USA > Maryland > The Maryland line in the Confederate Army, 1861-1865 > Part 7
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QUINN, JOHN.
COOMBS, CHARLES.
HUGHES, PATRICK.
RADAY, PATRICK.
DAWSON, JOHN.
HUTCHINSON, JOSEPHI.
RHODES, WILLIAM LEE.
DEPPISH, FRANK.
HOOD, GEORGE.
RYAN, JAMES.
DOYLE JOHN.
ISAACS, WILLIAM.
RYAN, JOSEPH.
DYSER, LUKE.
KEYSER, HERMAN.
REED, SAMUEL.
ECKHART, CHARLES.
KING, JOHN.
SAHM, JOSEPH.
EAGGER, HENRY.
LEONARD, MICHAEL.
SCHOLL, CHARLES.
FARRELL, WILLIAM.
LOGSDEN, JOHN.
SIMPSON, H. A.
FORREST, ZACHARIAH.
LOWREY, JAMES.
SIMPSON, EDWARD.
FINK, HENRY.
MARTIN, WILLIAM P.
STEWART, HENRY.
GOODWIN, JOHN.
MALONEY, WILLIAM.
STRIBLE, GEORGE.
GORDON, JOHN H.
MORRIS, GEORGE.
SHEEHAN, WILLIAM.
GESDON, WALTER.
MORRIS, HARRY.
SANDERS, JAMES H.
GRIFFITH, JOHN JAMES.
MALDEN, ELIAS.
SUIT, MICHAEL.
GRIFFITH, GREENBERRY.
MURPHY, JOHN.
WAGNER, JOHN G.
GREEN, CHARLES.
MURPHY, DENNIS.
GREENFIELD, WILLIAM.
MYERS, ANDREW.
80
COMPANY H.
WILLIAM H. MURRAY, Coplain.
GEORGE THOMAS. First Inutenant.
FRANCIS X. WARD, Second Lieutenant.
RICHARD T. GILMOR, Second Lieutenant.
WILLIAM P. ZOLLINGER, Second Lieutenant.
JOHN H. SULLIVAN, Sergeant.
MCLIENRY HOWARD, Sergeant.
JAMES LYON, Sergeant.
CHAPMAN B. BRISCOE, Sergeant. EDWARD JOHNSON, Corporal.
RICHARD C. MACKALL. Corporal. CLAPHAM MURRAY, Corporal. WILLIAM S. LEMMON, Corporal.
Privates.
BLACKISTONE, GEORGE W.
HEBB, HENRY J.
RUSSELL, ELISIIA T.
BOLLING, JOHN W.
HEBR, THOMAS A.
ROGERS, SAMUEL B.
BOND, JOHN J.
HARRIS, WILLIAM E.
RUSSELL, THOMAS A.
BRISCOE, DAVID S.
HOBLITZELL, FETTER S.
RYAN, JAMES A.
BRISCOE, HENRY.
HOLLYDAY, WILLIAM H.
RYCE, FRANCIS W.
BROGDEN, SELLMAN.
HOUGH, GRESHAM.
SCHLEY, LAKE R.
BURKE, JOHN M.
INLOES, CHARLES E.
SCHLIEPHAKE, HENRY T.
BLACKISTONE, WILLIAM T.
LAIRD, JAMES W.
SHANKS, DANIEL.
CARR, WILSON C. N.
LAIRD, WILLIAM H.
SINDALL, SAMUEL W.
COAKELEY, PHILIP A.
LAW, J. G. D.
SMITH, WILLIAM F.
COLSTON, WILLIAM E.
LEMMON, GEORGE.
SOLLERS, SUMMERVILLE.
COODE, DEMETRIUS.
LEMMON, JOHN S.
SOTHRON, WEBSTER H.
COOK, GEORGE R.
LEVERING, THOMAS H.
THOMAS, EDWIN.
COSTIGAN, DORSEY T.
MACKALL, THOMAS B.
THOMAS. JOHN H.
DAVIES, WILLIAM H.
MARKOE, FRANK.
THOMAS, JAMES W.
DAVIS, JAMES A.
TIPPETT, JAMES B.
DENTON, GEORGE.
MARRIOTT, HENRY. McKIM. W. DUNCAN.
TONGUE, JAMES. TURNER, DUNCAN M.
DORSEY, RICHARD B.
McKIM, RANDOLPH H.
DORSEY, EZEKIEL S.
MONMONIER, JOHN N. K.
DOUGLASS, JACKSON.
PERRY, WILLIAM T.
