The 2nd Regiment, Connecticut Heavy Artillery(i) was originally mustered into Federal service as the 19th Connecticut Infantry. Organized in Litchfield, Connecticut, in July 1862, its original commander was Colonel L.W. Wessells. The regiment reported to Camp Dutton with nine companies and 815 men. A tenth company, Company K, was organized from men from each of the first nine companies. Officially mustered into service on September 11, 1862, they would report to Washington City on September 15. Later in September, Wessells would become sick and would be replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Elisha S. Kellogg. Kellogg would be promoted colonel and would permanently replace Wessells.
On November 23, 1862 the regiment would be reorganized as the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery. Over the next 18 months, they would be assigned to garrison duty around Washington, DC, serving at Forts Worth, Ellsworth and Williams.
In May 1864, during US Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant’s Overland Campaign the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery would be brought south to reinforce the Army of the Potomac. The regiment was assigned to US Brigadier General Emory Upton’s Second Brigade, US Brigadier General David Russell’s First Division of US Major General Horatio Wright’s VI Army Corps. 
They arrived at Spotsylvania Court House after the battle. Moving with the Army of the Potomac, they would see some action at the North Anna River. Their first significant fighting would take place, on June 1, at the crossroads of Cold Harbor.(ii) Ordered to break the Confederate’s entrenched lines, the 2nd Connecticut would attack CS Lieutenant General James Longstreet’s 1st Corps, of CS General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. The fighting would be intense, with Colonel Kellogg leading from the front. With Kellogg advancing, his hat on the tip of his extended sword, his brave men would cut through abatis, constantly under fire, and approach within 20 yards of the Confederate works. Under tremendous pressure from the front, and enfilade fire from their left side, the 2nd Connecticut would suffer terribly. The brave Colonel Kellogg would be killed instantly, by two minie balls, to the head. Forced to retreat, the 2nd would suffer 323 casualties – 129 of which were killed. This would be one of the highest percentage losses, for any Federal regiment, during the Civil War.
After the Battle of Cold Harbor, the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery would move, with the Army of the Potomac, to Petersburg, Virginia. They would participate in the Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road, while at Petersburg. In July, with CS Lieutenant General Jubal Early’s attack of the Washington defenses, Wright’s VI Corps would be sent to her defense. The 2nd would take part, on July 12, in the repulse of Early’s Army of the Valley near Fort Stevens – north of Washington City. The VI Corps would be sent in pursuit of Early, towards the Shenandoah Valley.
On August 7, 1864, US Major General Philip Sheridan would be assigned command of the Middle Military Division. His command included the newly formed Army of the Shenandoah, comprised of Wright’s VI Corps, US Brigadier General George Crook’s Army of West Virginia (later designated the VIII Corps) and US Brigadier General William H. Emory’s XIX Corps. The 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery was now commanded by Colonel Ronald S. MacKenzie. They remained in the Second Brigade, of the First Division of the VI Corps. They were a heavy artillery regiment, in name only. During the battles of the 1864 Valley Campaign, they would fight as an infantry regiment, at all the significant battles: Battle of Opequan (also known as Third Winchester) on September 19, Battle of Fisher’s Hill on September 21–22 and the Battle of Cedar Creek on October 19. While they were called “green” upon their arrival at Spotsylvania Court House, barely four months earlier, they were now a veteran fighting unit – with a proven battle record. Again, they piled up significant casualties.(iii)
The 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery regiment would remain with the Army of the Shenandoah, until December, when they were sent back to the Army of the Potomac, at Petersburg. On December 28, 1864, MacKenzie was promoted brigadier general, with command of the 2nd passing to Lieutenant Colonel James Hubbard. Hubbard would be quickly promoted to colonel of the regiment. On April 2, 1865 the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery would fight in the breakthrough, at Petersburg. During Robert E. Lee’s retreat, the 2nd would fight at Sailor’s Creek, on April 6, and at Appomattox Court House, on April 9. After Lee’s surrender, they would be stationed at Farmville, and Burkesville – leaving on April 23.(iv)
Their last official duty was participating in the Grand Review, of the Federal Armies,at Washington City, on June 8. They would remain in Washington until August, and muster out of Federal service on August 18, 1865. During just two years of active fighting, the regiment would suffer a total of 427 casualties.
(i) The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System was used to research this article.
(ii) The Battle of Cold Harbor, at Wikipedia, was used to research this article.
(iii) The Valley Campaigns of 1864, at Wikipedia, was used to research this article.
(iv) The Battle of Sailor’s Creek, and Appomattox Court House, at BattlefieldPortraits.com, was used to research this article.
