In Civil War Brockport: A Canal Town and the Union Army, William G. Andrews writes with the purpose of portraying, “as well as possible, the role of the Brockport, New York area in the American Civil War” while arguing “that Brockport was intensely involved in the war and that, in some respects, that role was important” (pg. 7). He argues that the largely Lincoln-Republican politics of the town coupled with the war’s location on American soil and high Union casualties (29.2 percent) helped invest the village and surrounding towns in the war effort (pg. 19). He organizes the monograph into four parts – the first focuses on the homefront; the second on the 13th New York Volunteer Infantry; the third on seven Brockport companies elsewhere in the war; and the fourth on Brockporters in other units.

Discussing the organization of units, Andrews writes, “The Regular United States Army at the outbreak of the Civil War was composed of only 16,367 officers and enlisted men and many of them resigned to join the Confederacy. Therefore, the Union Army was overwhelmingly formed of regiments mobilized by the states in response to calls by the national government” (pg. 33). In these recruitment drives, “typically, an important politician would be commissioned a colonel and undertake to recruit a regiment of about 1,000 men from a congressional district or large county. He would, then, ‘issue permits’ to lower-ranking leaders. They conferred captains’ and lieutenants’ commissions and mandates to muster companies of about 100 men each at the local level” (pg. 33). In focusing on the 13th NYVI, Andrews draws largely on personal letters reprinted in the local Brockport and Rochester newspapers.

Eugene Fuller makes significant appearances throughout the account, both for his family connections in Brockport early in the war and since he “resigned from the army April 27, 1862…He returned to Brockport, organized Company H for the 108th New York Volunteer Infantry regiment, and was mustered in as a captain on August 18, 1862” (pg. 111). Eight other men later joined him in the 108th after the 13th was disbanded (pg. 176). Fuller recruited in Sweden, Clarkson, Hamlin, and Henrietta, New York (pg. 200). Andrews writes, “Brockporter Captain Eugene P. Fuller organized Company H and was its commander until June 3, 1863…He was succeeded by Patrick C. Kavanagh of Rochester and, on January 1, 1865, by Andrew Boyd of Brockport, who had worked his way up through the ranks from sergeant, despite having been wounded at Laurel Hill while first sergeant” (pg. 201). Fuller was dismissed following a bloodless duel (pg. 204) for which my great-great-grandfather drew up the charges and specifications of violating Article of War no. 25, conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, and conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline. Other summaries of Brockporters in the war focus on the Colored Calvary, the Engineers, Sharpshooters, and more.

Andrews concludes, “I cannot tell how typical was the experience of the Brockport area. I doubt that it was unique, but I suspect that it tended toward the extreme end of the intensity spectrum for similar communities. The fact that Brockport was the only municipality, except Rochester, to respond to Lincoln’s first appeal and the sheer number of companies that were formed in the area and the number of men who served suggests that” (pg. 323). Though expertly researched, the regional-specific nature Andrews’ work will primarily appeal to those interested in New York’s role in the Civil War or those studying local history of Western New York. His reliance on letters whenever possible to tell his narrative does successfully bring the voices of these long-deceased soldiers to vivid life for the reader. ( )