Search Our Website!

(continued)

Aug. 26 the new regiment's first company went into camp. Capt. Milo Starks had set up a recruiting office in the village of Brockport and filled his ranks with “farmers and sons of farmers” from the surrounding towns of Clarkson and Sweden. The company was originally intended to be a part of the 108th infantry, but that regiment had filled its ranks. Starks and his men instead became the first company of the new regiment.

As the companies rounded out, they were brought into camp. A company composed almost entirely of Germans (men with names like Helligensetzer, Schmitt, Stetzenmeyer, and Humreghausen) appeared on the bluffs on the 29th. The organization made a grand entrance, having been escorted to the camp by the German Grenadiers militia unit and Newman's regimental band.

By Sept. 3, all 10 companies were in camp. There, each soldier was equipped with a uniform, shoes, blanket, knapsack, canteen and haversack, which was a small tarred canvas bag in which the soldier would carry his rations. Two days later Lt. Ira Clark, a Rochester lawyer and ex-school teacher who was serving as the regiment's adjutant, returned from a trip to Albany with the news that the regiment had officially been numbered as the 140th.

There was no way to predict how the new soldiers would fight, but it appeared that they would at least be a handy collection of men. Over 300 were farmers and another 100 considered themselves “laborers,” but the majority of the other 600 were skilled craftsmen. Shoemakers, blacksmiths and mechanics were well-represented, as well as coopers, carpenters, joiners, moulders and painters. The dentist, gunsmith, barber, tailor and tinsmith were sure to come in handy in camp; of less benefit, but worth boasting about, were the boatbuilders, two boat captains (among 43 boatmen), carriage builders and the piano maker.

There was a great deal of activity as the regiment neared the final stages of its formation. The men had many visitors to camp, both official and unofficial. Sunday was the most popular day to visit and Sept. 7 proved no exception. The local newspapers estimated that close to 15,000 people visited the camp that day.

On the 8th came news that Rochesterian Patrick Henry O'Rorke was selected as colonel of the 140th. Looking at his background it is a wonder that he was not the first choice of the Military Committee. Only 26 years old, he seemed destined for a great military career.

The youngest of eight children, Patrick was born in Ireland March 28, 1836. The family moved to America when he was but a year old and settled in Rochester in 1842. The O'Rorkes established a home in a section of the city populated by fellow Irishmen and known as “Dublin.”

O'Rorke received his primary education in the city's public schools. His academic talents were acknowledged in 1855 when he was offered a scholarship to the University of Rochester. His mother had some misgivings about Baptist control of the college and in accordance with her wishes, O'Rorke declined the scholarship. He instead entered an apprenticeship to learn the trade of stone cutting.

O'Rorke's quickly-perfected skill in masonry may have become his career had it not been for a disturbing pattern in the local appointees to the U.S. Military Academy. The Rochester lads had not had a good time of it scholastically and it became a point of civic pride to send a top-notch prospect. U.S. Rep. John Williams asked the commissioner of schools to recommend such a young man and, without hesitation, the commissioner gave him the name of O'Rorke.

O'Rorke accepted the appointment and entered the U.S. Military Academy July 1, 1857. O'Rorke did not disappoint his supporters. He graduated in the second class of 1861 at the top of his class. As a staff officer, he saw action in July 1861 at the first battle of Bull Run.

After the battle he was assigned duty as assistant engineer of the defenses which encircled Washington. In October he was transferred to Federal forces operating along the coast of South Carolina. O'Rorke remained there until summer, when he was granted a furlough to take care of some personal business at home. July 9, he married his childhood sweetheart Clara Wadsworth Bishop in St. Bridget's Church.