What The 2d is about...

The idea for the 2nd Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery Regiment reenactment group came about when two current officers sought to commemorate the 61 soldiers of Company I from Woodbury, CT who volunteered for the old 19th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. To learn the artillery aspects of the unit's history, the core group of members began working in Spring, 1997 with Battery F, 1st Rhode Island Artillery, and trained on 6 pounder cannon with them.

Subsequently, the unit has trained with the 9th Massachusetts Light Artillery and fielded with them at the battle reenactments of the 135th Anniversary of the Battle of Antietam in 1997 and 135th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg in 1998. At this latter reenactment, two members fielded with Company A, 8th CT Volunteer Infantry to experience infantry impressions. From that day in July, 1998; the 2d CVHA reenactment group has steadily steered towards an infantry impression. The date of our impression has been focussed to June 1, 1864. The morning of the Battle of Cold Harbor which was the 2d CVHA baptism of fire.

For the units infantry impressions, the small arms carried include 3 band Enfield muskets. The federal uniform is an artillery frock coat. This reflects the period in time after which the old 19th Infantry was redesignated an artillery regiment in November, 1863. The frock coats are the preferred dress coat but new members are encouraged to purchase a sack coat for their first year. This is to defer cost and provide the flexibility to fall in with other infantry units to do impressions other than the 2d CVHA. A regimental manual has been written by Matt Minor and the bylaws contained within the manual accepted by popular vote of the members of the regiment.

The regiment currently has twenty-one regular members under arms. Wives, family, and friends are also invited to join. The unit has 16 junior members acting as cadets and eight associate members providing civilian impressions.

The 2nd Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery Regiment: Company I reenactment group is a non-profit organization.