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Innately, there were few, and in the effects of this order there was a
disappointment, but there were nevertheless some transfers, and of very superior
men, as a general thing.

Having located and thoroughly cleared and policed the site for their camp,
the men of the Second Maryland next turned their attention to the building of
their cabins, and by the ist of December this work was completed.

But there was something else to be done. A chapel for religious worship was
to be built, and in this work Mrs. Bradley T. Johnson and her sister, Miss
Saunders, took the liveliest interest. And what would not the boys of the Second
Maryland do for the ladies, and for Mrs. Johnson in particular, whom they all
loved so well ? They might have built a chapel, for they were God-fearing men,
but it would have been a rude affair compared to the neat little structure built
under the supervision of these ladies.

Episcopal services were held in the chapel for the first time on the 17th of
January by the Chaplain, Reverend Mr. Duncan, and on the 31st Reverend
Mr. Peterkin came up from Richmond and entertained the boys with an impres-
sive sermon, taking for his text : "What Shall I Do to Be Saved?"

It was here at Hanover Junction, on the 2Oth of January, that it was
determined to call the battalion the Second Maryland Infantry, as it had been
known up to that time as the First Maryland Battalion, although the reader will
observe that the author has persisted in speaking of it as the Second Maryland
Infantry throughout this work.

The winter was delightfully passed at Hanover Junction. Various were
the methods resorted to by the boys to pass the time. Several parties, balls and
concerts were given, and one of the latter, for the purchase of a library, netted
five hundred dollars.

As considerable snow fell during the winter, snowball battles frequently took
place between the infantry and cavalry, in one of which a flanking party of the
infantry carried off the colors of the cavalry — the first instance on record where
infantry outflanked cavalry.

But spring was growing apace, and all knew that another active summer's
campaign would soon be inaugurated. It, therefore, behooved them to recruit
their ranks as much as possible. Captain John W. Torsch was sent to Charleston,
South Carolina, in hopes of inducing many of the Marylanders there in South
Carolina regiments to consent to a transfer, but even obstacle was thrown in his
way to prevent it, though, indeed, but few of the men themselves seemed to desire
to be transferred, as they were satisfied where they were. General Beauregard and
his chief of staff, General Jordan, violently opposed these transfers, saying that the
Marylanders in the service of the State of South Carolina were too valuable to part
with. Under these discouraging circumstances, Captain Torsch returned to the
command without having accomplished much.