*An abridgment of Lieut. W. M. Wright's History of 2d U. S. Infantry.

THE history of the regiment covers such a long period and the records from 1791 to 1815 are so cloudy and incomplete that it is not deemed practicable to give a detailed account of the events of that time. Besides, there is grave doubt as to whether we have the right to claim the record of the original Second Infantry, that regiment having been consolidated with the First Infantry in the reorganization of March 3, 1815. This sketch will, therefore, be divided into two parts, the first extending from 1791 to 1815, and the second from 1815 to the present date.

FIRST PART. The Act of March 3, 1791, added to the army the Second Regiment of Infantry, with the same organization as the regiment then in service, viz.: a lieutenant colonel commandant, two majors, eight captains, eight lieutenants, eight ensigns, one surgeon, two surgeon's mates, and eight companies of about 100 men each. Colonel James Wilkinson of the Revolutionary Army, who afterwards became general-in-chief, accepted the position of colonel commandant.

In the fall of this year the regiment was ordered to take the field against the Miami Indians and proceeded to Fort Washington, now Cincinnati, arriving there the middle of September. About the end of October the army under Governor St. Clair commenced a campaign against Little Turtle, chief, of the Miamis. On the 4th of November, 1791, about 60 miles from Fort Washington, the Indians, 1500 strong, surprised the troops and put them to flight with great slaughter. The American army numbered 2000, and of these 38 officers and 555 men were killed or missing, and 21 officers and 224 men were wounded, many of whom died. It being impossible for the campaign to continue, the army returned to Fort Washington for the winter.

In May, 1792, the "Legion" became the military organization of the United States and the Second Infantry was called the Second Sub-legion. Under this title it formed a part of General Anthony Wayne's army till May, 1796, and in 1794 was with the command which defeated the Miami Indians so signally at the junction of the Au Glaize and Maumee rivers.

On the 1st of November, 1796, pursuant to the act of May 30 of that year, the Legion was discontinued and the Second Sub-legion became again the Second Regiment of Infantry. For nine years the regiment remained in the Northwest, and in 1805, under Colonel Thomas Butler, was stationed in the South with headquarters at New Orleans. In September, 1814, the regiment was made famous by the gallant defense of Fort Bowyer (now Fort Morgan), Alabama, against overwhelming odds of British and Indians.

*An abridgment of Lieut. W. M. Wright's History of 2d U. S. Infantry.

415 Major Lawrence, as brave a spirit as ever stood in his country's defense," was in command of the post and of 120 of the Second Infantry. He was brevetted for gallantry in this action, and Captains Chamberlain, Brownlow and Bradley, with Lieutenants Villard, Sturgis, Conway, H. Saunders, T. R. Saunders, Brooks, Davis and C. Saunders, were all mentioned by General Jackson in dispatches. Captain John M. Davis of the regiment was made a brevet major for gallantry at the siege of New Orleans.

The regiment went North in the spring of 1815 and was consolidated with the First Infantry by the Act of March 3d of that year, and here the chronicle of the original Second Infantry comes to an end.

SECOND PART. A new Second Infantry was now formed in accordance with the Act quoted above, by the consolidation of the 6th, 16th, 22d, 23d, and 32d Regiments of Infantry, so it would appear that the date of organization of the present regiment would be that of the Sixth Infantry,—namely, April 3, 1808. On the regimental roster for 1815 we find Hugh Brady as colonel, and Henry Leavenworth and Ninian Pinkney as major and lieutenant-colonel respectively.

Colonel Brady entered the service as an ensign of infantry in 1792, was mustered out as captain in June, 1800, colonel 22d Infantry in July, 1812, transferred to the Second Infantry in May, 1815, and was from that time continuously in the service as colonel of the regiment until his death in 1851, at which time he had been a colonel for 39 years, and the colonel of the Second Infantry for 36 years.

