2nd West Virginia Infantry Regiment

The 2nd West Virginia Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Many of its soldiers were actually from Pennsylvania. 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.

2nd West Virginia Infantry Regiment
Flag of West Virginia
Active	May 21, 1861, to January 26, 1864
Country	United States
Allegiance	Union
Branch	Infantry
Engagements	American Civil War 1861: Battle of Cheat Mountain 1862: Battle of McDowell, Battle of Cross Keys, Battle of Cedar Mountain, Battle of Groveton, Second Battle of Bull Run 1863: Battle of White Sulphur Springs, Battle of Droop Mountain
Commanders
Colonel	George R. Latham
Lt. Colonel	Alexander Scott

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;

Article in the Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, November 24, 1862, describing how the regiment came to be formed

• 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.

Service

The regiment was converted to the 5th West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment on January 26, 1864.

Colonels

• George R. Latham

See also

• West Virginia Units in the Civil War
• West Virginia in the Civil War

References

• The Civil War Archive

External links

• Posthumous Medal Presentation (August 2011) to Pvt. August Sponholtz, KIA on March 10, 1863