2nd Regiment of Riflemen

The 2nd Regiment of Riflemen was a unit of the U.S. Army in the early nineteenth century. It was first activated in 1814 during the War of 1812 when the War Department created three additional rifle regiments based on the success of the Regiment of Riflemen. The regiment was deactivated in May 1815.

Organization
The regiment was activated on February 10, 1814. It was consolidated with the other regiments of riflemen on May 17, 1815.

Service
The regiment spent virtually its entire life on garrison duty in Detroit, Michigan Territory and Fort Malden, Upper Canada after Detroit had been abandoned by the British following the Battle of Lake Erie. Regimental depots were placed in Chillicothe, Ohio; Nashville, Tennessee and Lexington, Kentucky. The riflemen never gained full strength, in part because recruiters for other commands misrepresented thermselves as being recruiters for the riflemen. The regiment suffered continuing shortages of uniforms and equipment. The riflemen did ensure that trade with Native Americans was fair and that civil order was maintained.