Immediately after its organization the regiment was stationed at Sacketts Harbor and Plattsburg, N. Y., and remained, with the exception of a few company moves, at these stations until January; 1822, when the entire regiment was concentrated at Sacketts Harbor. In June, 1822, Colonel Brady, with regimental headquarters and Companies A, B, D, I and K, embarked at Buffalo on the steamboat Superior en route to Sault Ste. Marie, where they built a cantonment which was named after the colonel of the regiment which post is still known as Fort Brady. Late in the year regimental headquarters returned to Sacketts Harbor.

From this time until the outbreak of the Black Hawk War in, 1832, the record is almost uneventful. The regiment usually occupied two or more of the stations upon the Northern Frontier, —Forts Brady, Howard, Mackinac, Gratiot or Niagara; Madison Barracks, Detroit or Houlton (where a part of the regiment built Hancock Barracks), with frequent interchanges of stations among the companies.

In June, 1832, Companies A, B, D, G, H and I formed a part of the force destined for General Scott's command, then organizing at Chicago for the Black Hawk War, which had been going on for some time with a large balance of killed and wounded against the government. Asiatic cholera broke out while the troops were at Detroit and their sufferings were terrible. As soon as the epidemic had somewhat abated the command moved and in August was at Rock River, in what is now the State of Illinois.

In October, 1832, the battalion returned from the Black Hawk War, and

416 the companies were at first stationed at Forts Dearborn, Mackinac and Niagara, but in May, 1834, Companies A, B, G and I, were at Fort Brady; C, E, F and K, at Hancock Barracks; and D and H at Fort Gratiot.

In the spring of 1836 the Creek Indians commenced to show signs of hostility, which resulted in sending Companies F and K in May to Fort Mitchell, Ala., near the Creek Agency. As soon as they arrived Captain Dearborn with his command was ordered to escort a party of emigrating Creek Indians to their destination at Irvington, Ala., and in September, General Jesup ordered these two companies to proceed to Lounds County, Ga., for the protection of that and adjoining counties against the depredations of the Indians.

Companies A, D, G and H were sent to Tampa Bay, Fla., from their northern stations the next year, arriving September 21; and in September 1838, regimental headquarters and the four companies then at Hancock Barracks were also sent there. The entire regiment was now concentrated in Florida and all the companies were most actively engaged in this most arduous duty until the close of hostilities in the spring of 1842. It would be tedious to chronicle the different stations of the regiment, for it was on the move daily, fighting and building posts and roads. Some idea may be formed of the labors of the troops from the fact that over go forts and stockades, and 480 miles of road were built by the army in Florida.

In March, 1839, Captain Russell was proceeding in an open boat on the Miami River to Fort Dallas with a portion of his company (I), while the other part was marching by land, when his boat was fired upon by the Indians who were concealed on the shore. Not a man was touched by the first fire, and Captain Russell at once ordered the men to row for the shore and attack the enemy. Being in the bow of the boat he was the first to land and had given but a few brief orders when he was pierced by five Indian bullets, one of which passed through his brain killing him instantly. His subaltern, Lieutenant Woodruff, continued the fight and brought his captain's body to Fort Dallas. Captain Russell was a most popular and efficient officer, and his death was mourned by the entire army.

Lieutenant-Colonel Cummings, for many years in command of the regiment, was promoted to the 4th Infantry, December 1, 1839, and Major Bennett Riley, 4th Infantry, became lieutenant colonel of the Second. At the end of the year regimental headquarters were at Picolata under Major Loomis, and the regiment was scattered from one end of the territory to the other. Lieutenant-Colonel Riley assumed command of the regiment in April, 1840, and headquarters were moved to Fort No. 12.

In May, Lieutenant Martin, with three men of the regiment, en route from Wakahosta to Micanopy, was attacked by Indians, receiving three wounds. Two of his men were killed and the other brought the alarm to the post. Lieutenant Sanderson, 7th Infantry, started to the rescue but was ambushed and killed with five of his men.

