The 2nd Connecticut was authorized in the Continental Army on 16 September 1776. It was organized between 1 January and April 1777 at Danbury, Connecticut of eight companies from the counties of Fairfield, Windham, and Hartford in the state of Connecticut and assigned on 3 April 1777 to the 1st Connecticut Brigade of the Highlands Department which protected the southern approaches to West Point on the Hudson River in New York. The regiment was reassigned to McDougall's Brigade on 12 June 1777; then three days later (15 June 1777) it was reassigned to the 2nd Connecticut Brigade.
One month later, 10 July 1777 the regiment was reassigned to 1st Connecticut Brigade. On 13 November 1777 the regiment was reassigned to the 2nd Connecticut Brigade of the Main Continental Army and wintered with Main Army at Valley Forge in Pennsylvania. On 1 May 1779 the 2nd Connecticut Brigade was reassigned to the Highlands department and the regiment was re-organized to nine companies on 11 July 1779.
The regiment was reassigned to the Main Continental Army on 16 November 1779. It was reassigned to the Highland's department on 27 November 1780. On 1 January 1781 the regiment was merged with 9th Connecticut Regiment, re-organized and re-designated as the 3rd Connecticut Regiment of the 1st Connecticut Brigade.
