USA > Maryland > History and roster of Maryland volunteers, war of 1861-5 > Part 40
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Bland, Edw. L.
Private. Private.
1st Sergt.
Aug. 21,
1862 May 15,
1865 Wounded in action, May 5, 1864, Wilderness, Va .; see Roster, Company E.
Baldwin, Eli
Corporal.
Aug. 20,
1864
May 26,
1865 Wounded in action, April 2, 1865, Petersburg, Va.
Boomily, Francis
Private.
Aug. 16,
1862
Deserted, December 24, 1862.
Bergan, John P.
Private.
Aug. 16,
1862
Bryan, John F.
Private.
Aug. 29,
1862
Deserted, September 13, 1862.
Bremer, Chas. E.
Private.
Aug. 24, 1862
Deserted, September 11, 1862.
Carr, John
Private.
Aug. 20, 1864
June 20, 1865
Curry, John A.
Private.
Sept. 2,
1864
June 21, 1865
Colller, Wm. H.
Private.
Aug. 21,
1862
July 5,
1865 Transferred to V. R. C., April, 1864. Died, November 13, 1863, in Libby prison, Richmond, Va.
Carrington, Jas. P. Private.
Aug. 21, 1862
Killed in action, May 5, 1864, Wilderness, Va.
Collins, James R. Private.
Aug. 15, 1862
Deserted, June 5, 1863.
Cunway, Michael
Private.
June 25, 1864
Deserted.
Cussick, John
Private.
Sept. 1,
1862
Transferred to Company B; killed May 25, 1863. No further record.
Cochran, John
Private.
Aug. 16, 1862
1865 Wounded in action, September 19, 1863, Winchester, Va. Deserted. Deserted.
Wounded in action, April 2, 1865, Petersburg, Va.
Feb. 28, 1865
Feb. 25,
1865
July 2, 1865 Transferred to First Regiment, Maryland Infantry. July 2, 1865 Transferred to First Regiment, Maryland Infantry.
Brown, John E. Bryan, Fred. K.
Deserted, September 13, 1862.
Cochran, Robt. H. Private.
Aug. 21, 1862
SIXTH REGIMENT INFANTRY-COMPANY K.
Aug. 11, 1862
June 20, 1865 See Roster, Company A.
246
SIXTH REGIMENT INFANTRY-COMPANY K.
NAME.
RANK.
DATE OF ENLISTMENT OR MUSTER IN.
DATE OF MUSTER OUT OR DISCHARGE.
REMARKS.
Davis, Geo. W.
Sergeant.
Aug. 25, 1864
Tune 20,
1865
Diling, John
Private.
Aug. 25,
1864
June 20, 1865
Demer Henry
Private.
Aug. 29, 1862
June 20, 1865
Devine, Andrew
Private.
July 8,
1864
Davidson, Robt. C. Private.
Aug. 12, 1864
Died, April 19, 1865, of wounds received in action, April 2, 1865, Petersburg, Va.
Erdman, Chas. H
Musician.
Aug. 24, 1862
June 20, 1865
Edwards, Wm. E
Private.
Aug. 29,
1862
June 20,
1865
Eck, John
Private.
Aug. 21,
1862
June 29, 1865 Transferred to V. R. C., September 26, 1863.
Evans, Geo. H.
Private.
Corporal.
Sept. 27, 1864
June 20, 1865
Fisher, Robt. H.
Private.
Aug. 21, 1862
June 20, 1865
Fisher, Samuel
Private.
Feb. 28,
1865
July 2,
Fultz, Godlieb
Private.
Aug. 21, 1862
Fessmyer, Joseph
Private.
Aug. 21,
1862
Faun, John
Private.
Aug. 16,
1862
June 24, 1865
Gibson, John
Private.
July 5,
1864
Hayden, John W.
Private.
