Written by GEN. JAMES B. COIT, Private in Co. B

The Second Regiment of Connecticut three months Infantry Volunteers, Col. Alfred H. Terry, was raised under President Lincoln’s first call for troops, and its numerical strength was 798 men. 

Company A, “Buckingham Rifles,” Captain Chester, was intended for assignment to the First Regiment, having been recruited at the Governor’s home by Private James B. Coit, the first volunteer in Norwich, on the receipt of the telegram announcing the assault on Fort Sumter.

The “Mansfield Guards” of Middletown, Captain Dickinson, the New Haven “Grays,” Captain Osborn, and the National Guard of Birmingham, Captain Russell, were old, well drilled, and popular militia organizations; the other companies were wholly enlisted under the President’s call.  The Second Regiment was fortunate in its officers, most of them being trained soldiers of the State Militia, Colonel Terry having served as colonel, Lieut.-Colonel Young as brigadier-general, Major Colburn as major, Adjutant Russell as adjutant, and many of its captains and lieutenants as line officers.

Eight companies were armed with Sharp’s rifles and two with Springfield muskets.   The regiment was mustered into the United States service at Brewster’s Park, New Haven, May 7, 1861.

It embarked May 10^th on the steamer Cahawba for Washington, D.C., reaching its destination May 14^th, and camping at Meridian Hill, where it remained and made the most of its school for war until ordered into Virginia. 

On the night of the 16^th of June it crossed “Long Bridge,” aiming to camp at Roach’s Mills, about nine miles from Washington, but after reaching its destination, on the 17^th, it was ordered to the support of Colonel McCook’s Ohio regiment (Schenck’s Brigade), which had that day been attacked at Vienna Station. The enemy having retreated before its arrival, the Second regiment continued its march to Taylor’s Tavern on Oak Hill, near Falls Church, some five miles from Roach’s Mills, forming here, with the other Connecticut three months’ men, a camp of instruction, where, adding picket and other outpost duty to its former routine work, it remained till the advance on Bull Run.

At this camp it was brigaded with the First and Third Connecticut, the Eighth New York, the Second Maine, all infantry; and with Tompkin’s New York Cavalry, and Berrian’s New York Battery, Brig.-Gen. Daniel Tyler commanding

Subsequently, General Tyler was assigned to a division of troops, and with Gen. E. D. Keyes in command of the brigade the Second Connecticut took part in the battle of Bull Run, July 21^st, acquitting itself with great credit, maintaining its regimental formations throughout the action, and demonstrating by its coolness under fire the excellence of its material and the thoroughness of its discipline.  Its losses were one killed and fifteen taken prisoners and missing. 

In the latter part of the afternoon, under instructions, it fell back in good order on Centreville Heights, and later continued its march to the camp at Oak Hill, where it arrived on the following morning.  For parts of two days the regiment was here employed in striking its tents and the tents of several brigades of troops left standing and deserted by former occupants.  Large quantities of arms, ammunition, camp equipage, and a miscellaneous variety of stores and other property, to the value of many thousands of dollars, here awaited the favorable response of the Quartermaster-General’s Department for transportation and the action of the Connecticut troops for safety.  Telegrams to headquarters brought the necessary trains, and the men of the Connecticut regiments loaded, guarded, and escorted them over the Potomac.  

At the expiration of its term of service the Second regiment returned to New Haven, where, on the 7^th day of August, 1861, its men were mustered out, some to close their military career, but most of them to make use of their experience, training, and discipline in the three years’ regiments of the State, wherein a large number became valuable officers, not a few won spurs, and others stars for gallant and meritorious service.

Casualties Second Connecticut Volunteers