33rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment - Service

Service

This regiment was accepted by the State of New York on May 22, 1861, organized at Elmira, New York, and mustered into United States service for two years. When the Regiment's two years were up, the "three years' men" were transferred to the 49th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, and the Regiment mustered out on June 2, 1863, at Geneva, New York.

Companies were recruited at:

• Seneca Falls, New York (A & K)
• Palmyra, New York (B)
• Waterloo, New York (C)
• Canandaigua, New York (D)
• Geneseo, New York (E)
• Nunda, New York (F)
• Buffalo, New York (G)
• Geneva, New York (H)
• Penn Yan, New York (I)

The regiment moved to Washington. D.C. in early 1862 where it became part of the Army of the Potomac under General George McClellan. Colonel Robert Taylor was its commanding officer during its two years of service. McClellan took the army from Washington to the Peninsula of Virginia in an attempt to capture the confederate capital of Richmond. During this campaign, the regiment fought the "Seven Days Battles" including Gaines Mills and Malvern Hill during its land retreat back to Washington DC. At this time McClellan was removed from command of the army by President Lincoln. The regiment missed the second Battle of Bull Run or Manassas. At this time, September, 1862, General Robert E. Lee invaded Maryland with his Army of Northern Virginia. McClellan was placed back in command of the army and they caught up with Lee at Antietam Creek in Western Maryland. The Battle of South Mountain occurred two days before the larger battle of Antietam which took place on September 17, 1862. Antietam, also knows in the South as the Battle of Sharpsburg, was the bloodiest one day battle ever fought in American history. The 33rd New York fought the battle as part of Franklin's VI Corps. They engaged in battle in the early afternoon and charged from the East Woods to the Dunker Church.