Consider Willett and the 2nd U.S.C.T. Infantry
Organized at Arlington, Va., June 20 to November 11, 1863. Consider Willett joined the regiment
on October 5, 1863. The regiment was ordered to the Department of the Gulf December, 1863. It
was attached to District of Key West, Fla., Department of the Gulf, from February, 1864, to July,
1865. Near Fort Myers, Florida, he led the 2nd Florida Cavalry in a raid that captured 300 head of
cattle and 2 blockade runners with their cargoes. He commanded a skirmish line at the battle of
Natural Bridge (March, 1865), and captured a 12-pound cannon and its gunners. The regiment
moved to Key West, where Willett developed yellow fever. He resigned on September 12, 1865, due
to the effects of the disease. The regiment remained in the Department of Florida until January, 1866,
when it was mustered out. The regiment lost during service 3 officers and 24 enlisted men killed and
mortally wounded, and 11 officers and 135 enlisted men by disease, for a total of 173.
Battles and Other Operations:
- Duty at New Orleans, La., and Ship Island, Miss., until February 13, 1864.
- Ordered to Key West, Fla., February 13.
- Affair at Tampa, Fla., May 5.
- Operations on West Coast of Florida, July 1-31.
- Expedition from Fort Myers to Bayport, July 1-4.
- Expedition from Cedar Key to St. Andrew's Bay, July 20-29.
- Fort Taylor, August 21.
- Station No. 4, February 13, 1865.
- Attack on Fort Myers, February 20.
- Operations in the vicinity of St. Mark's, February 21-March 7.
- East River Bridge, March 4-5.
- Newport Bridge, March 5-6.
- Natural Bridge, March 6.
- Duty in District of Florida until January, 1866.
- Mustered out, January 5, 1866.
Go to Consider Willett biography