Aug. 21, 1862
Aug. 18, 1862
Sept. 27, 1864 June 17,
Aug. 13, 1862
Aug.,
1863 By reason of wounds received in action, at Chester Gap, Md.
Hinesley, Jno. P.
Private.
Aug. 21, 1862
Died of wounds received at Locust Grove, Va., Novem- ber 27, 1863.
Hunter, Francis F
Private.
Aug. 21, 1862
Killed in action, May 6, 1864, Wilderness, Va.
Holden, James H.
Private.
Aug. 21, 1862
Hurst, Anton
Private.
Harmon, James
Private.
Private.
Sergeant. Private.
Aug. 20,
Feb. 28, 1865 July 2,
June 30, 1864
Aug. 16,
1862
Aug. 29, 1862
Aug. 21, 1862
July 13,
June 20, 1865 Transferred to Company B.
Private.
Mar. 15, 1865 July 2,
1862
Private.
Corporal.
Aug. 20, 1864
June 20, 1865
Corporal.
Aug. 30,
1862
June 20, 1865
Daniel H.
Sept. 2, 1864 June 20, 1865
Aug. 21,
1864 June 20, 1865
Minker, John W. Marshall, Jno. C.
Private.
Aug. 29,
1862 June 20,
1865
1865 Transferred to First Regiment, Maryland Infantry.
Marcus, James F.
Private.
Private.
Mar. 15, 1865 July 2,
1865
Transferred to First Regiment, Maryland Infantry.
Murry, Johr T. McGee, Levi McNeil, James N. Mahew, John Maul, John
Private. Private.
Aug. 16, 1862
Deserted, September 18, 1862.
Mills, John L.
Private.
Aug. 16, 1862
Deserted, September 10, 1862.
Myers, John C.
Private.
Aug. 16, 1862
Deserted, July 24, 1864.
Miller, George
Private.
July 6,
1864
Deserted.
Miller, Henry McKener, Thos. Maher, Morris
Private. Private. Private. Private.
Aug. 27,
1862
Deserted, September 11, 1862.
Morris, Wm. R. Nicholds, Chas. H. Neffler, James Neffler, John Pierson, Jesse H.
Private.
Aug. 16, 1862
Aug. 16, 1862
Aug. 20, 1864 June 20, 1865
Potts, David Phillips, J. L.
Sergeant. Private. Private.
Sept. 2, 1864
July 9, 1864
June 10, 1865 Wounded In action, April 2, 1865, Petersburg, Va. Deserted.
Deserted.
Died, June 7, 1863.
Heahl, Henry Hall, Wm. H. Heffler, John
Private.
Private.
Private.
Aug. 16,
1862
Deserted, September 12, 1862.
Hays, Robert
Aug. 25, 1862
June 20,
1865 Transferred to Company B.
Aug. 29,
1862
June 20, 1865
Jump, Robert H. Jones, William H. Jones, John T. Jonas, Thomas Johnson, Wm. Klitzan, Joseph Killman, Wm. H. Kelly, Nicholas Lewis, Thos. M. Louden, Benj. F. Legard, James Moll, Beons Mahon, Jas. H. Morgan, Geo. W. McCauley,
Private.
Private.
Private.
Private. Private. Private.
Aug. 18, 1862
Aug. 25, 1864 June 20, 1865
Private. Private.
Aug. 9,
1865 Transferred to First Regiment, Maryland Infantry. Deserted, December 10, 1862. Deserted, September 19, 1862.
Marcus, John G.
1865 Transferred to First Regiment, Maryland Infantry.
Feb. 28, 1865 July 2,
1865 Transferred to First Regiment, Maryland Infantry.
Aug. 20, 1864 June 20, 1865
Deserted, September 10, 1862.
Private.
Aug. 16, 1862
1862
Deserted, September 7, 1862.
Private.
Aug. 29, 1862
Transferred to United States Navy, April, 1864.
Deserted, September 26, 1862.
Deserted, September 26, 1862.
Private.
July 9,
1864
Deserted.
