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hundred strong; now it was a skeleton of its former self, three hundred of those
composing it then having been left behind in an inhospitable country, dead,
wounded and prisoners; then it crossed amid joyous shouts and joyous songs,
now not a word is spoken, for all are too busily thinking, and wondering whether
the events of the past few days are not the imaginations of a disordered brain. But
such are the fortunes of war.

On July 15th, the battalion, in conjunction with the rest of the brigade,
proceeded in the direction of Martinsburg, and thence to Darksville, where it
remained until the 20th, when it was ordered to tear up the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad tracks in the vicinity of Martinsburg, which work was pretty thoroughly
accomplished for a considerable distance. Thence the brigade marched to
Winchester on its way to Orange Court House, crossing the Blue Ridge Mountains
through Thorn ton's Gap.

Reaching Orange Court House on the 1st of August Steuart's Brigade
proceeded to take the rest they so much required after the hardships of the two
months that had passed, and soon the Maryland boys had recovered their old
spirits and longed to be avenged for the disappointment they had suffered in not
having been permitted to spend the summer, at least, among their friends across
the Potomac.

The camp near Orange Court House was pleasant enough. It is true, there
were drills, guard mounts, and policing, but the Maryland boys did not shirk
either. The members of the old First who were in the Second knew too well
General Steuart's peculiar ideas about the latter duty, and the other members of
the battalion who had not before had the opportunity to see " Big Injun " in
his element were not long in discovering the fact that a slovenly man or a dirty
street incurred his displeasure for all time. The result was that in the Second,
as in the'First, the men heartily seconded General Steuart's efforts in their behalf.
It was not only his love for a clean camp, but a desire to promote the health and
comfort of his men that made him unyielding in the enforcement of sanitary rules.
You might influence him in some things, but never in this.

About August 23 an inspection was held preparatory to a grand review by
Generals Lee and Ewell. The inspection was very rigid, and greatly were the
members of the Second Maryland pleased when, after it was over, it was officially
announced that they had carried off the first honors in the division.

The grand review by Generals Lee and Ewell took place a few days later,
on which occasion General Edward Johnson remarked to General Lee, as the
battalion passed, in beautiful line, division front, with Mike Quinn's drum corps
at its head : " General, they were as steady as that at Gettysburg." General Lee
also honored the battalion by taking off his hat as its right got within saluting
distance, and remained uncovered until it had passed. He was proud of the little