This is a story of New Yorkers who were recruited primarily from the gentle farmlands of central New York--young and middle-aged, American and European, farmer and tradesman, poor and well-off--all of whom were among the first to step forward and answer their fledgling nation's call during the Civil War. Though those young men marched proudly off to war anticipating glory and quick victory, victory was usually absent and glory was not their companion. Official accolades never seemed to materialize, and death soon wrapped its cold arms around the "Second Oneida" with a vengeance experienced by very few other blue-clad regiments. To be fair, more often than not the regiment was placed in difficult, often impossible tactical situations, which resulted in the New Yorkers being forced to leave the field in disorder. They did their best and played their small role in a much bigger production whose results helped to shape America into what it is today.