Wayne County, New York
in the Civil War

The following is taken from Third Annual Report of the Bureau of Military Statistics of the State of New York, Albany: [The Bureau], (C. Wendell), 1866.

On the 19th of April, 1861, Hon. (now) Col. Joseph W. Corning, returned to his home in Palmyra, after having represented the 2d Assembly District of Wayne county, during the session of the Legislature of 1861.

On the morning of the 20th of April, the Stars and Stripes were thrown from the law office of Mr. Corning, and on the 23d, the minimum number then required, 38 men, were enrolled. On that day a copy of the roll was forwarded to the Adjutant-General for organization, but on the same day the Military Board issued an order, requiring the maximum number, 77, before organization. From this fact some of the original men were lost, as they would not delay, and went to Rochester or other places and enlisted in companies already organized, A public meeting of citizens of Palmyra was called, and a fund of $7,000 pledged for the support of the families of volunteers. On the 3d day of May, 1861, the company was organized, 79 men strong, and officered as follows :
Captain—Joseph W. Corning.
First Lieutenant—Josiah J. White.
Second Lieutenant—Henry J. Draime.

By the delay of the inspector, the company waited six days for inspection; then a week more before quarters could be procured at, Elmira. May 16th, the company left Palmyra 82 strong, amid an enthusiasm scarcely ever equaled in a country village. They were escorted to the railroad by the entire populace, and left amid mingled cheers and tears.

On the 21st of May the company was assigned as company B, Thirty-third Regiment, New York State Volunteers.

The regiment remained at Elmira until July 8th, 1861, when it left for Washington, and on the day of the first battle of Bull Run was stationed at Camp Granger, north of Washington.

The company was very materially advanced by the efforts of Colonel Corning. During the two years that company was in service, he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, and each of the Lieutenants became Captains, successively. Captain White lost his health and was forced to abandon the service, but Captain Draime and Colonel Corning remained in service until the end of the war, coming home at different times and each taking part and materially assisting in raising and filling four regiments.

There was no effort in any other part of Wayne till some time after the company was raised at Palmyra, but during the same season a company was raised in the eastern part of the county, with headquarters at Lyons, which subsequently became a part of the Twenty-seventh Regiment New York volunteers.

See also The Communites of New York in the Civil War

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