FARR. JOSEPII R.
PETERS, WINFIELD. PHILLIPS, JOHN J.
GILL, JOHN.
PINKNEY, WILLIAM S.
WILLIAMS, AtG. A.
GIST. WASHINGTON I.
PITTS, FRERERICK L. POST, JOHN E. H.
WILLIAMS, JOHN P. WILLIAMSON, GEORGE.
GREENWELL, THOS. W. H.
PURNELL, WILLIAM.
WISE, CHARLES B.
GROGAN, CHARLES E.
PINKNEY, CAMPBELL W.
WRIGHT, DANIEL G.
GOLDSMITH, JOHN W.
PRICE. -
WEST, CHARLES.
GWYNN. JAMES J.
REDMOND. GEORGE.
YELLOTT, WASHINGTON. ZOLLINGER, WILLIAM P.
JJANCE, JAMES J.
RIVES. FRANCIS S.
VALIANT, THOMAS R. WATKINS, NICH. I. WEST, EDWARD L. WHITE, JAMES McK.
GARDINER, WILLIAM F.
GRAYSON, JAMES B.
81
COMPANY I.
MICHAEL S. ROBERTSON, Captain.
HUGH MITCHELL, First Lieutenant.
HEZEKIAH H. BEAN, Second Lieutenant.
EUGENE DIGGS, Second Lieutenant.
JOHN J. BRAWNER, First Sergeant. JOHN H. STONE, Sergeant. F. L. HIGDON, Sergeant.
WILLIAM H. RISIN, Sergeant. WARREN W. WARD, Sergeant. Z. FRANCIS FREEMAN, Corporal. FRANCIS L. HIGDON, Corporal.
THOMAS I. GREEN, Corporal. THOMAS L. HANNON, Corporal.
Privates.
ADAMS, FRANKLIN.
DAVIS, WILLIAM F.
MUDD, EDWIN C.
ADAMS, JOHN S.
DENT, GEORGE H.
NICHOLSON, FRANKLIN T.
BAILEY, HENRY M.
DOOLEY, ROBERT.
PAGE, CHARLES C.
BEALL, WILLIAM B.
FERRALL, JOHN A.
RANDLE, WALTER I.
BIVIN, ZACHARIAH.
FERGUSON, JOIIN.
RANSLE, ANDREW.
BIVIN, WILLIAM F.
FREEMAN, PHILIP. FREEMAN, THOMAS S.
SELBY, JOHN.
BURTTES, CHARLES H.
GROVES, THOMAS F.
SHIERBORN, WILLIAM.
BURTTES, THOMAS W.
HAMMETT, JOHN M.
SHORTER, THOMAS O.
BRISCOE, MARSHALL.
HERBERT, JOHN P.
SIMMES, HENRY M.
BRISCOE, GIRARD.
HERBERT, WILLIAM.
SWAN, JOIIN. SANDERS, JOSEPHI.
BALL, DIONYSIUS.
HAYDEN, CHARLES G.
SOLLERS, JAMES H.
CISSELL, JAMES T.
HANSON, JOHN D.
SOTHRON, MARSHALL.
CLARK, JOHN E.
JENKINS, JOHN B.
TAYLOR, GEORGE ..
CLEMENTS, FRANCIS.
JAMISON, FRANCIS.
THOMPSON, THOMAS M.
CHAPALIN, GEORGE.
KLENKIVITZ, BENJAMIN.
WARD, WILLIAM. WEBSTER, GEORGE.
DEMENT, BENJAMIN F.
LACY, ROBERT.
WEBSTER, WILLIAM.
DEMENT, JOHN H.
LEIGH, WILLIAM G.
WILSON, ALGERNON.
DOWNING, JOHN L.
LANCASTER, SAMUEL.
WOOD, HENRY W.
DORSETT, JAMES A.
MARCERON, ALBERT.
WHEATLEY, WILLIAM F.
CORRY, HENRY.
LACY, JAMES A.
BARBER, JOHN G.
HOWARD, ROBERTS.
RICHARDS, GEORGE.
BRUCE, WILLIAM.
LIEUT. COL. JAMES R. HERBERT. SECOND MARYLAND INFANTRY.
85
SECOND MARYLAND INFANTRY.
CHAPTER I.
A FTER the disbanding of the First Maryland Infantry, the men who had composed it took various directions. Some of them had become tired of the infantry arm of the service, and not many days after their discharge they had entered the ranks either of some Maryland cavalry or artillery command. The majority of them, however, made their way to Richmond to enjoy a well- earned vacation.
