The Last Campaign of the Twenty-Second Regiment, N.G., S.N.Y. June and July, 1863

In the summer of 1863 a New York militia rushes to answer Lincoln’s call as Confederate forces move into Pennsylvania. The book captures the bustling streets, hurried rail rides, and the spirited departure of the Twenty‑second Regiment, juxtaposing patriotic fanfare with the practical challenges of moving men and gear. Arriving at Philadelphia and then Camp Curtin, the soldiers meet enthusiastic crowds and the gritty reality of crowded camps and rain‑soaked barns.

Through vivid, first‑person observations the narrator describes handkerchiefs fluttering, bells ringing, and the uneasy murmurs of troops awaiting orders. A leaky barn becomes a cramped night shelter, and the soldiers’ humor about the sodden conditions reveals their resilience amid uncertainty. While the regiment’s later battles remain unseen, this account offers an intimate look at the hopes, anxieties, and raw energy that propelled ordinary New Yorkers onto the war’s front lines.