In 1841 Lieutenants Anderson, McKinstry, and Davidson, led an expedition to the St. Johns. For two days and nights they crept towards the Indian camp, which contained 57 of Aluck's band. With a force of but 24 men they routed the Indians and, but for the treachery of their guide,

417 would have avenged in characters never to be effaced the monstrous cruelties practised upon the defenceless inhabitants of Florida. All of the above-named officers were mentioned in orders by Colonel Worth, commanding in Florida, and in dispatches to the Major General commanding the Army.

In March Lieutenant Alburtis was in command at Fort Russell, near Pilatka. His post was attacked and nearly captured by Halleck Tustenuggee, but Alburtis made a brilliant counter-attack and drove him off with heavy loss. The Second lost half a dozen men killed and wounded.

Early in 1842 the Seminole War began to show signs of coming to an end and the Second was engaged in keeping the enemy on the move and, in doing so had several fights, losing a few men. The troops engaged in this duty were under Major Plympton. On the 25th of January with 80 men of the regiment he gallantly encountered Halleck Tustenuggee on the head of the Hawk River, which runs into Druin's Lake east of St. Johns. A well contested fight ensued which lasted 45 minutes. The enemy retreated, leaving two warriors wounded on the field, one of whom died. One soldier was killed and two wounded. The evidence of blood on several trails leading from the battle ground was a guarantee that some of the Indians had suffered from bullet or buckshot.

In May of this year the regiment embarked on transports at Pilatka and reached New York early in June, en route to their old stations along the lakes. Headquarters, with Companies C, D, F and K, were stationed at Buffalo Barracks, now Fort Porter; A at Fort Niagara; B, E and I, at Madison Barracks; G at Fort Ontario, and H at Plattsburg.

There was no change until 1845, when headquarters and F went to Detroit Barracks, and C, D, E and K, were moved from their Lake Erie stations to Mackinac, Gratiot, Brady and Wilkins, respectively.

Texas was annexed in March, 1845, and in April of the next year diplomatic relations were broken off and war declared with Mexico. General Zachary Taylor, of Florida fame, fought and won the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma in May, and in July was on his way to Monterey, at which point the gallant Second was ordered to join him. Major G. W. Allen and Lieutenant J. S. Woods, 2d Infantry, were in both these fights. Lieutenant Woods was afterwards killed at the battle of Monterey while serving with the 4th Infantry.

Headquarters, with Companies D, E, F and K, rendezvoused at Newport Barracks, Ky., August 12, 1846, and reached General Taylor's base of supplies at Camargo on the Rio Grande River, September 20.

Companies A, B, G, H and I, met at Fort Columbus, N. Y. Harbor, embarked September 2d, and reached Camargo October 13.

The entire regiment, except C Company which had been left at Mackinac for some unknown reason, was now concentrated at Camargo under Lieutenant-Colonel Bennett Riley, but arrived too late to take part in the gallant attack and capture of the city of Monterey.

The regiment joined Twiggs' Brigade at Montemorelos, December 17, which, with Patterson's Brigade, was about to start for Victoria as a corps of observation. They were recalled to Monterey on account of an expected

418 attack by Santa Anna at Saltillo, but this rumor proved unfounded, and on Christmas day, 1846, the regiment was again on the road to Victoria, arriving there after several skirmishes with the enemy along the road.

The regiment left Victoria January 14, 1847, and arrived at Tampico on the 25th, sailing for Lobos Island late in February. On March 2d the fleet of transports and vessels of war weighed anchor at Lobos Island and within a week the entire force landed, without the loss of a single man, on the beach of Sacrificios, a few miles south of Vera Cruz.

The investment of Vera Cruz began at once. Twiggs' Brigade occupied the extreme left of the American line. While it was moving into position, Lieutenant William Alburtis, a young officer of the regiment who served with great distinction during the Seminole War, was killed by a cannon ball from one of the Mexican batteries. Lieutenant D. Davidson was wounded at the same time. On the 13th of March the investment of the place was complete. This had not been accomplished except by the heaviest labor on the part of the troops. The Second Infantry, being on the extreme left, had to carry and haul all impedimenta and rations over the sand hills and through "intervening forests and chapperal" as no transportation had yet arrived from the depot at Brazos. Vera Cruz and the Castle of San Juan d'Ulloa surrendered March 28th, after a siege of 15 days. The troops rested until April 8, when, all preparations for a forward movement having been made the army commenced its march to the City of Mexico, the Second being in the leading division under Twiggs.

