21

boxes were at that time a scarce article in the equipment of a Confederate. That
night the army went into bivouac at Bunker Hill. At early morning of the 2nd
the march was resumed, and at noon of the same day the Confederate line of
battle was formed at the village of Darksville, six miles from Martinsburg, which
place Patterson had reached. As an evidence of the confidence which General
Johnston had in the First Maryland, it was thrown on the extreme right of the
line of battle, and had it been called upon, it would, doubtless, have shown itself
worthy of the trust that he reposed in it.

For four days the troops lay upon their arms hourly expecting an attack,
and several times being called into readiness through what in each instance
proved to be a false report of the enemy's advance. But Patterson did not
advance, and the brave men were spared the humiliation of possible defeat; for
how could a command of poorly equipped men hope to combat successfully a
force more than twice their number and clothed in all the panoply of war ?
Probably of all in that little army the most relieved man was Johnston himself,
when, at the end of four days of weary and anxious waiting, he found that the
enemy would not take up the gage of battle that had been so defiantly thrown
down to him.

Still it was necessary to keep Patterson away from McDowell, and from the
battle that was believed to be imminent at Manassas; and so, although General
Johnston fell back to Winchester on the 8th of July, the cavalry, under Colonel
J. E. B. Stuart, was left in Patterson's front.

Once more the First Maryland occupied its old quarters near hospitable
Winchester, and the dull routine of camp Hie was kept up until July 18. At early
morning of that day a telegram came to General Johnston from Richmond
informing him that McDowell was advancing upon Manassas, then held by
General Beauregard, and directing him, if practicable, to go to that commander's
assistance. In the exercise of the discretion, thus given to him, by the terms of
the order, General Johnston quickly decided to move to the support of General
Beauregard. In order to accomplish this he must either meet and defeat
Patterson, who was then ia camp at Bunker Hill, or elude him. He chose the
latter course. "Ah ! then and there was hurrying to and fro." Camp was
soon broken, the troops were eager for the advance, the march began, and while
the western sky was aflame with glory, the last of the command filed steadily
through the streets of old Winchester town, the people sorrowing over their
departure, and feeling that now there would be no protection against the dreaded
invaders who were then but a few miles distant, while here and there a gray-
coated soldier boy, as he marched along the dusty road, thought with a sigh of
the maiden he had left behind him.

All through the long night the steady march was kept up, and at early dawn