July 9, 1864
Deserted.
Private. Private.
Private. Private.
Mar. 15, 1865 July 2,
1864 June 20, 1865
1865 Transferred to First Regiment, Maryland Infantry. Deserted.
Deserted, September 10, 1862.
Deserted, March 16, 1865. 1865 Transferred to V. R. C., April, 1864.
Died, July 8, 1863. Deserted, September 5, 1862.
Graves, John W.
Private.
Aug. 21, 1862
Aug. 16, 1862
Deserted, July 24, 1864.
Fernan, Benj. F.
1865 Transferred to First Regiment, Maryland Infantry. Killed in action, November 27, 1863, Locust Grove,
Va.
June 20, 1865
1865
Aug. 16, 1862
Killed in action, May 6, 1864, Wilderness, Va. Deserted, May 24, 1864.
Sept. 1, 1862
Mar. 15, 1865 July 2,
Aug. 31,
Deserted.
247
SIXTH REGIMENT INFANTRY-COMPANY K.
NAME.
RANK.
DATE OF ENLISTMENT OR MUSTER IN.
DATE OF MUSTER OUT OR DISCHARGE.
REMARKS.
Price, August
Private.
Aug. 15, 1862
Reid, Wm. B.
Sergeant.
Aug. 29, 1862
June 20, 1865
Roxburg, Jeremiah Corporal.
Sept. 14, 1864 June 20, 1865
Rose, George
Corporal.
Sept. 14, 1864
June 20,
1865
Reddall, Wm. H.
Musician.
Aug. 18, 1862
June 20, 1865
Ross, Robert P.
Private.
Aug. 26,
1864
June 20,
1865
Riggs, John
Private.
Aug. 26,
1864
June 20,
1865
Riley, Philip D.
Private.
Private.
Aug. 8,
1862
June 20,
1865
Rice, George
Private.
Aug. 16,
1862
Deserted, September 18, 1862.
Russigan, John
Private.
July 7,
1864
Deserted.
Rhine, James
Private.
July 6,
1864
Deserted.
Russell, Thomas Riley, John
Private.
July 6,
1864
Deserted.
Spence, Joshua B.
Private.
Aug. 20,
1864
June 20, 1865
Smith, Andrew J.
Private.
Aug. 20,
1864
June 20, 1865
Smith, James M.
Private.
Sept. 12,
1864
June 20,
1865
Steel, John
Private.
Sept. 12, 1864
June 20,
1865
Shierer, Robert
Private.
Sept. 14, 1864
June 20,
1865
Snowden, Carter L. Private. Stokes, Alexander Private. Shewbrooks,
Oct. 12,
1864
Aug. 16, 1865
Aug. 21,
1862
June 13, 1865
Benjamin F. Private.
Aug. 18, 1862
June 20, 1865
Siemy, Samuel J. Sanders, Henry
Private. Private.
Aug. 13, 1862
May 24,
1865 Transferred to First Maryland Infantry Volunteers. 1865 Wounded in action, September 22, 1864, Fisher's Hill, Va ..
Spence, William Shaffert, John
Private. Private.
Aug. 21, 1862
Killed in action, May 6, 1864, Wilderness, Va. Died, November 13, 1863.
Stark, Henry
Private.
Aug. 21, 1862
Schmidt, John
Private. .
Aug. 16, 1862
Deserted, September 10, 1862.
Schriner, John Sinclair, Francis Siek, Henry
Private.
Aug. 16, 1862
July 7, 1864
Deserted.
Deserted, September 19, 1862.
Aug. 20,
1864 June 20, 1865
July 6,
1864
Deserted.
July 6,
1864
Deserted.
Thompson, James Wheeler, Wm. H. Woods, James O. Woods, Theo. F. Wilkins,
Private. 1st Sergt. Private. Private.
