2nd Infantry Regiment
Civil War
Troy Regiment

History

Mustered in: May 14,1861
Mustered out: May 26,1863

The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912.
The organization of this regiment was commenced at Troy, April 15, 1861; it was accepted by the State April 24, 1861, and mustered in the service of the United States at Troy for two years, May 14, 1861. In October and November, 1861, a number of men of the 13th, 19th and 21st Infantry, and 2d Me. Volunteers (130 men), were transferred to it; those of the Maine regiment were, however, retransferred in August, 1862.
The companies were recruited principally: A. B. G and K at Troy; C at Troy, Balls-ton, Saratoga, Brunswick, Schenectady, Lansingburgh, Grafton, Cohoes, Union Village and Poestenkill; D at Troy and Cohoes; E at Troy, Caldwell, Cohoes and Lansingburgh; F at Troy and Pittstown; H at Troy, Green Island, Cohoes, Lansingburgh and Pittstown; and I at North Adams, Cohoes, Troy, Petersburgh, Berlin, Pittstown, Pownall and Schaghticoke.
The regiment, Col. Joseph B. Carr, left the State May 23, 1861, and served near Fort Monroe, Va., from May 24, 1861; at Newport News, Va., from August 5, 1861; in the 1st Viele's, Brigade, 1st Division, Department of Virginia, from May 18, 1862; and in the 3d Brigade, 2d Division, 3d Corps, from June 6, 1862; May 11, 1863, the three years' men, 120, were transferred to the 70th Infantry and the regiment left for Troy where it was honorably discharged and mustered out, under Lieut.-Col. William A. Olmsted, May 26, 1863.
During its service, the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 17 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 1 officer, 7 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 23 enlisted men; total, 1 officer, 47 enlisted men; aggregate, 48; of whom 1 enlisted man died in the hands of the enemy.

The following is taken from The Union army: a history of military affairs in the loyal states, 1861-65 -- records of the regiments in the Union army -- cyclopedia of battles -- memoirs of commanders and soldiers. Madison, WI: Federal Pub. Co., 1908.
Second Infantry.—Cols., Joseph B. Carr, Sidney W. Park; Lieut.Cols., R. Wells Kenyon, William A. Olmsted; Majs., Richard D. Bloss, George H. Otis, George W. Willson, William B. Tibbitts.. The 2nd, known as the Troy regiment, was organized at Troy, and was mustered into the U. S. service on May 14, 1861, at Camp Willard, Troy, nearly 800 strong, for a term of two years. It left Troy on the 18th for New York, there embarked for Fortress Monroe encamped at Mill creek and participated in the battle of Big Bethel. On Aug. 5 the regiment was ordered to Newport News, where permanent quarters were erected and the following winter was passed, during which time many new recruits were received. In Jan., 1862, it joined an expedition up the James river; became a part of the 1st brigade, 1st division of the Army of Virginia on March 7; from April 6 to 17 it was stationed at Young's mill, and on June 6 was. assigned to the 3d brigade, 2nd division, 3d corps. The regiment took part in the campaign on the Peninsula, being engaged at Fair Oaks, in the Seven Days' battles and in, August at Malvern hill. During the campaign in Virginia, it was active at Bristoe Station, where the loss was 70 in killed, wounded and missing; Groveton, the second Bull Run and Chantilly. After various marches and countermarches in Virginia, the regiment took part in the battle of Fredericksburg, after which it went into winter quarters near Falmouth, which were occupied until the opening of the Chancellorsville movement in the spring of 1863. During this battle the loss of the regiment was 54. On May 11, 1863, 120 men enlisted for three years' service and were transferred to the 70th N. Y., the remainder of the regiment being mustered out at Troy on the 26th. The total loss of the regiment during its term of service was 26 deaths from wounds and 22 from other causes.

Battles and Casualties Table from Phisterer

Civil War Newspaper Clippings

Historical Sketch from the 3rd Annual Report of the Bureau of Military Statistics

Unit Roster

Further Reading
This is meant to be a comprehensive list. If, however, you know of a resource that is not listed below, please send an email to int-historians@ng.army.mil with the name of the resource and where it is located. This can include photographs, letters, articles and other non-book materials. Also, if you have any materials in your possession that you would like to donate, the museum is always looking for items specific to New York's military heritage. Thank you.

Carr, Joseph Bradford. “Operations of 1861 about Fort Monroe.” Battles and Leaders II 144-52.

"Charles La Fayette Mac Arthur: His Death is Chronicled- History of His Active Life." 10/12/1898.

Clark, Ruet S. CWTIColl (Enlisted man's letters, 1861-62).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.

Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Vol. 2. Dayton, OH: Morningside, 1979.
See pp. 1405-06 (2 pages) for a concise summary of the regiment's service.

"In the Days of '61. 2nd N. Y. Volunteers. Their War Record." The Troy Press. 5/15/1886.

"General Carr, Citizen and Soldier." Troy Daily Times. 2/25/1895.

Gerson, Thomas I. "Mechanicsville's Col. Ellsworth Hauls Down South's Flag." Troy Record. 1/21/1961, B4.

New York (State). AGO. Annual Report...for the Year 1898. No. 17 Albany, NY: Wynkoop, Hallenbeck, Crawford, 1899. pp. 159-313.
(Alphabetical roster of the regiment).

"Our Regiment Off. All the Men in Line." Troy Daily Times. 5/18/1861.

Park, A.F. JohnCulverColl (Aug 6, 1863 Letter re wounding of COL Sidney W. Park at Chancellorsville).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA

Phisterer, Frederick, comp. New York in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865. Vol. 2. Albany, NY: Weed and Parsons, 1890.
See pp. 1707-19 (13 pages) for a brief history of the regiment and a roster of officers.

Sylvester, Nathaniel Bartlett, 1825-1894. History of Rensselaer Co., New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. Philadelphia: Everts & Peck, Press of J.B. Lippincott & Co.) 1880.
Available online at: (Log-in required)
persi.heritagequestonline.com.dbgateway.nysed.gov/hqoweb/library/do/books/search/publications

Wilson, Harem S. CWMiscColl (Lt Ed Wilson's letter to brother in 93rd NY, Sep 19, 1862).
Located at the Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA

Items the museum holds are in bold.

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