The Fourth Alabama Painting by Don Troiani

Fourth Brigade, First Division

The 2nd Mihigan Infantry at the first battle of Bull Run

The 2nd Mihigan Infantry at the first battle of Bull Run

Second Michigan Infantry

Mustered in United States service for three years on 25 May, 1861, and arrived at Washington D. C. on 10 June, 1861

COLONEL I B RICHARDSON
Colonel I B Richardson was commanding the Fourth Brigade, First Division, Army of Northestern Virginia, on 21 July, 1861.

LIEUTENANT COLONEL H L CHIPMAN
Lieutenant Colonel H L Chipman was appointed captain, 11th United States Infantry, prior to 21 July, 1861.

MAJOR A W WILLIAMS
Major A W Williams was commanding the regiment on 21 July, 1861.

Company A Scott Guard: CAPT. L DILLMAN
Company B Hudson Artillery: CAPT. R A BEACH
Company C Battle Creek Artillery: CAPT. C BYINGTON
Company D Adrian Guard: CAPT. W HUMPHREY
Company E Niles Company: CAPT. G R BRETHSCHNEIDER
Captain G R Brethschneider was assigned to command Brethschneider's Light Battalion Infantry on 18 July, 1861, and First Lieutenant B Bromnell was commanding the company on 21 July, 1861 (See Brethschneider's Light Battalion Infantry)
Company F Flint Union Greys: CAPT. W R MORSE
Company G Constantine Union Guard: CAPT. J A LAWSON
Company H East Saginaw Guard: CAPT. W L WHIPPLE
Company I Kalamazoo Light Guard No.1: CAPT. D MAY
Company K Kalamazoo Blair Guard No. 2: CAPT. C S MAY

Sources

"By 8:30 a.m. the regiment was ready to depart. Dressed in grey uniforms (unlike the First and Second Michigan Regiments, which had been outfitted in blue), the men were formed by companies into marching order and left their quarters at cantonment Anderson, accompanied by a procession of carriages."

The glorious old third: A history of the Third Michigan Infantry 1855 to 1927, by Steve Soper

"With the exception of the Kalamazoo (No.2) and Niles, the regiment was made up of the uniformed militia companies, and all were recruited and organised at the places named."

"The regiment, although not actually enaged at Bull Run, had the honor, together with the Third Michigan, of covering the retreat from the disaterous field."

Michigan in the war, compiled by J Robertson, Adjutant General

Until Antietam: The life and letters of Major General Israel B. Richardson, U.S. Army, by Jack C Mason

Record of service of Michigan volunteers in the civil war, 1861–1865, Volume 2, by Aaron T Bliss

Recollections of the Bull Run campaign after twenty-seven years: A paper read before Michigan commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, 1st February, 1887, by companion Henry F Lyster, M D, Formerly Assistant Surgeon 2nd Regiment Michigan Infantry, and Surgeon 5th Michigan Infantry and Acting Medical Director 3rd Corps, Army of the Potomac

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, Volume 3, New Jersey, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan

Notes

The 2nd Michigan Infantry was organised for three months service at Detroit, Michigan, and was reorganised for three years on 25 May, 1861. The regiment was mustered in United States service at Fort Wayne, Detroit, Michigan, for three years on 25 May, 1861, and Governor A Blair initially appointed H L Chipman as colonel and I B Richardson as major. On the apporoval of Colonel O B Wilcox, commanding the 1st Michigan Infantry, and as I B Richardson was a West Point Military Academy graduate, Governor A Blair appointed I B Richardson as colonel and H L Chipman as lieutenant colonel. Colonel I B Richardson declined an appointment to command the 2nd Vermont Infantry. The 2nd Michigan Infantry was ordered to proceed to Washington D. C. on 8 June, 1861, and arrived at Baltimore, Maryland, by railroad on 9 June, 1861. The regiment proceeded to Washington D. C. on 10 June, 1861, and encamped at Camp Winfield Scott, near the Chain Bridge, above Georgetown D. C. Colonel I B Richardson was assigned to command the Fourth Brigade, First Division, Army of Northeastern Virginia, on 8 July, 1861, and the 2nd Michigan Infantry was ordered across the Potomac River via the Chain Bridge, Georgetown D. C., on 12 July, 1861.

Advance to Centreville, Virginia, 16 July, 1861: The Fourth Brigade, First Division, Army of Northeastern Virginia, under the command of Colonel I B Richardson, was ordered to proceed to Vienna, Virginia, via the Chain Bridge, Washington D. C., Langley, and Lewinsville, Virginia, at 2 PM on 16 July, 1861. Colonel I B Richardson was ordered to proceed between Fairfax Courthouse and Centreville, Virginia, to Germantown, Virginia, at 5.30 AM on 17 July, 1861, and was ordered to proceed along the Warrenton Pike to Centreville, Virginia, at 7 AM on 18 July, 1861. The Fourth Brigade, First Division, Army of Northeastern Virginia, arrived at Centreville, Virginia, at 9 AM on 18 July, 1861, and Brigadier General D Tyler ordered Colonel I B Richardson to continue a reconnaissance to Blackburn's and Mitchell's Fords, Virginia, the same day. The 2nd Michigan Infantry was engaged in the battle at Blackburn's Ford, Virginia, between 12 PM and 4 PM on 18 July, 1861, and was ordered to remain at Blackburn's Ford, Virginia, between 18 and 21 July, 1861.

Retreat to Washington D. C., 21 July, 1861: After the first battle of Bull Run the 2nd Michigan Infantry was ordered to retreat to Centreville, Virginia, at 5 PM on 21 July, 1861, and was ordered to Fairfax Courthouse, Virginia, at 2 AM the on 22 July, 1861. The regiment arrived at Arlington Heights, Virginia, via Munson's Hill, Virginia, at 2 PM on 22 July, 1861.

Mustered out: The 2nd Michigan Infantry was mustered out at Kalorama Park, Washington D. C., on 28 July, 1865.

Colonel I B Richardson was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers in August 1861, dated 17 May, 1861.

The Military District of the Potomac was established on 25 July, 1861 by consolidating the Military District of Washington and the Department of Northeastern Virginia and redesignated the Department of the Potomac on 15 August, 1861. The 2nd Michigan Infantry was assigned to Colonel I B Richardson's brigade, Army of the Potomac, on 4 August, 1861.

Report

OFFICIAL REPORT NO.28: Series I, Volume 2 (S# 2), Chapter IX, pp. 373–377
Colonel I B Richardson, Second Michigan Infantry, commanding Fourth Brigade, First Division