Aug. 29,
1862
June 20, 1865
Aug. 20, 1864
June 20, 1865
Aug. 20, 1864
June 20, 1865
Andrew J.|
Aug. 23, 1862
Feb. 28,
1865
July 2,
1865 Transferred to First Regiment, Maryland Infantry.
Wright, Jno. A.
Private.
Aug. 21,
1862
Aug. 25, 1865 Transferred to V. R. C.
Wessel, Henry
Private.
Aug. 16,
1862
Deserted, February 21, 1863.
Williams, George Waiss, Joseph
Private.
July 8, 1864
Deserted.
Private.
Aug. 15, 1862
Borne on War Department rolls as Waisz; died De- cember 13, 1863.
Wessel, Frederick Private. Wilson, Henry
Welbinhurst,
Henry Private.
Aug. 31, 1862
June 26, 1865 Transferred to V. R. C.
Witz, Joseph
Private.
Aug. 21, 1862
Died, April 30, 1863, of wounds received Grove, Va.
at Locust
UNASSIGNED ENLISTED MEN.
Barber,
Lewis E. M. Private.
Aug. 22, 1862
Cochran, Samuel J. Private.
Aug. 6, 1862
Colleq. Horace
Private.
Aug. 6, 1862
Aug. 22, 1862
Aug. 26, 1862
Aug. 16,
1862
Myers, William
Private.
Aug. 9, 1862
Parker, Jos. K.
Private.
Aug. 21, 1862
Price. James H.
Private.
Aug. 26, 1862
Smith George A
Private.
Aug. 26, 1862
July 13,
1865
Reith, David
Private.
July 6,
1864
Deserted.
Mar. 11,
1865
July 2,
Sept. 12, 1864
May 22, 1865 Disability.
Private. Private. Private. Private.
Aug. 15, 1862
Tucker, Wm. C. Thompson, Jas.(1) Thompson, Jas. (2) Private.
Aug. 24, 1864 June 20, 1865
May 30, 1865 Wounded in action, April 2, 1865, Petersburg, Va.
Warren, John
Private. Private.
Private.
July 9,
1864
Deserted, February 16, 1863. Deserted.
Drummond, David Private. Downing, Sam'l W. Private. Lenahan, John Private.
Aug. 15. 1862
Deserted, February 28, 1863.
Sept. 22, 1864
Deserted, September 8, 1862.
SEVENTH REGIMENT INFANTRY.
Compiled from original sources by Col. Charles E. Phelps, Brevt. Brig. Gen. U. S. V., at the request of the Commissioners, under the Act of 1896, Ch. 134, "to provide for the completion of the records of the soldiers, etc., accredited to the State of Maryland in the late Civil War, etc."
HIS regiment was recruited from the northern line of Maryland counties, under the call of July 1, 1862, for "three years or the war." Toward the end of August, 1862, nine companies had been enrolled and mustered in Baltimore, and went into “ Camp Harford," a spot now included within the limits of Druid Hill Park. The aggregate strength of the regiment at that time was 784 officers and men. Pressing exigencies of the service hurried it into the field . before it had received its tenth company, the men recruited for which were mustered into other regiments. The tenth company, K, was composed of the re-enlisted men of the Tenth Maryland (a six months' organi- zation), and joined the regiment in April, 1864.
Material of the Regiment.
There were very few foreigners in this regiment. Most of the line officers and men were substantial farmers, mechanics and laboring men from the rural districts. Very shortly after they had come to know each other, a unanimous preference for the mounted service took shape in a formal but unsuccessful application to the War Depart- ment for transfer to the cavalry.
Two companies (Cand H) were raised in Harford County, one (D) in Baltimore County, and one (F) in Carroll. Three (B, E and G) were recruited in Frederick County, and two (A and I) in Washington County. There was no city company in the Seventh until joined by company K, above mentioned, and this company was composed of young active men, clerks, etc., from Baltimore.