Santa Anna, with the remnants of his army which had been so thoroughly whipped by General Taylor at Buena Vista seven weeks before, was reported to be at Jalapa. After a most fatiguing march the regiment arrived at Plan del Rio on the 11th, where it encamped to await the arrival of the rear troops. The pass of Cerro Gordo was at the far end of the valley, and here Santa Anna had taken up a very strong position to oppose the further advance of the Americans. His line crossed the National Road, on which Scott must pass, some three or four miles from Plan del Rio.

On the 17th Twiggs' Division was ordered forward on the National Road, and after some heavy skirmishing captured a fortified hill called the Alataya. Lieutenant C. E. Jarvis, 2d Infantry, was wounded in this engagement and several men of the regiment killed and wounded. On the 18th Twiggs was ordered to move forward before daylight and take up his position across the National Road in the enemy's rear so as to to [sic] cut off a retreat to Jalapa. "After the artillery had been engaged some time, he ordered Riley's Brigade [Lieutenant-Colonel Bennett Riley, commanding brigade and Second Infantry] to move forward through the valley passing to the right of the Telegrafo Hill, turn to the left of the Mexican line and seize the Jalapa road in rear." (Wilcox, p. 287.)

During this movement the regiment advanced under heavy fire from the Telegrafo, and Captain G. W. Patten, 2d Infantry, was shot through the hand by a grape shot. The enemy appeared in force on the sides of the mountain along the base of which the brigade must pass, and opened an annoying fire on its left flank. Riley detached two companies of the Second, one under Captain J. W. Penrose and one under Lieutenant N. H. Davis.

419 who engaged the enemy in greatly superior numbers, obliging the brigade to form line to the left to assist them. Riley was soon in the enemy's left rear, and General Twiggs ordered the rest of his division to move forward from the crest of the Alataya and storm the position which was done in gallant style.

"General Twiggs' order to Harney to charge was well timed. Santa Anna had directed a part of his forces on the Telegrafo to oppose Riley, who (hard fighter that he was) met and drove them back just as Harney's men carried the works on the crest." (Wilcox, p. 289.) In this fight Lieutenant Nathaniel Lyon, 2d Infantry, with his company captured three guns. The Mexicans were defeated overwhelmingly all along the line, and Santa Anna and the Mexican army were not heard of again until Scott was within a few miles of Mexico.

On the 19th of April the regiment entered Jalapa, remaining until the end of May, when it set out for Puebla. The marching was delightful, the road level, the country sterile with slight exceptions and the air crisp. The troops remained at Puebla some time, awaiting reinforcements and supplies which the War Department seemed utterly unable to furnish. Company C joined the regiment July 7, 1847.

The army commenced its march from Puebla, August 7, and the Second was, as usual, with the advanced troops. They arrived and camped at Ayotla on the 11th remaining, there until the 16th. On the 19th they moved to St. Augustin and immediately advanced to attack the enemy under General Valencia who had drawn up his division for battle at Contreras.

In the two days' battle of that name they had the same duty assigned them as at Cerro Gordo, viz. —that of turning the enemy's position; but this time the position was turned and the work carried without the assistance of a frontal attack.