But these true sons of Maryland, who had exiled themselves from their homes and State to battle for the South, soon tired of the tinsel and glamour of the Southern Capital. Its gaily-dressed officers, strutting the streets day after day, had no attractions for them. Among this gay throng of officers and civilians they were mortified to see many from their own State who had been in Virginia as long as themselves, and who were willing to accept any position under the Confederate Government that did not compel them to go to the front. It was no wonder, then, that these veterans soon began to long once more to hear the sound of battle. They had gone to Virginia to offer up their lives in a cause they held most dear, and they felt that every day passed away from their comrades in the field only the more betrayed the sacred trust reposed in them by fathers, mothers, kinsmen and sweethearts at home.
Among the veteran officers of the old First who had gone to Richmond were Captains William H. Murray and James R. Herbert, and Lieutenants George Thomas, Clapham Murray and William P. Zollinger, and it was to these officers that the men of the old regiment looked forward to for the formation of companies, and who would once more lead them against the enemy.
At this time many young men were arriving in Richmond from Maryland, especially from Anne Arundel and the lower counties, although every county in the State was represented among them. These young men had come to Richmond to espouse the cause of the South, as had the members of the disbanded First Maryland, and they were eager for the formation of companies.
The first company to be formed was that of Captain William H. Murray, of Baltimore City, and the next that of Captain J. Parran Crane, of St. Mary's County, and they were mustered in the same day, an unfortunate circumstance, as it gave rise subsequently to considerable discussion, and no little feeling, as to the seniority of the companies. At the instance of Captain Crane the matter was brought to the attention of the Secretary of War, who issued an order to Captain
86
Archer to examine into the matter and settle the dispute. This Captain Archer did, and decided in favor of Captain Murray. But, notwithstanding this decision, when the two companies reached Winchester, Crane appealed to Steuart, and he also decided in favor of Captain Murray. Still Crane was not satisfied, and he appealed to General William E. Jones some weeks later, and that General suggested that they draw lots, and thus definitely settle the dispute. Again Captain Murray won, and the matter there ended.
Captain James R. Herbert's company was mustered in on the IIth of September, and that of Captain John W. Torsch, about the 14th of September. Captain Torsch had up to a short time before served in the company commanded by Captain Richard Thomas. Captain McAleer's company quickly followed that of Captain Torsch, making five companies in all.
The companies of Murray and Crane had already reported to General George H. Steuart, commandant at Winchester, and the companies of Herbert, Torsch and McAleer joined them on September 28, 1862. Upon reaching Winchester a fifth company was formed. The men composing it had come on from Richmond with Companies C, D and E, with the understanding that they should be allowed to form their own company upon reaching Winchester. This company was commanded by Captain Andrew J. Gwynn, of Prince George's.
The following is a list of the officers of the different companies :
OFFICERS.
COMPANY A.
Captain,
WILLIAM H. MURRAY.
Lieutenants.
GEORGE THOMAS
CLAPHAM MURRAY. WILLIAM P. ZOLLINGER.
COMPANY B.
Captain,
J. PARRAN CRANE.
Lieutenants.
JOHN H. STONE.
CHARLES B. WISE. JAMES H. WILSON.
COMPANY C.
Captain.
JAMES R. HERBERT.
Lieutenants.
CHARLES W. HODGES. JOSEPH W. BARBER.
F C DUVALL
87 COMPANY D.
JOSEPH L. MCALEER. Captain,
JAMES S. FRANKLIN.
Lieutenants. J. T. BUSSEY. S. T. MCCULLOUGHI.
COMPANY E.
Captain,
JOHN W. TORSCH.
Lieutenants.
WILLIAM J. BROADFOOT.
W. R. BYUs. JOSEPH P. QUINN.
COMPANY F.
Captain,
A. J. GWYNN.
JOHN W. POLK.
Lieutenants. DAVID C. FORREST. JOHN G. HYLAND.
Before the formation of Gwynn's company General Steuart was anxious to have the battalion fully organized by the election of a Major, but not being entirely satisfied as to the course he should pursue in the matter, he addressed the following communication to the Secretary of War :
HEADQUARTERS, WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA, October 13. 1862.