The Seventh Regiment was raised and originally commanded by Colonel Edwin H. Webster, of Harford County, a representative from Maryland in Congress. Lieut .- Colonel Charles E. Phelps, subsequently promoted Colonel, and later Brigadier-General by brevet, was a member of the Baltimore bar, and had been Major of the "Maryland Guard," somewhat celebrated just before the war as a thoroughly drilled volunteer bat- talion, most of whose members went South. Major William H. Dallam was a prominent and highly esteemed lawyer of Harford County, and enjoyed the confidence of the entire community in which he lived. He had served the public in the capacity of Clerk of the Circuit Court and for many years as State's Attorney.
Adjutant George L. Tyler and Quartermaster Thomas S. Nesbitt were young gen- tlemen of prominent families in Frederick and Washington counties respectively. Sur- geon James H. Jarrett and Assistant Surgeon (afterwards Surgeon) Robert K. Robin-
249
SEVENTH REGIMENT INFANTRY.
son were well-known practitioners of Harford County. The line officers, as a rule, were all highly respected citizens of their several counties. Two of the captains, Edward M. Mobley, of Washington County, and David T. Bennett, of Frederick County, were subse- quently promoted in succession to the command of the regiment, made vacant by casual- ties of service. Captain Daniel Rinehart, of Carroll County, was a brother of the world- renowned sculptor.
First Service.
Early in September, 1862, the advance of Lee's army into Maryland occasioned fre- quent reports of the immediate proximity of his cavalry. The streets of Baltimore were barricaded, and before the Seventh had progressed so far in its tactics as the battalion drill, it was, on several occasions, ordered into line in expectation of a raid.
Maryland Brigade.
On the 8th of September, 1862, it was brigaded with the 1st, 4th, 6th and 8th Regi- ments of Maryland Infantry and Alexander's Battery of Baltimore Light Artillery, under the command of Brigadier-General John R. Kenly. From that time on, until muster out at the end of the war, the military history of the Seventh is mainly identified with that of the famous Maryland Brigade, composed of the organizations just named, with the exception of the Sixth and Alexander's Battery, subsequently assigned elsewhere.
The Maryland brigade continued a part of the 8th Army Corps nominally, although serving successively under General Franklin, General Couch and General French, either as an independent brigade or in detachments, until on the 11th of July, 1863, it was defi- nitely assigned to the Army of the Potomac as the 3d Brigade, 3d Division, 1st Army Corps.
In January, 1864, it became the 2d brigade of the same division. Upon the reor- ganization of the Army of the Potomac under Lieutenant-General Grant, in March, 1864, the old first corps was merged in the fifth, and the Maryland brigade was then designated 3d Brigade, 2d Division, 5th Army Corps. After the Battle of the Wilderness and the first engagement at Spottsylvania, this division was so shattered that it was broken up, and most of its regiments assigned to other commands, the Maryland brigade serving tempo- rarily as an independent organization, reporting to corps headquarters. Upon the reor- ganization of the division in June, 1864, the Maryland brigade finally became the 2d Brigade, 2d Division, 5th Army Corps, until mustered out May 31, 1865.
At the Front.
As soon as the result of the battle of Antietam was known, the Maryland brigade, which, until that time had been required to guard and picket the approaches to the city, was ordered to the front. Its first service in the presence of the enemy was between Hagerstown and Williamsport, where they found General Reynolds with a body of raw, ununiformed Pennsylvania militia, engaged in trying to hold in check a force of the enemy's cavalry. Mnch to the relief of the militia, the Marylanders were promptly deployed in their front, and, upon their advance, the opposing force withdrew, their artillery covering the retreat with a few inaccurate shots. This was on the 19th of September, 1862.
