With the soldier in the field his regiment was home, wife, sweetheart and family combined. It was here he drew his rations, received his pay, secured promotion, here were his mates with whom he messed, slept, sometimes fought and was always grumbling. At his regiment he was in daily communication with home, for wherever the regiment went the army mail was in close pursuit and at each halt someone was certain to receive a message or some local newspaper, which kept the camp and home ever in the closest of touch. So it was that with his regiment the man was as independent and saucy as a pert uniform and good backers would naturally make one, but let the same chap lose his command and wander, as sometimes happened, for hours from one regiment to another vainly seeking for information as to its whereabouts and he would n the end drop his style and fast assume an appearance nearly resembling that of a pinched, woebegone, lost dog in a strange city.

With the soldier his regiment was a personification. To his mind it had form and local habitation as well as a number and name. While he spent no small share of his off duty time in vilifying this particular portion of the army, yet should one of another command in the mildest possible terms intimate that his regiment was not all it should be, the groundwork for a good stiff flight would be well laid out.

While the regiment held together each man regarded himself bound to maintain its good name and held life itself cheap in defense of its colors or in succoring his comrades. Whoever wore its number could safely count on all each of its members could do for success. It is for reasons like these that old soldiers seek to met those of their own regiment in friendly reunions, much as members of a family have their reunions, to them inexpressibly dear but which to an outside would prove hopelessly dull.

It is in this spirit of comradeship that the few surviving members of the old 64th New York Vols. yearly assemble to clasp each others hands and to spend a few hours in renewing memories of the fateful years during which that glorious organization contributed its full share in securing federal success.

With but few exceptions regimental organizations, outside of the regular army, were created to serve during the emergency of the war, were manufactured, so to speak, for the occasion. Not so with the 64th; long before the rebellion it had a form and a name, had a framework on which to build, and it passed into Uncle Sam’s army from the State Militia as a natural result of having assumed in time of peace the role of a soldier.

As the regiment was formed in a time of profound peace, it is more than probable that the moving force was ambition it its commanding officer to secure a colonel’s commission. For many years, and in fact until it was received into the Volunteers after breaking out of the war, the regiment was more of form than of substance. What tactics it learned was some few field evolutions, and service in the man consisted in a few days at a regimental camp which itself was a well conducted picnic, making a good outing and serving a purpose in securing acquaintance among the officers and men.

With the breaking out of hostilities and the acceptance of the regiment as an organization the several companies, with the exception of Company K, which had been organized and drilled as a company of artillery, proceeded to secure recruits to fill up their ranks in which they were reasonably successful, so that in a short time the regiment was in condition to be mustered into the United States service.

The regiment was most fortunate in having for its field officers two men of more than ordinary merit, Lieutenant Colonel BINGHAM and Major BROOKS, each of whom received promotion, and each gave up his life as the result of wounds received in battle. Of the staff Dr. BARR, Quartermaster BABB and Adjutant COOPER were each highly esteemed, especially so in the case of Dr. BARR, who will ever stand first in the hearts of the old members of the 64th. Not only was he thoroughly prepared for his profession, but he early developed a fearlessness of danger that prompted him to reach the wounded almost on the skirmish lines, an untiring energy that kept him up to the work as long as a man remained who required medical or surgical treatment; a kindness of heart that lead him to strip his quarters of pretty much everything of use or comfort, for those who came under his treatment; a democracy that knew no difference in rank at his hands, and supreme contempt for the cowardly skulks and maligners [sic] that made him a lofty terror to those, who sought through his department, to escape duty or danger. If the 64th regiment militia had done no other service than to give Dr. BARR to the medical service of the army it would have proved the wisdom of its organization.