General George II'. Randolph, Secretary of War :
General :- I have the honor to state there are now here five fine companies of the Maryland Line, over five hundred men. Another is rapidly forming, and I hope there will soon be a full regiment. In accordance with your instructions, I had an election for Major, and Captain . James R. Herbert, of Company C, was elected. This leaves a vacancy, and I would like to know whether it is to be filled by election or promotion, as Paragraph 5, Special Orders, No. 186, Adjutant and Inspector-General's Office, which disbanded the old First Maryland Regiment, states :
" The members thereof, with all other native and adopted citizens of Maryland, desirous of enlisting into the service of the Confederate States, are invited to enroll thniselves into companies, etc., the officers of which are to be elected."
In the present case none of the company officers have sufficient experience to fill the post of Captain, and it would be better to get some eligible person. Will you be kind enough
88
to tell me what staff and non-commissioned staff officers are allowed to a battalion of six companies or less ?
I have received the greatest assistance from the officers under my command, and the quiet and good order now prevailing in the town is due to the Provost-Marshal, John B. Brooke, and to that excellent soldier, Captain J. Louis Smith, commanding the provost- guard.
I hope you received my letter relative to them ; also one requesting the appointment of Mr. McHenry Howard as ordnance officer on my staff, he being an officer of merit and aide-de camp to the late Brigadier-General C. S. Winder. Some three weeks since General Lee sent me over three hundred paroled prisoners (Confederate), to be kept in camp until exchanged, and as it required an officer of experience to keep them from wandering off, I detailed First Lieutenant Wilson C. Nicholas for that purpose, thinking he had a commission. He has taken remarkably good care of them, but the other day I received Special Orders No. 232, stating his resignation as drill master had been accepted. I earnestly recommend he may be again appointed to that or some other position in the Provisional Army - First Lieutenant or Captain.
I am, with great respect, your obedient servant,
GEORGE H. STEUART, Commanding Post.
[INDORSEMENT.]
OCTOBER 21, 1862.
Inform him that after the first election in the Maryland troops, like others, the promo- Hion will be by seniority, unless a board pronounces the next officer incompetent. A battalion Di six companies has a Lieutenant-Colonel and Major ; a battalion of five or less has a Major only. A Quartermaster is allowed, who acts also as commissary. The Adjutant is detailed from the subaltern officers.
G. W. R.
Upon receipt of the above indorsement General Steuart ordered an election, and Captain James R. Herbert was chosen Major, and First Lieutenant F. C. Duvall was elected Captain, Charles W. Hodges was promoted to First Lieu- tenant, Thomas C. Tolson to Senior Second, and Joseph W. Barber was elected to fill the vacancy thus created.
In November General George H. Steuart was ordered to withdraw from Winchester, and the Maryland battalion was temporarily assigned to the command of General William E. Jones, who had just been appointed to-Munford's Brigade of cavalry. General Jones received the Second Maryland in the vicinity of Strasburg, and until January 2. 1863, it was moved from point to point in the valley, as circumstances required.
89
In the meantime Captain W. W. Goldsborough, of the old First, having recovered from wounds received in the second battle of Manassas, had made his way to Richmond to accept a First Lieutenancy in the provisional army, and had received orders to report to Colonel Shields at Camp Lee. The duties to which he was assigned there did not prove congenial, and after two weeks he resigned his commission and repaired to Richmond in hopes of organizing another company, with which to join the Second Maryland in the Valley of Virginia. In this he was eminently successful, and with the assistance of Thomas R. Stewart, of Dorchester County, a fine company of over eighty young Mary- landers, mostly from the lower counties, was formed, and the following officers elected : Captain, W. W. Goldsborough ; First Lieutenant, Thomas R. Stewart ; Second Lieutenant, James A. Davis ; Third Lieutenant, William H. Wrightson."
On the 30th day of December, 1862, Captain Goldsborough had the proud satisfaction of marching his company through the streets of Richmond to the depot, with Volandt's ( Baltimore) Band at its head, followed by a large concourse of people, and on the evening of the 3Ist it arrived at Staunton, over the Virginia Central Railroad. From Staunton the company made a rapid march to New- market, where the Second Maryland was in camp, arriving there at daylight on the morning of January 2, 1863, just in time to see General Jones' whole command file through the streets on its way to Moorefield, to which point an expedition had been planned, and it was a week before the Second Maryland returned, the men completely broken down by the hardships they had been compelled to undergo, the expedition having accomplished nothing commensurate with their sufferings.
With the addition of Company G, the Second Maryland Infantry + 110w numbered nearly six hundred men, and a finer body of troops never marchied to the tap of the drum. They were, indeed, worthy successors of the men of the First, many of whom were in their ranks, and as proudly bore the little flag. of their native State from Winchester, in 1863, to Appomattox, in 1865, as had the gallant First, from the first Manassas in 1861 to Malvern Hill in 1862.