From that time on, until the 29th of October, the Maryland brigade remained in camp in the vicinity of Williamsport, guarding the fords of the Potomac; the cavalry
250
SEVENTH REGIMENT INFANTRY.
videttes of the enemy, Wade Hampton in command, being in sight on the other side. After some days of excitement, forming line of battle, marches and counter-marches, the routine of drill again began, and this growing tedious, many of the men took advantage of the lull to go home on short visits without leave, after failing to receive furlough. They called this taking a "french," and indignantly disclaimed the idea of desertion. Numbers, in fact, were so near their homes that they could easily make the round trip between tattoo and reveille.
The Upper Potomac.
On the 29th of October, 1862, the Seventh Regiment was ordered on detached duty, guarding a river front of about five miles from McCoy's Ferry to Dam No. 5, headquar- · ters at Four Locks. McCoy's Ferry was the point where Stuart's cavalry had broken through on their famous raid, a few days before, surprising and capturing the signal station on Fair View Mountain, close by. One of the most interesting points in the vicinity was "Old Fort Frederick," built as a defense against Indians, and at that time one of the few remaining structures to be found in this country worthy to be called a " ruin."
Refugees.
From the summit of Fair View could be seen three States, the encampment of McClellan's army at Harper's Ferry and Lee's encampment at Martinsburg. This look- out was at that time a great resort for Union refugees from Virginia. Many of these had served on the other side as unwilling conscripts. They were naturally very much wanted, and they knew it. As our army advanced into the sacred soil, back went the refugees, some piloting our columns as guides. These men were the most vigilant of videttes, keenly snuffing the southern air for the dreaded cavalry raid.
The belt of Virginia soil immediately in front of the Seventh Maryland was almost entirely inhabited by the families of these refugees, and the great rendezvous of the refugees themselves was Fair View. Here they watched from day to day their deserted homes across the river, sometimes witnessing with their own eyes their hogs and sheep taken, often exchanging signals with their families, and when signals were satisfactory, stealthily crossing in skiffs or wading the ford.
Many of the younger refugees had enlisted in Maryland cavalry regiments, and under the command of such men as Cole, Vernon, Russell, Firey and others, did good service as scouts and guides. Their presence and influence contributed materially to impress upon those organizations the character for vigilance, enterprise and daring for which they were distinguished.
But to the older and more timid refugees the regiment was indebted for many panicky rumors, startling announcements, hasty "falling's in." It was characteristic of the men upon every such occasion that they never became skeptical, but took each alarm as it came, in perfect good faith, always "falling in" with as much alac- rity as if the crash of battle were sounding in their ears.
Substitutes.
Early in December, the regiment received its first instalment of " substitutes," an accession of less than doubtful value. There were fifty or more in this batch, of all nationalities, most of them suspiciously well drilled. These disinterested patriots
251
SEVENTH REGIMENT INFANTRY.
were brought up under guard, with their $300 or $400 each in their pockets. Some had "jumped" the guard on the cars, quite a number vanished the first night, most of them afterwards deserted, and a half dozen or so turned out reliable soldiers.
On the 12th of December, 1862, the Seventh returned to Williamsport, finding there only the Eighth, the First having gone to Maryland Heights and the Fourth to Baltimore.
Cordiality of Citizens.
The feeling of the people of Western Maryland towards the soldiers was, with very few exceptions, cordial and thoroughly sympathetic. In return, the instances of invasion of private right on the part of the soldiers were extremely rare, they were dis- countenanced by the men, and promptly punished when discovered.
Maryland Heights.
On the 21st of December, 1862, the Seventh and Eighth, with Alexander's Battery, started for Maryland Heights, where the whole brigade was finally settled in winter quarters.
West Virginia Campaign.
On the 4th of April, 1863, the Seventh crossed the river and encamped on Bolivar Heights, and on the 27th the Seventh and Fourth were transported by rail to Oakland, under orders which indicated a campaign in West Virginia, then much exercised by a dashing raid under Imboden and Jones. On the morning of the 29th, the Seventh left knapsacks behind at Oakland in charge of the Fourth, and made a forced march all that day and most of the night across the Alleganies, the memory of which was destined to become a standard of comparison in all future campaigns of the Seventh. For several weeks the regiment remained in the vicinity of Rowlesburg, the several companies being so disposed as best to guard the railroad bridge on Cheat river and the high trestles near by.