"The brigade moved on until the advanced regiment reached a ravine on the right of San Geronimo. * * * Riley now passed through the village and Captain Wessells' company was detached to cover a reconnoissance made by Captain Canby, A. A. G., and Lieutenant Tower in the direction of Valencia's camp. Further to the right, Captain Silas Casey's company engaged a body of lancers, supposed to be the Guanahuato Regiment, and repulsed them with a loss of both men and horses. Several of Casey's men were wounded. A Mexican cavalry force threatening Wessells, he attacked, drove it off, and was then ordered to hold his position and observe and report any movement of the enemy from his intrenchments." (Wilcox, p. 365.) The Second was now some distance in advance of the rest of the brigade and in danger of being cut off, so the 7th Infantry was ordered up to its support. While they were coming up the enemy threatened a charge on the Second, but the regiment was thrown into square to receive it and nothing more than a demonstration was made. The regiment returned to San Geronimo where it remained during the night. Early on the morning of the 20th they moved out of the village. Riley's Brigade was in advance and led off by the flank. The night was so dark and the ground so difficult that it was not until near daylight that its rear cleared the village. At this time Riley's Brigade consisted of the 2d Infantry, 7th Infantry, and the 4th Artillery acting as infantry. 420 "The troops were moved to the attack in a deep ravine around the left and rear of the enemy. After moving several hundred yards to a slope leading to a high point of the ridge, they came up out of the ravine and found that the enemy had just discovered the movement and was turning his guns and disposing his infantry for resistance." (Ripley.) The leading divisions of the brigade were deployed as skirmishers and the regiment soon became hotly engaged with the enemy who served two guns upon it with rapidity and received the shock with a noisy, rolling discharge of musketry. Their aim, however, was inaccurate and but little loss was sustained. The advance was not interrupted for an instant, for the troops, having delivered their fire, rushed down with loud shouts in a vigorous charge, and entered the intrenchments almost in a a [sic] body. The mass of Mexicans yielding before Riley's vigorous charge, gave way and fled headlong down the road in the direction of San Angel. In this engagement Captain Wessells and Lieutenants Lovell, Tilden and Gardner were wounded, and several enlisted men were killed. "The battle of Contreras was fought and won a little after sunrise on the 20th of August, 1847." (Wilcox, p. 400.)

The pursuit was taken up immediately through the village of San Antonio and on to the village of Churubusco, where Santa Anna had taken up a strong position along the near bank of the stream.

"South of the stream, some hundred yards, lay the scattered houses of the village of Churubusco. One of the most westerly of these was a massive stone convent which had been prepared for defense. It was surrounded by a field work, having embrasures and platforms for many cannon, and was the right point of the Mexican line." (Ripley.) Here for the second time, in this day of its greatest glory, the regiment stood gallantly to its work and did the heaviest fighting done by any troops that day. Under Captain Morris it attacked the right of the Mexicans on the west side of the convent, the 7th Infantry being ordered to its support. The regiment advanced through a cornfield, and as it passed out of this into an open space in front of the convent, a volley of musketry killed Lieutenant Thomas Easley, a company commander, and killed or wounded twelve men with him. Captain J. R. Smith, struggling forward under the severest fire, was twice badly wounded, and 14 men with him were struck down at the same time. The Mexicans, elated by the effects of their terrible fire, moved out of the convent for a counter-attack, but it was repulsed by the Second U. S. Infantry. An attempt was made to advance and carry the work, but it was not successful, and the battle raged with renewed fury. Captain Thompson Morris, commanding the 2d Infantry, states (referring to the sorties of the Mexicans) that a column of several hundred passed out of the front gate of the convent and, under cover of the standing corn, advanced towards the left of his regiment, but was driven back; that a second effort was made and checked, and that subsequent sallies met the same fate. (Wilcox, p. 389.)

Finally the Mexican left was driven in, but still the convent held out and was not taken until the colors of the Second Infantry were planted in its rear. The battle of Churubusco was now won but the fighting had been very severe and the losses correspondingly heavy. Our regimental losses

421 were as follows:—Captain J. W. Anderson, killed; Captain J. R. Smith, twice wounded; Lieutenant Julius Hayden, severely wounded; Lieutenant Christopher Lovell, twice wounded; Lieutenant Thomas Easley, killed; Lieutenant W. M. Gardner, wounded the second time in one day; and Lieutenant T. W. Sweeney, severely wounded. Seventeen officers of the regiment were present on August 20th, and before sunset seven were either killed or hors de combat, and about forty men either killed or wounded at Churubusco alone.