Shortly after the return of the battalion from the Moorefield expedition, by order of General Jones, an election was held for Lieutenant-Colonel, when Bradley T. Johnson was elected, but in justice to the officers who had been instrumental in forming the battalion, Colonel Johnson magnanimously declined to accept the command, whereupon Major James R. Herbert was elected, and soon after Captain W. W. Goldsborough, of Company G, was appointed Major by the Secretary of War.
* After Captain Goldsborough was promoted to the Majority, First Sergeant G. G. Guillette was made Lieutenant.
+ It was originally called the First Maryland Battalion, but to distinguish it from the First Maryland Infantry it was soon designated the Second Maryland Infantry.
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CHAPTER II.
The Second Maryland passed the winter of 1862-63 at various points in the Valley, notably at Lacey's Springs, Edenburg, Newmarket, Woodstock and Harrisonburg. It was a severe winter, and the men were much exposed, not having any tents, and their only shelter consisted of rude sheds made of brush and leaves, which were designated " shebangs." Notwithstanding this fact, there was comparatively little sickness - not near so much as there had been in the First Maryland the year before, when tents were plentiful. Very many of the men did not even avail themselves of this protection, but simply built a fire and, rolling themselves in their blankets, lay down before it and slept soundly until the reveille awoke them in the morning. Indeed, it was no unusual thing to see several hundred men arise from a covering of a foot of snow that had fallen during the night.
Whilst they were not engaged with the enemy at any time during this period, still their duties were very arduous, as often the command was compelled to make long marches, and some of them through blinding snowstorms. A large quantity of pig iron was stored in the furnaces near Edenburg, and as it was of great value to the Confederate Government General Jones organized expeditions for its removal.
On March 26, 1863, there was an alarm in the camp of the Second Maryland, then encamped near Edenburg, which went to prove the efficiency and discipline of the command. Early in the morning of that day Captain F. A. Bond, entirely upon his own responsibility, attacked and captured a Federal picket near Kerns- town. The alarm being given, Captain Bond's little party was quickly pursued by a large body of the enemy's cavalry. A courier was sent baek by Major Ridgely Brown, in command of the First Maryland Cavalry, to notify General Jones of their approach. This courier had first to pass the camp of the Second Infantry, where he gave the alarm, and although the men were about camp performing their various duties, in five minutes after the long roll began to beat every man was in his place in line, and the command was on the move to meet the enemy. Of this affair General Jones, in his official report says :
"The courier, passing the camp of the Maryland Infantry, gave information, and Lieutenant-Colonel James R. Herbert and his noble men, without waiting for orders, seized their arms and flew to the protection of our trains in quest of forage about Woodstock. Their conduct on this occasion is worthy of the highest praise."*
On April 21, 1863, General Jones broke camp at Lacey's Springs, with all his available foree, to make an expedition to West Virginia. The object of the
* For full account of the fight, see cavalry.
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expedition was to co-operate with General Imboden in the destruction of as much of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad as possible, the collection of supplies and to capture and disperse the enemy wherever found.
The morning the command left Lacey's Springs the weather was everything that could have been desired, but before night a hard, cold rain had set in. The mountain streams, then almost dry, soon became raging torrents, and the men of the Second Maryland (it comprised the only infantry connected with the expedition ) were compelled to ford many streams waist deep. For three days the rain continued, and when, at the end of that time, Moorefield was reached, the infantry was much broken down, nor was the cavalry and artillery in a better plight. To add to their suffering, the brigade quartermaster failed to have supplies near 'Moorefield, as he had been ordered. Men who had marched for three days under such circumstances were not, then, likely to bestow any very complimentary criticisms upon the commanding general, who, of course, is blamed for everything.
But this was all forgotten when the next morning the good people of Moore- field turned out en masse and contributed unsparingly to their wants, and the trip to Moorefield was ever after a pleasant remembrance to the members of the Second.
The enemy having failed to make his appearance in the vicinity of Moorefield, and the subsequent movements of the cavalry, to be successful, required a celerity not attainable by infantry and artillery, it was deemed best to send these, under Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert, back to the Valley as convoy to the wagon train. After remaining at Moorefield two or three days the return trip of the infantry and artillery was made by way of Franklin, the whole reaching Harrisonburg on the evening of April 30, after an uneventful trip, and reported to Lieutenant. Colonel Funsten, who had been left behind by General Jones to watch the enemy in the Valley.
