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driven back with loss. In this affair the First Maryland surprised their new
allies by their dashing style of fighting.

On the 5th of July General Johnson crossed the Potomac near Sharpsburg,
where he met a small force of the enemy's cavalry, which Lieutenant George M. E.
Shearer, with a detachment of the First Maryland pursued into Hagerstown, when
coming suddenly upon a superior force he was compelled to retreat upon the main
body. In the pursuit which ensued Shearer was taken prisoner, along with several
of his men.

On the night of the 8th General Johnson was directed to report to General
Early in person, near Middletown, Maryland. General Early at that meeting
directed General Johnson to move early on the morning of the 9th and take
position north of Frederick City and watch his (Early's) left during the battle
that was to ensue next day at the Monocacy River. Being assured of Early's
success. Johnson was then to strike across the country, destroying railroads and
telegraphs north of Baltimore, then to sweep rapidly around the city and cut the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad between Baltimore and Washington. This accom-
plished. Johnson was to push on for Point Lookout and reach that place if possible
on the night of the 12th of July, so as to co-operate with Captain John Taylor
Wood, who was to be there at that time with an armed Confederate steamer. The
ten or twelve thousand prisoners there released, Johnson was to march them to
Washington, where Early was to wait for him. Should Early be successful in his
contemplated attack upon the Federal Capital, these prisoners were to be armed
from the several arsenals of that city.

It seemed utterly impossible for General Johnson to reach Point Lookout by
the time specified, and he so expressed himself, but was perfectly willing to lead the
expedition. Accordingly, on the morning of the 9th, he started from the vicinity
of Frederick, and moving through Liberty, New Windsor, Westminster and
Reisterstown, reached Cockeysville on the morning of the loth, and burned the
railroad bridge there. Colonel Harry Gilmor was here detached with his own and
part of the First Maryland battalion, and ordered to raid the Philadelphia.
Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad near the Gunpowder River, and if possible
burn the bridge. In this Gilmor was successful. He not only burned the bridge,
but he captured two trains, on one of which Major-General Franklin was a
passenger. Franklin was captured, but subsequently made his escape.

From Cockeysville General Johnson shaped his course across Green Spring
Valley, in Baltimore County, and after burning the residence of Governor Brad-
ford, in retaliation for the burning of the home of Governor Letcher, in Virginia,
which had been destroyed by firebrand Hunter under circumstances of peculiar
brutality. General Johnson went into camp for the night at the " Caves," the home
of John Carroll, Esq. Here General Johnson learned from a trusty scout, now