Following President Lincoln’s call for troops in the spring of 1861, Chemung County’s first Civil War units, Company K of the 23rd New York Volunteers and Company I of the 38th, were formed at rallies in Elmira and Horseheads. Over the course of the war, 10 infantry, 2 artillery and 2 cavalry units of Chemung County men were formed with local men also serving in units from across New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Local soldiers fought at many battles including Bull Run, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, the Battle of the Wilderness and the Siege of Atlanta.