The night of the 20th was spent in bivouac on the ground so dearly won, and on the 21st the regiment marched to Coyoacan, near the City of Mexico, where it remained during the armistice. It took post, September 7, in the Hacienda Nalvarte, on the extreme right of the American line, and remained in this position with the rest of the brigade, threatening the enemy's left during the fierce fight at Molino del Rey, but was ordered up in the afternoon to assist in the capture of the place, arriving too late to be of any assistance. The regiment advanced to Piedad on the 9th September.

A question now arose as to whether it would be most advantageous to cannonade and capture the Citadel of Chapultepec at the west of our line, or to operate on the line of the San Antonio gate on the east. The western or Chapultepec line having been chosen, the Second was left at Piedad to assist in the demonstration on the San Antonio gate. It remained in this position, skirmishing frequently with the enemy, until it entered the City of Mexico on the 14th of September, 1847.

Although the Second was not engaged at Chapultepec on the 13th, the storming party from General Quitman's position was largely composed of the regiment and was led by Captain Silas Casey, 2d Infantry.

"A detail from Twiggs' Division consisting of 250 men and 13 officers, Captain Silas Casey, 2d Infantry, commanding, was ordered to report to General Quitman early on the morning of the 13th as the storming party of the right of the line." At 8 o'clock A. M. on the 13th, Lieutenant C. M. Wilcox was ordered by General Quitman to go at once to Captain Casey and give the order to advance.

"On reaching the storming party the order was given to Captain Casey who formed his line in a few seconds and gave the order 'forward.' They moved down the road towards Chapultepec at a double-quick, and for 600 yards were exposed to a raking fire from the Castle, but were partially concealed from view and protected from the fire of the batteries near the road by several adobe houses to the left of it, and by rows of maguey growing along the edge of the ditch. Beyond the houses showers of grape came from the guns of the batteries on the left of the road, passing among and over the men, causing a few casualties, and the hostile musketry opened, knocking over a few men. * * * Two hundred yards beyond the adobe houses the road made a slight bend to the left; 200 yards beyond this were the two Mexican batteries; and in advance of the bend a short distance was a ditch, eight or ten feet deep and nine or twelve feet wide. Here the stormers were brought to a halt, as the ditch could not be passed." (Wilcox, pp. 459-60.)

"But the troops held their ground and pressed on, until, finally, the castle above having been taken, they entered the Mexican barricade with a portion of the Rifle Regiment." (Ripley.)

422 Captain Casey and Lieutenants Lyon and Steele were wounded in this action. After the march into the City of Mexico on the 14th, the regiment was engaged most of the day in street fighting.

The war was now over but the regiment remained in the City until the 17th of December, on which day it marched to Tacubaya and went into camp until March 27, 1848, when it left for home, reaching Fort Hamilton, N. Y. Harbor, in September. Three months later the entire regiment was on board transports bound for California via Rio Janeiro, Cape Horn and Valparaiso.

AFTER the War with Mexico (1847-1848) the Second Rregiment remained in Mexico City until the 17th of December, on which day it marched to Tacubaya and went into camp until March 27, 1848, when it left for home, reaching Fort Hamilton, N.Y. Harbor, in September. Three months later the entire regiment was on board transports bound for California via Rio Janeiro, Cape Horn and Valparaiso.

Lieutenant-Colonel Bennett Riley, 2d Infantry, was promoted colonel of the First Infantry in January, 1850. He was a most gallant officer and commanded the Second throughout the Seminole and Mexican wars. In 1843 he presented the regiment with a drum-major's baton. On the silver knob is engraved the date of presentation with his name and the regimental motto "Noli me tangere." This baton has been carried ever since at the head of the regiment and is the most valuable regimental relic we have. Colonel Riley was brevetted colonel for Chakotta, Florida; brigadier general for Cerro Gordo, and major general for Contreras. He died in 1853.