During the absence of the Second Maryland, Captain Joseph L. McAleer, of that command, who had been left behind by reason of his not having been at that time physically able to make so long and arduous a march, had been placed in command of one hundred and fifty dismounted cavalry and ordered to report to Major S. B. Myers at Fisher's Hill. On April 28 two regiments of Federal cavalry, four regiments of infantry and some artillery made their appearance at Fisher's Hill. The cavalry (Twelfth and Thirteenth Pennsylvania) were easily drawn into an ambuscade, and seventy of them killed, wounded or captured. Colonel Funsten, in his official report, says :
'" Much credit is due to Major Myers and Captain McAleer for the skill and bravery which they displayed in this affair."
Again he says, after the return of the Second Maryland to Harrisonburg :
" On the morning of the 8th of May the enemy had advanced above New-
92
market, and I moved up the Maryland infantry and all of the dismounted cavalry who had guns, with the artillery, below Harrisonburg, and prepared to give them battle. We remained in this position until about 8 o'clock the next morning, when the enemy fell back toward Winchester."
And it was a blessing to Colonel Funsten and his little band that the enemy, in overwhelming force, did fall back, or the Second Maryland might have ceased to exist right there.
A short time after the above event the Second Maryland, under command of Major W. W. Goldsborough (Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert being on court- martial duty) was ordered to Fisher's Hill to relieve Major S. B. Myers. The infantry was accompanied by the First Maryland Cavalry, Captain F. A. Bond ; Baltimore Light Artillery, Captain W. H. Griffin, and Chew's Virginia battery.
It will thus be seen that the Maryland Line was represented by every branch of the service, and efforts to concentrate and recruit the three arms were again to be made. The Government had offered inducements for Marylanders to transfer their services from the various regiments to which they were attached, but few availed themselves of it, and never during the war were the different commands together for any great length of time. This was unfortunately mainly due to the fact that a brigade, instead of a regiment, of infantry could not be raised.
General George H. Steuart had for some time ceased to be identified with the Maryland Line, having been appointed to the command of the brigade formerly commanded by General Colston.
A commander at this time was, therefore, absolutely necessary, for it was believed the spring campaign would soon be inaugurated, and no time was to be lost. Application was made to the War Department for the privilege of electing a head, and upon its being granted Colonel Bradley T. Johnson was unanimously chosen. Colonel Johnson was at this time a member of a military court sitting in Richmond, and Lieutenant J. Thomas Bussey was at once dispatched to Rich- mond to notify him of his election. Accordingly, on June 22 a commission was issued him as Colonel of the Maryland Line, and also giving him the following authority :
CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR-GENERAL'S OFFICE, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, June 22, 1863.
Colonel Bradley T. Johnson :
Sır :-- You are authorized to recruit from Marylanders and muster into service compa- the . battalions and regiments of infantry, cavalry and artillery, to serve for the war, and to Be attached to and form part of the Maryland Line.
BY COMMAND OF JAMES A. SEDDEN, Secretary of Il'ar.
SAMUEL W. MELTON, Major and A. A. G.
93
Although Colonel Johnson started off at once, in company with Lieutenant- Colonel Ridgely Brown and Captain George W. Booth, both of whom had just recovered from wounds received in General Jones' raid into Western Virginia, he did not reach the command until after the disastrous charge at Culp's Hill, Gettysburg, which had reduced the splendid battalion to a skeleton. The fact that the army was compelled to so soon return to Virginia made it impossible to recruit and organize a brigade in Maryland, and as he had but a handful of infantry left, Colonel Johnson's services could be better employed, and he was again placed in command of Jones' Infantry Brigade, the Second Brigade of Jackson's Division, with which he had won so much distinction at the second Manassas.
Shortly after the arrival of the Maryland command and Chew's battery at Fisher's Hill it was joined by General A. G. Jenkins' splendid brigade of Virginia cavalry, and General Jenkins assumed command of the whole. Before the arrival of General Jenkins the enemy's cavalry paid frequent visits to Strasburg, two miles away, and after taking a look at the rebels on the hill returned to their camp at Winchester. A trap was set by Major Goldsborough to catch them one morning, and the companies of Captains Torsch and Stewart were marched during the night into Strasburg and placed in position to intercept the enemy. should he make his appearance. He did come next morning, but, unfortunately, at that moment the gallant Torsch had stolen off to whisper for a brief period sweet nonsense into the ears of a rustic beauty, and the damage inflicted was trifling, compared to what it would have been had he been present.
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