No portion of the Loyal North was more deeply stirred by the events of April, ’61, than the people of Western New York. The firing of the rebel guns on Anderson and his little band reverberated among her hills and valleys, arousing man, woman and child to the highest pitch of excitement and patriotism. There was no locality, however remote, no hamlet, however obscure, to which this wild fervor did not penetrate. Every thought and action were for the time absorbed in the one great resolve of avenging the insult offered to our flag, and suppressing the rebellion. Neither was it the sudden, fitful resolution, which comes and goes with the flow and ebb of passion; but the calm, inflexible determination, which springs from a sense of wrongs inflicted, purity of purpose, and a lofty patriotism.
The enthusiasm of the people at once assumed tangible shape in the raising of volunteers. The rebels had deliberately begun war, and war they should have to the bitter end.
Among the very first Regiments to be organized and hastened forward to the battle-ground, was the Thirty-third, consisting of the following companies:
| FIRST COMMANDER. | LAST COMMANDER. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A, | Capt. | Guion, | Capt. | Tyler, |
| B, | 〃 | Corning, | 〃 | Draime, |
| C, | 〃 | Aikens, | 〃 | Cole, |
| D, | 〃 | Cutler, | 〃 | Gifford, |
| E, | 〃 | Warford, | 〃 | Warford, |
| F, | 〃 | McNair, | 〃 | McNair, |
| H, | 〃 | Walker, | 〃 | Drake, |
| I, | 〃 | Letts, | 〃 | Root, |
| K, | 〃 | McGraw, | 〃 | McGraw. |
COMPANY ORGANIZATIONS.
COMPANY A.
On the reception of the news that the rebels had deliberately begun hostilities in Charleston Harbor, the utmost excitement was occasioned in the quiet village of Seneca Falls. Meetings were held in the Public Hall, under the auspices of prominent citizens, and immediate steps taken for the raising of volunteers. An agent was at once dispatched to Albany, in order to secure the necessary authority for organizing a company. The inhabitants aided materially with their funds and influence in furthering the enterprise.
E. J. Tyler, Esq., established an enrolling office, and placards were posted up in prominent parts of the village, calling for recruits.
During the first two days between forty and fifty were secured, and in a week’s time the number was increased to eighty. As fast as recruited, the men were set to drilling, in an ample building secured for that purpose.