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Soon after the return of Captain Torsch from his unsuccessful mission to
South Carolina it was proposed by Colonel Bradley T. Johnson to mount the
Second Infantry, and Lieutenant Zollinger and William Smith ran the blockade
and went to Baltimore to raise the necessary funds for that purpose. They soon
secured $25,000 from the patriotic citizens of Baltimore, and they then started to
return to their command by different routes. Lieutenant Zollinger returned in
safety, but Smith, who had the money, was captured and came near being hanged
as a spy. Thus this scheme came to naught.

On the ist of May, 1864, what with recruiting, transfers and return of
wounded and prisoners, the Second Maryland numbered 325 men present for
duty. The command was in fine condition, and ready and anxious to take, the field
at a moment's notice.

The enemy was becoming restless, and the batteries of Dement and Chew
were sent to the front, and never again seen with the other commands of the
Maryland Line, after a sojourn with them of nearly a month. Indeed, it was but
a few days when these, too, were widely separated, and never again brought
together, from which time the Maryland Line existed only in name.

To all who followed the fortunes of the constituent parts of the old Line in
the subsequent campaigns, and observed how magnificent a spirit of bravery, and
dash, and fortitude they displayed in the battles which followed each other in such
quick succession it will always be a matter of profound regret that their scattered
rays of glory could not have been gathered to one focus. The war covered a
wide area, and was waged by armies of such magnitude that the deeds of small
bodies, however meritorious, could not affect the general result sufficiently to
engross the public attention. The multiplicity of details in the formation of an
army like the Army of Northern Virginia fatigues the mind, and one finally
fixes his attention only upon the larger units — divisions or brigades, at least.
The smaller bodies, regiments, battalions and companies, upon whose individual
efforts the character of the whole depends, are sure to be neglected, and thus the
smaller units are robbed of the credit due them. It was from a knowledge of this
fact that the promoters of the Maryland Line urged the expediency of assembling
all the Marylanders in the Confederate service in one body; but as this failed it
became the duty of all who had the honor of their State at heart to make the best
of the situation and endeavor to reflect all the credit possible upon the old and
honored State of Maryland through the small commands sent across the border.
The unprejudiced historian will say that in this Maryland's sons were successful
to a degree certainly gratifying to those at home who followed them throughout
the long and bloody struggle with the keenest interest.

On the 8th of May the Second Maryland broke camp at Hanover Junction,
around which lingered so many pleasant memories, and took position to cover