2nd Regiment, Delaware Infantry (Union)

Brief History
Regimental organization date was May 21, 1861. Because there was no State system to aid orgainization, some companies were recruited from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Elkton, Maryland. The Regiment was formally assembled at Wilmington, Delaware, June 12 to October 7, 1861. It was mustered out July 1, 1864, at the expiration of its term. Remaining veterans and recruits were transferred to the 1st Delaware Infantry. The regiment was also known as the "Crazy Delawares."

For more information on the history of this regiment, see the following:


 * The Civil War Archive section, 2nd Regiment Infantry, (accessed 14 March 2012).

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.


 * Company A - Organized at Wilmington, New Castle, County
 * Company B - Organized at Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
 * Company C - Organized at Elkton, Cecil County, Maryland
 * Company D - Organized at Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
 * Company E - Organized at Wilmington, New Castle, County
 * Company F - Organized at Wilmington, New Castle, County


 * Company G - Organized at Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania


 * Company H - Organized at Wilmington, New Castle, County


 * Company I - Organized at Wilmington, New Castle, County
 * Company K - Organized at Wilmington, New Castle, County

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,636 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in ‘Delaware in the Civil War’ and ‘United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865’ (see below).


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * Delaware in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Delaware, and how to find them.. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.