty-eight wounded, and five missing; at Fair Oaks ten killed and forty-seven wounded, and in the actions of June 30th and July 1st, two killed and nineteen wounded. At Williamsburg the regiment was in immediate command of Colonel Poe, with Lieutenant Colonel Williams commanding on the right, and Major Dillman on the left: Report of Colonel Poe: To Captain Sturgis, A. A. A. G., Kearny's Division: SIR:-In conformity with instructions from division headquarters, I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the 2d Michigan Volunteers in the action of Monday, the 5th instant, in front of Williamsburg: After an excessively fatiguing march, the last three miles of which we made without knapsacks, the regiment reached the scene of action about 2 o'clock P. M. I had previously received instructions from the General commanding the division as to the disposition I was to make of the regiment, which without halting went into action, two companies to the right and two companies to the left of the road, six companies being held in reserve. At about 3.30 to 4 P. M. one more company was thrown from the reserve to the right of the road and another to the left. It was at this time, and while giving Captain Morse his instructions, that he fell severely wounded. At about 5 P. M. the companies which had been actively engaged from the first, grew short of ammunition, when I threw forward the four companies of the reserve which had not been engaged. These four companies did not leave their ground until finally ordered to do so. I must express in the highest terms my satisfaction with the conduct of both officers and men. They acted under the eye of the General commanding the division and never once failed to respond to his directions. When the conduct of all was so good it is perhaps invidious to attempt to distinguish any, yet I feel compelled to speak of the cool and daring conduct of Lieutenant Dobson (wounded) and Wallace (killed). The latter refused to leave the ground after being once wounded, and remained, doing excellent service until a ball through his head killed him. There are plenty of others who deserve the same commendation, but I only speak of what came under my own notice. I ought perhaps to speak of Private Allen, who was a new recruit, never having had a musket until the day before; he was found dead beside a dead foe, each transfixed by the other's bayonet. The regiment took into action three hundred. The loss is as follows: Killed, 17; wounded, 38; missing, 5, supposed to be prisoners; total, 60. During the action Lieutenant Colonel Williams commanded upon the right of the road, Major Dillman upon the left, while I exercised in person general supervision over the whole line. Lossing says: Very respectfully, O. M. POE, Colonel 2d Michigan Volunteers. "Hooker had repeatedly called on Sumner for help, but could get none, for that officer had ordered a large portion of the troops in hand to the right, under Hancock, to keep the confederates in check in that direction, and to flank the works if possible. So he fought on, maintaining his ground until between 4 and 5 o'clock, when the gallant and dashing Philip Kearny came up with his division, with orders from Heintzelman (who with his staff had arrived early in the afternoon) to relieve Hooker's worn and fearfully thinned regiments. Kearny pressed to the front and Hooker's troops withdrew from the fight and rested as a reserve. * "Kearny deployed Berry's brigade to the left of the Williamsburg road, and Birney's to the right, and at the same time two companies of Poe's 2d Michigan were pressed forward to cover the movement and drive back confederate skirmishers, who were almost silencing the National batteries. "The battle, which was lagging when Kearny arrived, was renewed with spirit, and the Nationals began to slowly push back their foe." Extracts from correspondence of the New York Tribune in relation to the regiment at the battle of Williamsburg: "The regiment was in the hottest of the fight. By the confession of prisoners, 800 of Berry's men (mostly Michigan) drove back at the point of the bayonet 1,600 rebels. "There were four companies of the 2d Michigan heavily engaged at Williamsburg, two in command of Captain William Humphrey and two commanded by Captain W. J. Handy. The other companies of the regiment were partially engaged. The regiment lost in the action seventeen killed, thirty-eight wounded, and four missing." The following is the official order relative to the part taken at Williamsburg by Berry's brigade, composed of the 2d, 3d, and 5th Michigan: SPECIAL ORDERS. HEAD On Williamsburg Battle-field, May 8th, 1862. The commander of the brigade takes great pleasure in making this official communication to his command: That they, by heroic fortitude, on Monday last, by making a forced march through mud and rain, each vying with the other to see who could most cheerfully stand the hardships the time called for, making thereby a march that others shrank from, coming into a fight at double-quick, made doubtful to our side by the overwhelming mass of the enemy poured upon our center; by a rapid deploy and quick formation, and by coolness, precision, and energy, beat back the enemy, recapturing our lost position and |