As a matter of cold fact the military history of this regiment began at Elmira. The four months spent at this place were delightful beyond description, good quarters, food fit for the gods, a camp ever favored by the attendance of sweethearts, wives and a great crowd of others of the fair sex ready and willing to assume such relations, by reason, of course, of their abundant patriotism. Withal there was an abundance of good hard work done, making the raw material up into soldiers. but strange as it now appears in looking back, there was deep-seated discontent pervading all, at the delay in permitting us to go down South and end the war. At Elmira there was at this time not farm from 3,000 men and not a doubt existed in our minds but that the war was being prolonged only because of the inexcusable neglect of those in authority to send us to the front. In fact the whole lot finally became seized with a great fear lest by some unlucky chance, the war might end and we fail to have had a hand in wiping out the rebels. When at last the time came for moving towards Washington our men were more than ready and orders to leave this military paradise were welcomed as though it was to march to the pearly gates, as in fact it was for many of the light hearted boys who cheered themselves hoarse at moving from dear old Barracks No. 3.

Of the discomforts indispensable to moving large bodies of men in those days all of you are more than familiar. Long before we reached Washington the boys had eaten or wasted all the rations issued for the journey. At Baltimore for the first time ball catridges [sic] were issued, and with rifles loaded we march through its streets prepared to defend ourselves against bands of plug-uglies who were reported to be lying in wait to attack us, but the only reception which in fact awaited our boys was a grand treat of hot coffee and sandwiches served at the depot by generous hearted women who filled our haversacks to overflowing with what remained after satisfying our soldierly appetites.

From Baltimore to Washington was not only an additional night of discomfort but served as a sort of introduction to practical warfare. We found each bridge and culvert carefully guarded to prevent destruction from guerrillas, and so slow was our progress that it was long after daybreak before we came in sight of that Mecca of our patriotism, the national capitol. It was indeed a most inspiring vision. For miles we could see the grand outlines of the capitol building, and as we approached, its granduer [sic] and beauty grew upon us. Perhaps it seemed more grand and beautiful to us because its possession was at that time seriously threatened, for the rebel flag could plainly be seen at their outpost at Arlington from its unfinished dome. When at length our men were disembarked from the cars it was at a point not far from the capitol grounds and few of all in the regiment but clambered up to the walls to satisfy themselves by actual contact that the capitol was now safe, for were we not there to protect and preserve it?

Then came the first attempt to grapple with army rations. Heretofore our food had been served in shape and form for immediate use, now it came coffee in the berry and unburned at that, flour sacks and other things in a like ridiculous shape. About the only articles issued that we felt perfectly competent to manage were several cords of well seasoned maple wood and a box of candles. Most fortunately we were soon surrounded by peddlers of all grades who started us off in business by exchanging their cooked food for our raw material together with so much coin of the realm as could be gathered in our impoverished ranks, for it will be borne in mind that we had not at this time been sufficiently initiated in the art of war to enable us to find the paymaster. But all things come to those who wait, and in course of time we learned how to subsist on army rations.

Camp R.E. Fenton, as our first stopping place was named, was located north of the city and our regiment made part of a provisional bridge, commanded by Gen. FRENCH. At this early point in our warfare something was learned at least some us learned to take off our caps while waiting for orders in a room with superior officers. (For particulars inquire of Comrade CROWLEY).

While stationed at Camp Fenton our men had a grand opportunity for visiting the many places of interest at our national capitol and availed themselves of it to the fullest extent.

Soon after the first of January camp was broke, the Long Bridge crossed and the 64th incorporated into the Army of the brigade, division and corps commanders. Our first order came through Lieut., now Maj. Gen. MILES who at that time was an aid to Gen. HOWARD. ‘Verily there were giants in those days.’ With this move we became a part of the fighting forces, favored beyond measure in being placed under general officers who deservingly stood at the head of their profession.

Here for the first time we had an opportunity to take an account of stock, to measure ourselves in comparison with men of other regiments and see how we stood the test. It was painfully evident that the 64th was still in many respects the militia regiment. Much to the chagrin of our general officers the commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers and privates mingled together when off duty upon the plain of the most absolute equality; often in making up messes all ranks would be represented and a fear was seriously entertained at headquarters that our officers would not have the men under sufficient control to secure effective work in the hour of battle. A fear, let me say, which proved utterly groundless, as the rank and file were made of fully as good material as their officers, and required neither leading to keep them in place or file closers to prevent shirking.

Now that we have reached the sacred soil of Virginia, have become a part of the army of occupation, I give place to others whose pleasant task it will be to tell of battles fought and victories won.