The regiment spent of the Winter of 1861–1862 in quarters at Hall's Hill, Virginia, a short distance from Washington, D.C., as part of the Brigadier General Daniel Butterfield's Brigade of the 3rd Division, 3rd Army Corps.

With the close of the winter, Captain Grower lead his company in a reconnaissance towards Manassas Junction, but stopped short at Fairfax Seminary, and then returned to Alexandria, Virginia, where it boarded transports that were to carry the regiment down to join the remainder of the Army of the Potomac near Hampton Roads, Virginia.

From May to July, the regiment was engaged in the marches and movements of the Corps on the Peninsula of Virginia against Richmond, and took part in the Battle of Hanover Courthouse on May 27, 1862.

Following the withdraw of the Army of the Potomac the regiment moved to Newport News in August, and then by steamer to Aquia Creek, an uneasy trip in which the first transport carrying them ran aground in the Potomac River, and the men had to transfer to a second steamer to complete their trip, and arriving at that place on the morning of the 20th.

After recovering sufficiently to rejoin the regiment, Major Grower returned in December 1862, finding them in Camp near Falmouth, Virginia.

At the time of his appointment as colonel he was described as being 5 feet 10 inches tall, of a fair complexion, with dark eyes, and brown hair, and had listed his occupation as soldier.

Leading the regiment, they moved from Camp Sprague for Washington, D.C., on October 21, arriving later the next day, and only remaining a short time.

At the conclusion of that campaign the regiment returned for a short time to Vicksburg, but in April 1864 was transferred to the 3rd Brigade of the 4th Division and was sent to Decatur, Alabama, where they would remain until August 4.

On the 21st of that month Colonel Grower received orders for the regiment to join the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, of the 14th Army Corps.

Our Major had put up a temporary shelter in the safest point he could fin, and one morning invited our Colonel to breakfast, telling him as an inducement that he could offer him some butter, which was almost an unknown article in the army at that time.

Major Martin did what any ordinary man would do under the circumstances – he turned a back somersault off his camp stool and hugged the ground close, thinking it was a shell and would likely explode.

He coolly laid down his knife and fork, folded his hands, and leaning back on his stool, with an air of offended dignity remarked, "Major Martin, that is a great way to treat a man when invited to breakfast.

Around 3:00 a.m. on the 1st the regiment formed in line to the rear of the 10th Michigan, one mile north of the railroad at Jonesboro, and began its advance.

The other regiments of the brigade moved forward and then toward the right, while the 17th Veteran's continued their advance straight ahead towards the Confederate positions, they came upon a ravine that was heavily strewn with brush and they quickly reformed on the opposite side of it.

It was during this time that two other recruits that had been driven back were coming through their lines, and only through the efforts of Colonel Grower were the men steadied and kept moving forward.

It was during this time that Colonel Grower was severely wounded, and Major Joel O. Martin assumed command of the regiment.

The account given by McElroy is as follows: "Do you know," said another of the Fourteenth, "I heard our Surgeon telling about how that Colonel Grower, of the Seventeenth New York, who came in so splendidly on our left died!