Colonel Hugh Brady became the regiment's commanding officer with Henry Leavenworth as major and Ninian Pinkney as lieutenant-colonel.

[4] The War Department ruled that the present 2nd Infantry bear upon its colors the campaign honors of the regiments consolidated into its organization.

From September 1846 to December 1847 the regiment campaigned from the Rio Grande to Mexico City, fighting in battles at Veracruz, Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Churubusco, Moline del Rey and Chapultepec.

Between 1849 and 1853 the regiment was in California occupying stations from Goose Lake on the north to Fort Yuma on the south and the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the east, scouting, providing protection for the '49ers and fighting throughout the entire area.

The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and fought in engagements such as Manassas, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg.

These honors were earned by the 16th Infantry: Atlanta, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Georgia 1864, Kentucky 1862, Mississippi 1862, Murfreesboro, Shiloh, and Tennessee 1863 From 1877 to 1886 the regiment was in Washington, Oregon and Idaho Territory campaigning against the Nez Perce, then the Bannocks and then a band of the Eastern Shoshones called the Sheepeaters.

In 1898 the regiment was deployed to Cuba at the start of the Spanish–American War, with Headquarters, Staff, Band, and Companies C and G sailing on the same ship with the Rough Riders.

The regiment, under the command of LTC William Wherry, (regimental commander COL John C. Bates had been promoted to brigadier general of volunteers) fought in battles along the road to San Juan Heights and the battle of Santiago, where it fought on the extreme left of San Juan Heights.

When war broke out, the 2nd Infantry Regiment was on security duty in the Hawaiian Islands guarding interned German ships and sailors, as well as various U.S. installations.

In February 1942 the regiment was sent to Iceland to relieve United States Marines who were providing security for U.S. bases located there, and to load and unload supply ships.

It became part of General George Patton's Third United States Army, leading the way in the breakout from the beaches of Normandy in Operation Cobra, capturing Rheims and then seized Metz after a major battle at Fort Driant.

The unit then spearheaded the attack into Czechoslovakia and was located near the town of Volary when the word came to cease all forward movement at 08:31 on 7 May 1945.

During the Korean War the regiment was stationed at Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, Pennsylvania with the 5th Infantry Division training recruits for deployment to Korea.

In early April 1970 an honor guard returned Fort Riley, Kansas with the 1st Division and its assigned unit's colors.

The transfer of authority from 1st Battalion, 61st Cavalry (101st Airborne Division) to Task Force 1-2 Infantry (TF 1-2) occurred on 13 August 2011 at 10:00.

On 14 August 2011 the 1st Battalion sustained its first casualties when two soldiers from Company A were killed by an IED while recovering a damaged vehicle.

On 24 November 2011, the Black Scarves were ordered to move from Nangarhar to FOB Andar in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan to conduct a relief in place with the 2nd Battalion.

This was called Operation Airborne Dragon, Northern Iraq with the entire task force being air lifted from Germany.

On 20 July 2004 SSG Raymond Bittinger, 3rd Platoon, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry was awarded a Silver Star for leadership and heroism under fire on 9 April 2004 in Baqubah, Iraq.

[11] SSG Bittinger was the first soldier of the 1st Infantry Division to receive a Silver Star during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

On 4 September 2008 Company C, 2nd Battalion suffered its first casualties when a Humvee was hit by an IED and a follow on enemy attack.

On 6 May 2009 at FOB Ramrod, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates presented awards to six members of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, for their actions on 4 September.

Bronze Star awards with "V" device went to SSG Anthony Roszko, SPC Kevin Tibbett, and CPL Justin Skotnicki.

Army Commendation Medals with "V" device went to PFC Michael Kehrer, PVT Alexander Hayes and SGT Justin Chaney.

SGT Ramin Berntsson was also awarded a Bronze Star with "V" device for his actions that day, upon redeployment to Fort Hood, Texas.

The unit took responsibility for the security forces assistance team mission in Zabul Province at a TOA ceremony when it relieved the 5th Troop, 7th Cavalry.

The mission will consist of CPT Andrews as the D Co Commander, SFC Ramos as the 1SG/NCOIC, and about 50 Soldiers selected from 2-4 IN, 2-30 IN & 3-89 CAV, all units from within 4-10 MTN.

The official uncasing of the colors and Assumption of Command ceremony for the 2d Battalion was held on 3 September 2015 at Fort Polk, LA.

Beginning in mid-September 2017 the 2d Battalion, 2d Infantry along with other elements of the 3d Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division began deploying to Iraq for a 9-month tour.

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.