HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



107 



July 24 the regiaient started on a reconnaissance towards 

 Gordonsville, which, without entering into particulars, may 

 be justly regarded as the most extraordinary reconnaissance 

 during the campaign. 



On the 10th of August marching orders were received 

 and regiment moved towards Culpepper, and on the 16th 

 arrived at the foot of Cedar Mountain, and remained two 

 days on the battle-field. 



August 18 the wagon-trains were sent to the rear, and 

 the regiment received orders to march at a moment's notice. 

 They proceeded to Rappahannock Station, and were actively 

 engaged in that battle, fought August 21 and 22. 



A member of the regiment, speaking of this conflict, 



says,— 



" We moved up the river opposite the first ford north of 

 the station, and encamped for the night. During the night 

 the enemy crossed with a force of artillery and cavalry, and 

 took position in a corn-field and wood near the ford. The 

 fight was opened about eight o'clock A.M. by Gen. Patrick's 

 brigade. The enemy opened his battery from the corn- 

 field, but was soon driven from this position by Reynolds' 

 battery and Battery B, 4th United States. As the sun 

 was sinkinir down the horizon we advanced to the river, 

 under a raking fire of artillery and musketry, and took 

 position near the bank of the river, but owing to our small 

 force we were compelled to retire. The 23d fell back over 

 a rise of ground raked by the enemy's artillery, column eii 

 masse, and in perfect order, while the shells burst fearfully 

 above and around it." 



Lieut.-Col. Crane in his official report of this battle says, 

 *' This was the first time that my regiment had been under 

 fire of artillery. I was highly pleased with the conduct of 

 the men. They were cool and prompt to obey orders. Both 

 men and officers behaved like veterans ; not a man flinched 

 from his duty." 



On the morning of the 23d the battle opened with heavy 

 artillery, and lasted several hours. During the forenoon of 

 this duy the regiment started for Warrenton, and finally, 

 having come within one mile of the town, bivouacked on 

 the Sulphur Springs road. 



The regiment participated in the battle of White Sulphur 

 Springs, a spirited and lively contest. 



Next came the march to Gainesville, one of the most 

 severe marches of the campaign, in consequence of the 

 oppressive heat and scarcity of water. When within six 

 miles of the town the regiment halted for breakfast. 

 After the scanty meal had been taken and all the extra 

 ammunition destroyed the command pressed on, and dur- 

 ing the afternoon the advance division was fixed upon, 

 but it was not until the sun began to sink below the 

 western horizon that the first shot was fired at the battle 

 of Gainesville. The attack was opened by Gen. Gibbon's 

 Brigade, supported by Gen. Doubleday, Gen. Patrick's 

 Brigade holding the left. In this engagement the 23d, 

 although on the field, was not entirely engaged. The 

 battle lasted but one hour and ten minutes, during which 

 time Gibbon's Brigade lost eight hundred men. Gen. 

 Patrick's Brigade, to which the 23d was attached, held 

 the field until the wounded were cared for, and at three 

 o'clock A.M. started for Manassas Plains, which place was 



reached during the afternoon, the men almost exhausted 

 from want of sleep, food, and water. 



The regiment had scarcely stacked their arms for rest 

 when Sykes' Brigade of regulars passed en route to the 

 Bull Run battle-field, when Gen. Patrick rode rapidly up 

 and cried out, '' Prepare to march !" 



The brio-ade was soon in line, when Gen. Patrick ad- 

 dressed them in the following words : " My men, we return 

 to the battle-ground of last night. You fight in good 

 company. You follow the regulars. They're my old com- 

 panions-in-arms. You fight well ; I've no fault to find. 

 Keep well closed up and prompt to obey orders. Coi. 

 Rogers, lead off" by the right flank." The regiment par- 

 ticipated in the battle in the afternoon. On the following 

 morning opened what has gone down to history as the 

 " second battle of Bull Run," one of the deadliest contests 

 of the Rebellion. From the numbers of the enemy and 

 their close proximity, it required no prophetic eye to see 

 that a fierce battle was imminent. 



The 23d, then numbering only two hundred and twenty- 

 five in line, went into this battle with Col. Crane in com- 

 mand. 



The following description of the battle is taken from Col. 

 Crane's official report : 



" This morning (xiugust 30), after giving time to get 

 cofl'ee, the brigade changed positions two or three times to 

 different parts of the field. No enemy in force was dis- 

 covered, notwithstanding our batteries kept throwing shell 

 into the woods to draw them out or bring forth a response, 

 but all continued silent. 



" About two P.M. our division was placed under com- 

 mand of Fitz-John Porter, and with his corps ordered to 

 advance. It was the prevailing opinion that the enemy 

 had retired, having been defeated on the previous day. 

 We advanced, King's Division having the right and form- 

 ing four lines of battle. My regiment was the third line 

 of the division. (Gen. Hatch was now in command. Gen. 

 King having been relieved for the aff'air at Gainesville, 

 on the 28th.) We now moved forward to a thick wood. 

 Here the skirmishers commenced firing, and soon the ad- 

 vanced lines opened with terrific volleys of musketry. We 

 pushed on. Soon the bullets flew around us as thick as 

 hail. Now commenced in earnest the final battle of Bull 

 Run. The enemy's artillery opened upon us with shot 

 and shell, and this, with their musketry, made a storm of 

 their fire. Our artillery, in the rear of the woods, could give 

 us no support. 



" Thus the battle raged for about one and one-half hours, 

 until our front lines were broken and the dead and wounded 

 lay in heaps. The enemy lay behind a railway embank- 

 ment, and so well protected that our men charged in vain 

 upon them, sometimes upon the ditch, and fought hand-to- 

 hand. Sykes' Brigade of regulars on our left was forced 

 back, our two front lines were decimated and broken, and 

 our (Patrick's) brigade badly cut to pieces. Col. Pratt, 

 of the 20th New York State Militia, was killed and the 

 regiment scattered and demoralized. The 21st was used up, 

 and the left wing of the 35th decimated. These had all 

 left the field and fallen back. 



" I had heard no order to retire, and remained in the 



