2nd Regiment, Delaware Infantry


HISTORICAL NOTES:

Shortly after that first call to arms, when the more serious nature of the war began to show itself, there was a second call, this time for 300,000 three year men. The Second Regiment Delaware Volunteers - The Crazy Delawares - was the state's response to this call. They were organized at Wilmington, Del. and mustered in on May 21, 1861 (Dyer says June 12 to October 7, 1861). In order to respond as rapidly as they did (and thus filling the state's second quota) four companies were recruited from nearby counties in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Companies B, D and G were from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Company C was from Elkton, Maryland. The Second Delaware mustered in with 33 officers and 805 men. The Crazy Delawares fought in all the major campaigns of the Army of the Potomac. The mustering out took place between July 1st and October 1st of 1864. This was due to the late addition of the last four companies to the regiment in October of 1861 .
The Regiment lost during service 6 Officers and 93 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 101 Enlisted men by disease. Total 201.
OFFICERS:
Colonel W. H. Wharton and Lt. Col. William P. Bailey.
ASSIGNMENTS:
  • Moved to Baltimore, Md., October, 1861.
  • Attached to Dix's Command till June, 1862.
  • 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to April, 1863.
  • 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, to June, 1864.
  • 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, to July, 1864.

  • SERVICE:
  • Duty at Baltimore, Md., till June, 1862.
  • Expedition through Accomac County November 14-22, 1861.
  • Ordered to Join Army of the Potomac, on the Peninsula, Va., June, 1862.
  • Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1.
  • Savage Station June 27.
  • Battle of Gaines Mill June 27.
  • Peach Orchard and Savage Station June 29.
  • White Oak Swamp and Glendale June 30.
  • Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison's Landing to August 16.
  • Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence Centreville, August 16-30.
  • Cover Pope's retreat from Bull Run August 31-September 2.
  • Maryland Campaign September 6-22.
  • Sharpsburg September 15.
  • Battle of Antietam September 16-17.
  • Moved to Harper's Ferry September 22, and duty there till October 30.
  • Reconnaissance to Charlestown October 16-17.
  • Advance up Loudon Valley and movement to Falmouth Va., October 30-November 17.
  • Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15.
  • At Falmouth, Va., till April 27, 1863.
  • "Mud March" January 20-24.
  • Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6.
  • Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5.
  • Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24.
  • Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3.
  • Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va., July 5-24.
  • Duty on line of the Rappahannock and Rapidan till October.
  • Advance from line of the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17.
  • Bristoe Campaign October 9-22.
  • Auburn and Bristoe October 14.
  • Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8.
  • Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2.
  • New Hope Church November 29.
  • Mine Run November 28-30.
  • At and near Stevensburg till May, 1864.
  • Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7.
  • Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May 3-June 15.
  • Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7. Spottsylvania May 8-12.
  • Po River May 10.
  • Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21.
  • Assault on the Salient "Bloody Angle" May 12.
  • North Anna River May 23-26.
  • On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28.
  • Totopotomoy May 28-31.
  • Cold Harbor June 1-12.
  • Before Petersburg June 16-July 1.
  • Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon R. R., June 22-23.
  • Mustered out July I, 1864, expiration of term.
  • Veterans and Recruits transferred to 1st Delaware Infantry.
  • ROSTERS:
    The composite rosters of this unit contains the names of 1636 men. BIBLIOGRAPHY:






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