There was practically but one sentiment among the West Virginians here-all were zealous Unionists, and everywhere officers and men found themselves at home. Noth- ing could be more primitive than the life of these mountaineers. The clothes they wore, the food they ate, the beverages they drank, everything was home-made. Much use was made of maple sugar in a variety of forms; spinning and weaving their own flax and wool, they dyed with madder or black oak bark.
Bolivar and Maryland Heights.
On the 16th of May the West Virginia campaign was closed, the men turning their backs with regret upon the wild freshness and romance of mountain life, and finding their old tents on Bolivar Heights just as they had been left, guarded by the sick and crippled.
For some days the Seventh was the only Union force on the Virginia side of the Potomac, except a few cavalry. Guerrillas were reported in front, and the regiment was much weakened by heavy details for picket and scout duty. On the 23d of May an unfortunate incident occurred at an outpost on the Blue Ridge, where several demonstra- tions had been made on the pickets of the Seventh. Lieutenant Gorrell, of Company H (Harford County), was in command of this outpost of twenty men, and ventured beyond his
252
SEVENTH REGIMENT INFANTRY.
advanced sentries on a private reconnoissance. Returning, he failed to hear the chal- lenge of the sentry, who failed to recognize his officer in the darkness. He was shot through the lung and disabled for further service. A few days after, a personal difficulty between two non-commissioned officers resulted in a severe pistol wound to one of them. The shooting was clearly a case of self-defense.
On the 5th of June, 1863, the Seventh moved across the river to its old drill- ground on Maryland Heights, and the brigade was once more united.
Gettysburg Campaign.
A new and eventful chapter in the history of the Civil War was now upon the eve of development. The air, which for several days past had been heavy with rumor, now, on the 14th of June, throbbed with distant cannonading in the direction of Winchester. The flash of the guns and shells could be seen after dark. The next day the tongue of rumor was busy with a thousand startling reports, all of which centered around the established fact that Milroy's command at Winchester had been crushed by an over- whelming force of the enemy on their march to transfer the seat of war to the Northern States. We heard with especial regret that our old comrades of the Sixth Maryland and Alexander's Baltimore Battery had shared in the general disaster, but without loss of reputation.
Toward the end of June, Hooker came and ordered Maryland Heights to be aban- doned. The troops were in line ready to march. It was then reported that the order had been countermanded by Halleck. They did not march. The next report was that Hooker was out and Meade in command. By his order, General French, a regular and a Marylander, made his appearance and took command of the troops on Maryland Heights, comprising the Maryland brigade, some heavy artillery and the wreck of Milroy's command.
On the 30th of June the position was abandoned. Big guns were spiked or hauled down to the canal, and ammunition which could not be removed was destroyed. During this process, while the troops were moving down, an accidental explosion in the magazine of a thirty-pounder battery filled the air with fragments, killing and wounding twenty- one men.
Under French to Frederick.
On the 1st of July the two brigades of French's column, Kenly's and Morriss', con- tinued the march through the Middletown Valley to Frederick, the heavy firing of the first day's battle of Gettysburg being at times audible on the left. On the 2d of July a ringing order was issued with the announcement that "any officer, no matter how high his rank, or soldier who fails of his full duty at this crisis, will suffer death, under imme- diate trial by drum-head court." This order was followed up by a choleric visit from French to every regiment and picket post, the deliberate design of which seemed to be to exasperate the entire command to the fighting pitch. Such, at least, was its effect. On the next day (July 3d), the command was paraded through town in column of platoons equalized, field music playing, on the march to Monocacy Junction. At the corner of Market and Patrick streets the column passed General French in review, and at all points was loudly cheered by the citizens. On each of these days, especially the third, the sound of artillery continued from the direction of Gettysburg.
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