108 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



woods some little time, my regiment being almost alone. I 

 finally gave the order to retire (right of companies to the 

 rear), and did so in as perfect order as on battalion drill. 

 In this action I lost a number of men and officers wounded, 

 but only a few killed. Providence has thus far seemed to 

 favor us. 



" On emerging from the woods I met Gen. Patrick, 

 and saw at once that the battle was going against us, as 

 the enemy had turned our left, and the fighting was terrific 

 of musketry and artillery on that part of the field. Our bri- 

 gade was got together (what was left), and we took a position 

 in rear of a battery, and the men were ordered to lie down. 



" We lay in this position about half an hour, then were 

 ordered towards the rear and left. As we moved over the 

 field the enemy continued to throw shot and shell at us, 

 but fortunately none of my regiment were hurt. As we 

 came out upon the pike, Gen. McDowell rode up, his 

 horse all covered with foam and dust, and he himself look- 

 ing nearly exhausted with fatigue and excitement, and or- 

 dered us towards Centreville. We continued the march, 

 and soon learned that the army were on the retreat to 

 Washington. 



" We arrived at Centreville about ten P.M., worn out and 

 exhausted. AVe lay down upon the ground so completely 

 tired that we did not mind the rain that commenced, but 

 slept soundly till morning and wet to the skin." 



The following day was one of the deepest dejection to 

 the Army of the Potomac. The army was in full retreat, 

 surging back upon Washington, followed by the victorious 

 arms of the Confederacy within thirty miles of the capital, 

 and confidence in the generals gone. 



Col. Crane farther on in his report says, " It was about 

 nine A.M. when we received the news that Gen. McClellan 

 was again in command of the Army of the Potomac. The 

 eflect was wonderful and thrilling. For miles along the 

 lines of that battle-shattered and disheartened army cheer 

 upon cheer rent the air, and the sound swelled and rolled 

 along like a wave. Officers sprang into their saddles with 

 a bound, soldiers grasped their muskets with eagerness and 

 sprang to their places in the ranks, and, at the order for- 

 ward, all moved as if invigorated with renewed life. We 

 all felt that we were again a host, and could and would save 

 our capital and country." 



The regiment marched on towards Fairfax, where it re- 

 mained overnight, and on the following morning proceeded 

 on in the direction of Centreville, finally meeting the balance 

 of the brigade, and countermarched. 



" About this time," says Col. Crane, " we learned that 

 the enemy were about to make an attack at a point near 

 Chantilly. Our brigade was moved in that direction, and 

 the 35th, 21st, and 23d were placed in the old rebel rifle- 

 pit to protect the right of our line of battle. About sun- 

 down the enemy attacked our left, and the battle lasted 

 until about nine P.M. The firing of musketry and artillery 

 was incessant, and this with the terrific thunder and light- 

 ning rendered the scene grand and terrific. The enemy 

 were repulsed with considerable loss. We remained here 

 until the following afternoon, when we were ordered to 

 march to Upton's Jlill. We set out immediately, and 

 reached that place about midnight." 



Thus ended the disastrous campaign closing with the 

 second battle of Bull Run. 



The 23d remained at Upton's Hill four days, and then 

 commenced the march into Maryland ; and September 14 

 finds them in the battle of South Mountain. In this en- 

 gagement both officers and men behaved splendidly, and 

 received many encomiums of praise from their superior 

 officers for their bravery and coolness*. The regiment next 

 participated in the battle of Antietam. In speaking of 

 this battle. Col. HoiFman, in his official report, says, " The 

 officers and men of my command who went into the action 

 behaved most admirably, never deranging their alignment 

 during the surgings backward and forward of the lines, 

 obeying with promptitude every order, and all the time 

 remaining firm, steady, and never moving until they had 

 received the full order. Their conduct was all that I could 

 wish. We had one field, one staff, thirteen line officers, 

 and two hundred and twenty-three enlisted men. Our 

 casualties were four killed and thirty-five wounded." 



After various marches and skirmishes as well as changes 

 of command and camps, November 25 finds the regiment 

 in camp near Brooks' Station. 



Here the 23d remained until December 9, when it broke 

 camp and moved forward. It went into the battle of Fred- 

 ericksburg, and, by its courage, perseverance, and soldierly 

 bearing, added fresh laurels to those already won on many 

 a hard-contested field. 



We append Col. Hoffman's official report of this battle : 



" Headquarters 23d N. Y. Vols., Pratt's Point, Va., 



"Jan. 2, 1863. 

 " Lieut. H. P. Taylor, Lieutenant and Acting Adjutant-General 3d 



Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Army Corps : 



ii giR^ — In pursuance of orders, I have the honor to report the part 

 taken by my command in the late action at Fredericksburg, Decem- 

 ber 12, 13, 14, and 15, to be as follows : 



"On the morning of the 11th of December we moved with the 

 brigade from our bivouac near White Oak Church, on the Belle Plain 

 road, with the intention, as I supposed, of crossing the Rappahan- 

 nock. We marched but about one and a half miles when we were 

 halted, and remained all that day and night, owing to the difficulty 

 and delay in laying the bridges. 



" That night (11th) the bridges were completed, and at early dawn 

 we moved down to the northern bank of the river, at a point about 

 one and a half miles below Fredericksburg, and near the lower bridges, 

 where we remained while the rest of Gen. Franklin's left grand di- 

 vision were crossing. The morning was very foggy until about noon, 

 and we did not cross until about two p.m., we being about the 

 last. Soon after the crossing was eifected (which was without inter- 

 ruption) we were massed, with other troops of the 1st Division, near 

 the residence of Mr. Burnard, when the enemy for the first time opened 

 upon us from a battery located on the hill opposite, the first shut 

 striking and bursting in the ground in the flank of my regiment, 

 wounding one man. 



" They threw about twelve or fifteen shot and shell with remark- 

 ably good range while in this position, which resulted in but trifling 

 damage, owing to the fuses in their shell being cut either too short or 

 too long. 



" We soon moved, with the rest of the brigade and division, to a 

 point directly in front of said Burnard's house, and deployed our line 

 and stacked arms. 



" Gen. Smith's Corps (6th) was deployed on our right, his line 

 running parallel to the river, and fronting southwardly and from the 

 river. The lines of our corps (1st), after the deployment, fronted 

 easterly and down the river, the line running perpendicular to the 

 river, the left resting upon it, and the right joining the left of Gen. 

 Smith's line, and forming a right angle thereto. In this position 

 we lay behind our stacked arms all night. 



