106 



HISTOEY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



The regiment was officered as follows : Colonel, Henry C. 

 Hoffman ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Nirom M. Crane ; Major, 

 William M. Gregg; Adjutant, William W. Hajt; Quarter- 

 master, Myron H. Mandeville; Surgeon, Seymour Churcbill ; 

 Assistant Surgeon, William A. Madill ; Chaplain, Ezra F. 

 Crane ; Sergeant-Major, Archibald N. Devoe ; Quarter- 

 master-Sergeant, Hiram Smith ; Drum-Major, Miles Terrill ; 

 Fife-Major, Julius C. Smead. 



Companij A, — Captain, Theodore Schlick ; First Lieu- 

 tenant, Cornelius F. Mowers] Second Lieutenant, George 

 E. Biles. 



Comjmmj B. — Captain, Marshall M. Loydon ; First 

 Lieutenant, Lemuel K. Bradley ; Second Lieutenant, Wm. 

 Cole. 



CoiDpavy C. — Captain, Samuel Barstow ; First Lieu- 

 tenant, Moses M. Van Benschoten ; Second Lieutenant, 

 Charles 0. Durland. 



Company D. — Captain. Luzern Todd ; First Lieutenant, 

 Newton T. Colby ; Second Lieutenant, William H. Jones. 



Company E. — Captain, George H. Powers ; First Lieu- 

 tenant, John H. Pierce ; Second Lieutenant, Hugh J. 

 Baldwin. 



Company F. — Captain, William W. Dingledey ; First 

 Lieutenant, Melville C. Wilkinson ; Second Lieutenant, 

 Samuel N. Benedict. 



Company G. — Captain, Frank B. Doty ; First Lieuten- 

 ant, Ira Cone ; Second Lieutenant, John Prentiss. 



Company li. — Captain, M. C. Clark ; First Lieutenant, 

 A. D. Waters ; Second Lieutenant, B. B. xVndrews. 



Company I. — Captain, James D. Chapman ; First Lieu- 

 tenant, A. 0. Durland ; Second Lieutenant, Samuel W. 

 Cass. 



Company K. — Captain, Nathaniel B. Fowler ; First 

 Lieutenant, Florence Sullivan ; Second Lieutenant, Bodney 

 W. Steele. 



The regiment left Elmira, and upon arriving in Wash- 

 ington encamped on Meridian Hill, two miles north of the 

 city. July 17 it was reviewed by President Lincoln and 

 Secretary Seward, and a fine stand of colors presented by 

 the patriotic ladies of Elmira. The beautiful banner was 

 presented by General A. S. Diven, and received by Colonel 

 Hoffman, who responded in a brief address, thanking them 

 for the beautiful testimonial of their kindness and con- 

 fidence. 



On the 31st of July, from the camp of the 23d could be 

 distinctly heard the ominous booming of cannon from the 

 disastrous battle-field of Bull Bun. During the day ru- 

 mors came floating into the city that the Union arms were 

 victorious, but night brought the disheartening truth that 

 the great army was falling back upon Washington, and 

 that the terrible battle of Bull Bun had been fought and 

 lost. 



July 23 the regiment crossed the Potomac into Virginia 

 and encamped at Fort Bunyon. On the 5th of August 

 they moved to Arlington Heights, and on the 7th estab- 

 lished a picket line from the road at Hunter's Chapel to the 

 house of a Mr. Pearl, near Ball's Cross-Boads. While in 

 camp at Arlington, the 23d was brigaded with the 21st and 

 35th New York Volunteers, under command of General 



James S. Wadsworth. 



The regiment remained here until 



September 28, nothing of any importance happening to 

 relieve the monotony of camp-life. 



September 28 a general advance of the army was ordered, 

 and it moved to Upton's Hill only to find the place evac- 

 uated, and what from a distance seemed to be formidable 

 cannon proved to be stove-pipe mounted on wheels. On 

 Upton's Hill, at a locality named by the men of the 23d 

 Upton's Dale, the regiment went into winter quarters. The 

 three months, December, January, and February, that the 

 regiment remained in this pleasant camp were passed in 

 drills, reviews, and picket. 



Nothing occurred to break the ceaseless monotony of 

 camp-life. " All quiet on the Potomac !" was the sentence 

 flashed along the wires day after day, until it became a 

 stereotyped head-line for the press, read in Northern homes 

 till patience ceased to be a virtue, and the people clamored 

 for a move of the Army of the Potomac. 



At length, on the 10th of March, orders were given for 

 an advance, the grand, well-disciplined legion moved, and 

 the nation breathed freer. As the army moved forward the 

 23d shared in the G;eneral cha2;rin in finding; that the formi- 

 dable host of the enemy had folded their tents and silently 

 stole away, leaving their pursuers in possession of the banks 

 of earthworks, over which protruded the ominous-looking 

 " Quaker guns" of Manassas. 



On the 14th of March the command of the briirade was 

 transferred from Gen. Wadsworth to Col. Bogers, of the 

 21st. 



March 15 the regiment started for Alexandria, for the 

 purpose of shipping on transports. The roads at this time 

 were in an almost impassable condition, in consequence of 

 the heavy rains that had recently fallen, and after strug- 

 gling one day in the mud the regiment returned to its old 

 camp. Here they remained two days, and moving one 

 mile farther on, encamped at Bailey's Cross-Boads. They 

 remained in this camp until April 4, during which time 

 Gen. Patrick took command of the bri2;ade. From here 

 the 23d proceeded to Fairfax, and from thence to Manassas, 

 and on to Bristoe. April 19 finds the regiment bivouacked 

 at the foot of Fredericksburg Heights, from which point 

 the city was subsequently bombarded. 



The enemy evacuated the city on the 1st of May, and on 

 the 7th instant. Gen. Patrick, having been appointed mili- 

 tary governor of the city, detailed the 23d as guard and 

 patrol. This regiment raised for the first time the Union 

 banner in this rebel town. The 23d remained here about 

 two weeks, when a general advance was made, and after a 

 series of fatiguing marches it returned to Fredericksburg, 

 reaching Elk Bun June 9. 



On the 27th of June the regiment encamped at " Camp 

 Bufus King," on the Belle Plain road, about three miles 

 from the Bappahannock Biver. This camp was located on 

 lands owned by the wealthy planter King in the earlier days 

 of the Old Dominion. While encamped on this beautiful 

 spot two interesting ceremonies took place, that of the pre- 

 sentation of a sword to Col. Hoffman by the non-commis- 

 sioned officers of his command, and one to Lieut. -Col. 

 Crane by the privates of the regiment. A few days later 

 a handsome sword was presented to Maj. William M. Gregg 

 by the officers of the line. 



