Being met with opposition and the remonstrance of friends, that there were single men, and those more inured to hardship, sufficient for the emergency, whose duty it was to go first, his plans were for a time delayed, and until a second or third reverse of our arms, when he could no longer be restrained, went earnestly at work, and by his persistent efforts succeeded in raising a sufficient number of volunteers for the basis of a Company; which, by authority of the commandant of the Elmira rendezvous, in accordance with orders from the Adjutant General of the State, was organized at Ithaca Sept. 10th, 1861, and by him conducted to Elmira, where, by a unanimous vote of the Company, he was elected its Captain, and so commissioned by Gov. Seymour, commission bearing date Sept. 13th, 1861.
Captain Glenny then went earnestly at work and recruited his Company to the minimum standard, and by vote of its members united its destinies with the 64th Regiment N. Y. Volunteers, commanded by Col. Thomas J. Parker.
On the 10th of December the Regiment moved to Washington, and a month later crossed the Potomac and camped with the main army three miles west of Alexandria, and was brigaded under General O. O. Howard, who commanded the first Brigade, first Division, second Corps. Early in the spring of 1862, the Brigade moved one week in advance of the main army for the purpose of repairing the Orange & Alexandria Railroad. A short distance beyond Fairfax Station signs of the enemy were discovered, and for safety to the command, two Companies from the 64th, under command of Captain Glenny, (his own being one of the number) were sent some considerable distance to the front as an extreme outpost. Here the first blood of the opening campaign was drawn by shooting a rebel scout by one of Captain Glenny's men.
The main army soon after advanced to the famous fields of Manassas, but only to find the enemy beating a hasty retreat, leaving every conceivable ruin in their track.
At this juncture the army changed its base to the Peninsula and Chickahominy swamps, where, after the siege of Yorktown, and on the first of June, was fought the terrific battle of Fair Oaks, in which Captain Glenny, while leading his men in a charge, received a wound, which, for a time, was thought to be mortal, a minnie ball passing through his left shoulder.
In about two months he again returned to his command, but so disabled that he was detached on recruiting service and stationed at Elmira; after which he returned to the army, and after nearly another year's campaign, was, in accordance with orders, again detached at Elmira on service connected with the draft. After being relieved from this duty, he rejoined his command, with which he served until the close of the war.
Owing to circumstances beyond his control, he served near two and a half years as Captain without promotion, after which in rapid succession he received the different grades of Major, Lieut. Colonel and Colonel, but was unable to muster into the latter grade by reason of insufficiency of numbers in the Regiment. This was, however, in part recompensed for, as after the smoke of battle and the clash of arms had ceased, and honors were conferred upon "whom honor was due," Captain Glenny had two grades by brevet conferred upon him by the President, that of Brevet Colonel and Brevet Brigadier General, for gallant and meritorious services—honors which he modestly and unassumingly wears, but of which he may justly be proud.
From the time of his entry into the service until the close of the war, near four years, (except while suffering from wounds and on detached service,) General Glenny fought traitors with unrelenting fidelity to principle and the inalienable rights of man.
The number of decisive battles of which he may claim to be hero, and in which he had the honor to bare his breast to the bayonet and bullet, are twenty-two; six of them being bayonet charges and direct assaults upon the enemy and their fortifications. Among the principal of these battles may be placed Fair Oaks, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Po River, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Deep Bottom, Petersburg, Gravelly Run, Southside Road, Farmville, Reams Station, &c. The Regiment fought in upwards of thirty-three. General Glenny's superior officers being wounded, he was invested with the command of the Regiment on the battle-field of Spottsylvania, which command he retained until the close of the war, except at different periods, by seniority of rank, he commanded a Brigade. At the battle of Ream's Station he took command of the Brigade which he retained for some considerable time, as so fierce had been the campaign that but one other field officer was left for duty in the Brigade comprising seven Regiments. Had we time and space, many acts of personal bravery and valorous deeds might be accredited to this officer during his brief career of warfare, as owing to his known integrity of character and ability, superior officers frequently selected him to fill posts of great danger.
General Glenny's command has the honor of being the first infantry troops upon the Southside Railroad, also of making the last charge upon the enemy at Farmville, April 7th, 1865.