Nolte and Taylor were fairly unique among officers. Many companies were recruited by lawyers, politicians and others whose only qualification to lead were their ability to recruit. Some of these "recruiters" turned out to be good; others not so good.
Monroe County had a population of 100,000 and so was able to raise its own regiment. This did not apply to other counties and outlying areas who would raise a company, send it to Elmira. Once there, it would be put into a regiment with companies from other areas.
The 27th and 33rd New York Infantry were from the western part of the state and were "melded" regiments. The 27th had regiments from Rochester, Lima, Mt. Morris, Albion,Lyons, Binghamton, White Plains and Angelica.
The Lyons County company was recruited by Alexander Duncan Adams, principal of Lyons Academy. Of the 105 who eventually served in his company, 41 were under the age of 20. That included 26 who claimed to be 18. Of those, it is believed some were actually more like 16 or 17.
The 33rd had companies from Seneca Falls, Palmyra, Waterloo, Conandaigua, Geneseo, Nunda, Geneva, Penn Yau and Buffalo. After Fort Sumter fell, State Assemblyman Joseph W. Coming returned to Palmyra and turned his law office into a recruiting one.
Getting Ready for War. --Old Secesh
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