II Corps (Union army)

The II Corps was a corps in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was one of the most consistently effective and heavily engaged corps in the Army of the Potomac. Formed in March 1862, it participated in nearly every major battle in the Eastern Theater from the Peninsula Campaign to the Siege of Petersburg.

Known for its hard fighting and high casualty rates, the II Corps earned a reputation as the "Iron Corps," although this nickname is sometimes erroneously applied to the I Corps. Its composition varied over time, but it typically consisted of three divisions of infantry.

Notable commanders of the II Corps included:

• Brigadier General Edwin V. Sumner (March 1862 – September 1862)
• Major General Darius N. Couch (September 1862 – May 1863)
• Major General Winfield Scott Hancock (May 1863 – November 1864)
• Major General Andrew A. Humphreys (November 1864 – June 1865)

The II Corps played pivotal roles in many key battles, including:

• The Peninsula Campaign (1862)
• Antietam (1862)
• Fredericksburg (1862)
• Chancellorsville (1863)
• Gettysburg (1863), where it played a crucial role in repulsing Pickett's Charge
• The Wilderness (1864)
• Spotsylvania Court House (1864)
• Cold Harbor (1864)
• Siege of Petersburg (1864-1865)
• Appomattox Campaign (1865)

After the war, the II Corps was disbanded. Its legacy lives on in the historical record as a testament to the courage and sacrifice of the Union soldiers who served within its ranks. The high casualty rates suffered by the II Corps, especially at Gettysburg and in the Overland Campaign, reflect the intensity of the fighting and the corps' consistent placement in the thick of battle.