The regiment remained in California until late in 1853, occupying stations from Goose Lake, Oregon, on the north, to Yuma, Arizona, on the south, and scouting over the entire country as far as the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevadas. The companies were stationed but a few months in any one place and all their moves were made by marching, with the exception of a few trips on transports up and down the coast. After the return of the regiment to New York it moved west to Carlisle Barracks and thence down the Ohio and up the Missouri to Fort Leavenworth, where it arrived in June and July, 1854.

For the next six years, or until the commencement of the war, the companies were stationed along the Missouri River and as far west as Forts Kearny and Laramie. Among the posts occupied were Ridgeley, Pierre, Abercrombie, Randall and Miller.  In 1851 Colonel Brady was succeeded by Colonel E. A. Hitchcock, who resigned in 1855 and Colonel Francis Lee took command of the regiment. Colonel Lee died in January, 1859, and was in turn succeeded by Colonel D. S. Miles, who was killed at Harper's Ferry.

In January, 1861, the regiment was stationed as follows: Headquarters and Companies E and F at Fort Kearny; A, D and I, at Fort Abercrombie; C and K at Fort Ripley; G and H at Fort Riley; and B at Fort Scott. In February, Company B (Captain Lyon) was transferred to St. Louis Arsenal. It was engaged (June 17) in the action fought at Booneville, Mo.

Headquarters and Companies C and K reached Washington from the west in July and were engaged at the battle of Bull Run, July 21, but suffered small loss. These companies were with Major Sykes' regulars, who, "aided by Sherman's Brigade, made a steady and handsome withdrawal, protecting the rear of the routed forces and enabling many to escape by the Stone Bridge." Companies A, D and I, joined regimental headquarters at Georgetown in August.

During July, Companies B and E were in the field in Missouri, and on August 2d were engaged with the enemy at Dry Springs, Mo. In this fight Company E was commanded by 1st Sergeant G. H. McLoughlin, and B by 1st Sergeant Griffin. Captain Steele, 2d Infantry, was in command and makes the following statement in his report:

"About 5 o'clock P. m., Sergeant McLoughlin's line of skirmishers was attacked on the left and front by a large body of cavalry, some 200 or more of whom were on foot and about the same number mounted. Sergeant McLoughlin gallantly repulsed the first attack but was soon overwhelmed with numbers and obliged to retreat upon the reserve, and all fell back into the road, where I came to their support with the other two companies of my battalion.  One man of E Company was wounded. The rebels were finally routed with heavy loss. In this action B Company was in support of the volunteer troops.

At the battle of Wilson's Creek, where 3700 men attacked 23,000 Confederates after a fatiguing night march, and fought them successfully over six hours, the same companies of the Second played their usual role of brave and unflinching devotion to duty and the cause.

The action commenced at daylight on the 10th August, 1861, General Lyon commanding the Union forces, with the battalion of the Second, a battery, and some volunteers in reserve. Early in this engagement, while General Lyon was leading his horse along the line in rear of Captain Totten's battery and endeavoring to rally our troops, which were at this time in considerable disorder, his horse was killed and he received a wound in the leg and one in the head. The General mounted another horse, and swinging his hat in the air, called to the troops nearest him to follow, but in a short time a fatal ball lodged in his breast and he was carried from the field a corpse. Thus gloriously fell as brave a soldier as ever drew sword, a man whose honesty of purpose was proverbial, a noble patriot, and one who held his life as nothing when his country demanded it of him.

The Union forces were now all but beaten, but just at this time the enemy was observed to be about to renew his efforts, and at once commenced along the entire line the fiercest and most bloody engagement of the day. Not the slightest disposition to give way was manifested at any point. Captain Steele's battalion was some yards in front of the line and in imminent danger of being overwhelmed with superior numbers, the contending lines being almost muzzle to muzzle.

The volunteers rallied, and attacking the enemy's right flank poured in a murderous fire. From this time a perfect rout took place throughout the rebel front, and it was evident that Totten's battery and Steele's little battalion were safe.*

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