Draw the Sword

Location: Brooke Avenue, near the Wheatfield

Order of Battle: 2nd Corps, 1st Division, 4th Brigade

Number Engaged: 280; 11 killed, 61 wounded, 12 missing

Commander: Col. William P. Baily (1825-1883)

Raised: Delaware and New Castle counties, as well as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Cecil County in Maryland.

Monument Specifications: Rough hewn granite marker with smooth faced triangular section on front with text inscription, and capped top with trefoil design on front. The monument marks the advance position held by the regiment and brigade after 4:30 pm on July 2nd, when they moved from the Wheatfield into the woods. The monument was originally located in the park in the center of Wheatfield. It was relocated to Rose Grove, August 17, 1909.

Dedication Date: Dedicated June 10, 1886. Relocated 1909.

Sculptor/Artist/Company: Davidson, Thomas, fabricator.

Main Inscription: POSITION/HELD BY/THE 2ND REG./DEL. VOL./INFANTRY/4TH BRIG. 1ST DIV./2ND ARMY CORPS./JULY 2ND/1863/ERECTED BY STATE OF/DELAWARE TO COMMEMORATE/THE GALLANTRY OF/HER SONS/A.D. 1885

Other Monuments and Memorials: Stone marker, North Hancock Avenue, Cemetery Ridge. Denotes the skirmish line of the 2nd Delaware on July 3, 1863.

Supplemental Materials: After Action Report of Col. William P. Baily (will open a pop up window).

Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:

Organized at Wilmington, Del., June 12 to October 7, 1861. Moved to Baltimore, Md., October, 1861. Attached to Dix’s Command until June, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to April, 1863. 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, to June, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, to July, 1864.

SERVICE.–Duty at Baltimore, Md., until June, 1862. Expedition through Accomac County November 14-22, 1861. Ordered to Join Army of the Potomac, on the Peninsula, Va., June, 1862. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Savage Station June 27. Battle of Gaines Mill June 27. Peach Orchard and Savage Station June 29. White Oak Swamp and Glendale June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison’s Landing to August 16. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence Centreville, August 16-30. Cover Pope’s retreat from Bull Run August 31-September 2. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Sharpsburg September 15. Battle of Antietam September 16-17. Moved to Harper’s Ferry September 22, and duty there until October 30. Reconnaissance to Charlestown October 16-17. Advance up Loudon Valley and movement to Falmouth Va., October 30-November 17. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. At Falmouth, Va., until April 27, 1863. “Mud March” January 20-24. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va., July 5-24. Duty on line of the Rappahannock and Rapidan until October. Advance from line of the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Auburn and Bristoe October 14. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. New Hope Church November 29. Mine Run November 28-30. At and near Stevensburg until May, 1864. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May 3-June 15. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7. Spotsylvania May 8-12. Po River May 10. Spotsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient “Bloody Angle” May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 16-July 1. Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon R. R., June 22-23. Mustered out July I, 1864, expiration of term. Veterans and Recruits transferred to 1st Delaware Infantry. Regiment lost during service 6 Officers and 93 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 101 Enlisted men by disease. Total 201.