He immediately entered upon the duty, in connection with Colonel David Ireland, of organizing and disciplining the Regiment, and getting it ready for active service in the field. The want of any knowledge of military tactics by either officers or men, rendered the labor of instructing and drilling the Regiment very arduous, the most of which was performed by Lt. Col. Van Voorhees, Col. Ireland attending to the administrative affairs of the Regiment. Previous to the Regiment's leaving for the seat of war, Lt. Col. Van Voorhees was presented by his friends at Ithaca with a fine horse and set of horse equipments. The Regiment was mustered into the U. S. service on the 25th September, and left for Washington on the 27th, arriving there on the 30th, and were immediately forwarded to Harper's Ferry, Va., by way of Fredericksburgh, Md.; arriving at Harper's Ferry on the 3d October, where they remained until the 10th December, having in the meantime made two important reconnoissances under Gen. Gregg--one to Charlestown and the other to Winchester, Va.
On the 10th December the 12th Army Corps, to which the 137th Regiment had been attached, left Harper's Ferry at the time of Burnside's unsuccessful attack on Fredericksburgh, and having marched to Dumfries, Va., were, in consequence of Burnside's repulse, marched back to Fairfax Station, where they remained until the 17th January, 1863, when they were again ordered forward, Burnside intending to make another attack on Fredericksburgh, but failed on account of the mud.
The 12th Corps having reached Stafford Court House, the Brigade to which the 137th was attached was ordered to Aquia Creek, where they remained until the 26th April, when they commenced their march to Chancellorsville, which they reached on the 29th of April. On the 30th the 12th Corps was ordered forward to feel the enemy's position, and finding them in strong force returned to camp, where they commenced throwing up earthworks, the 137th using bayonets for picks and tin plates for shovels. In the subsequent battles the Regiment maintained its position in the trenches until they were entered by the enemy from the right, (the right flank of the army having been turned by the giving way of the 11th Corps,) when they were ordered to retire, which they did in good order. As this was the first battle in which the Regiment was engaged, some anxiety was felt by the officers as to the mettle of their men; but their conduct on this occasion was such as to give no further uneasiness. After the battle the Regiment returned to Aquia Creek, where it remained until the 13th June, when it commenced its march to Gettysburg, and on the 2d and 3d July was closely and hotly engaged with the invader.