The "Ulster Guard" (20th N. Y. State Militia) and the War of the Rebellion

author to the charge of having made invidious distinctions between different officers.

The members of the "Old Twentieth," and the thousands of its civilian friends, have felt that its services entitled it to a historical record; and, so long ago as 1862, Mr. Archibald Russell proposed that the Ulster County Historical Society should undertake such a work, and his proposition was adopted [see page 57], but never carried into effect.

I am fully conscious of the many imperfections of this work. As the advance sheets come from the press, I see much that I would be glad if I could have spent more time and care upon. Frequent and often protracted interruptions have not only delayed the publication, but have forced me to devote the heat of summer to labor which I hoped? to have completed during the preceding winter; and latterly the cry for "copy" from my publisher, and my desire to have this book issued before I meet my old comrades face to face again, at our annual Re union on the 17th of this month, and again have to apologize for its non-appearance, have prevented that degree of care which such a work should command at the hands of its author. But,

"What is writ, is writ,

Would it were worthier!"

The high regard in which the regiment has always been held by the people of Ulster County, has led them to manifest much interest in the promised history of its origin and service in the field. Their hearty, practical and untiring interest

in its welfare and reputation, has been one of the pleasant memories connected with its five years of service, under the Federal Government. They so identified themselves, with the organization that any truthful history of it must necessarily identify them with its career.

Some readers may object that my subject did not require me to discuss, as I have, many of the operations of the armies of the Potomac and of Virginia, and several of the battles fought by those armies. But it must be remembered that the regi-. ment is the lowest unit in the army organization, and it acts in conjunction with its brigade, division and corps, and, finally, with the army of which it is a component part. To attempt to describe the individual operations of a regiment in such battles as those participated in by the "Ulster Guard," would be like asking you to judge of the merits of a great painting from a fragment of the canvas. A history of any given regiment must be at least a miniature history of the war. It is but one of the united implements in the hands of the Commanding General, and its acts are always influenced by its fellows. But beyond all this, I designed to give the work something more than a mere local interest, and to make it, so far as I was able, an accurate history of the great events with which the regiment was connected.

I have claimed no merit for the "Ulster Guard," that was not freely ascribed to it in the army in which it served-I have sought to do it only sim

ple, naked justice. I am persuaded its deserts were greater than I make them appear, but my relation to the regiment as its commander during a considerable part of its service, seemed to me a reason why I should not be its eulogist. I have not, however, felt that delicacy required me to exclude from these pages the cordial commendations of others.

In the discussion of battles and the general operations of the armies, I have endeavored to be accurate, fair and impartial. I have consulted the best authorities, both Union and Confederate, and have striven to arrive at just conclusions. While the criticisms I have felt constrained to pass upon some of the leaders of the Union Army may be distasteful to many of my readers, yet they will find it difficult to deny their justice, in view of the facts upon which they are founded.

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