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In General Jones' official report he says :
"If any one officer or man deserves special mention, it is Major Ridgely
Brown, of the First Maryland Battalion of Cavalry. He was shot in the leg at
Greenland, and yet he continued on duty until he arrived at Buckhannon, a
distance of 168 miles, and then started home at the earnest solicitation of Doctor
R. P. Johnson."
In this expedition the First Maryland Battalion of Cavalry lost five killed and
fourteen wounded, more than any regiment in the command.
Upon the return of General Jones to the Valley of Virginia men and horses
were much broken down from the hard and rapid marching they had undergone,
and as the summer campaign was about to be inaugurated absolute rest was
necessary for both man and beast.
The Second Maryland Infantry and Baltimore Light Artillery had been sent
to relieve Major Sam Myers at Fisher's Hill, and the First Cavalry was ordered
to unite with them. Thus once more was the Maryland Line collected together.
Whilst at Fisher's Hill the First Maryland, now under command of Captain
F. A. Bond (Major Ridgely Brown being absent on account of wound received
at Greenland Gap), picketed the back road, the turnpike not requiring that service,
owing to the fact that an enemy approaching from that direction could be seen
for a distance of three miles.
Shortly after the arrival of the First Maryland Cavalry General A. G.
Jenkins reached Fisher's Hill with a fine brigade of Virginia cavalry, and he
assumed command of the whole.
On the10th of June General Jenkins moved his whole force from Fisher's
Hill to Cedar Creek. Everything indicated an early move in some direction, and
that probably on Winchester. The turnpike was now heavily picketed some miles
in advance of the main body and the men throughout the command were anxiously
awaiting the order to march.
Whilst thus awaiting orders at Cedar Creek an unfortunate affair happened
in the vicinity of Newtown, which caused the death of five brave Maryland boys
and the wounding and capturing of some thirty others.
On Friday. June 12, General Milroy sent out a strong reconnoitering party
on the Strasburg road. This party consisted of the Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania
Infantry, Thirteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and one section of Battery L, United
States Artillery. At this time Captain W. I. Rasin, in command of Company E,
First Maryland Cavalry, with Harry Gilmor and eight of his men and a few men
of the Fourteenth Virginia Cavalry — sixty men, all told — were scouting near
Middletown, when their presence became known to Colonel Schall, who was in
command of the Federal forces. The infantry and artillery were immediately
concealed, the former in a dense grove to the right of the road, and within one
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