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On May 5, 1862, the company was reorganized, its term of service having
expired. In this reorganization there was considerable change in its officers.
Lieutenants Brown, Bond and Griffith being desirous of going to Richmond, and
if possible raise a battalion which was to be distinctively a Maryland command.
Therefore, in their stead Gustavus W. Dorsey was elected First Lieutenant, N. C.
Hobbs Second Lieutenant, and Rudolphus Cecil, Third Lieutenant. George R.
Gaither was re-elected to the Captaincy.

The First Virginia was next stationed at Bigler's wharf, on the York River,
until after the battle of Williamsburg, when it acted as rear guard until the
battle of Elthau's Landing.

At Statesville the regiment was heavily engaged, and was the rear guard
until the army crossed the Chickahominy. It was engaged at Seven Pines, and a
portion of Company K, under Lieutenant Hobbs, was detailed to accompany
General J. E. B. Stuart in his raid around McClellan's army. The regiment
was engaged in the Seven Days' Battles before Richmond, and after the retreat of
McClellan's army it was sent to Mount Carmel Church, near Fredericksburg,
where it remained until General Robert E. Lee marched to Gordonsville. It was in
several skirmishes, and particularly at Jerrold's Mill, where it charged and broke
the Third Indiana Cavalry and drove them to the protection of their infantry.
In the fight at Catlett's Station the First Virginia, with Company K always at its
head, made a glorious charge.

An incident worth relating happened at Catlett's, and proved how much
confidence General J. E. B. Stuart had in the First Virginia. The cavalry were
drawn up on ground with which they were not familiar, and the night was very
dark. Stuart had come upon the enemy's camp-fires somewhat unexpectedly,
and he determined to charge toward those fires and ascertain what was there.
The Ninth Virginia Cavalry was selected as the leading column in the charge,
that to be followed by the First Virginia. After moving a short distance down a
steep hill, the Ninth suddenly encountered a stiff fence, and there it stopped, nor
could the entreaties of its officers induce the men to put their horses to that fence.
Stuart was immediately apprised of the fact, and excitedly exclaimed : " I know
a regiment that will ! Tell Colonel Drake to bring up the First and charge the
enemy, even though there were a dozen fences before him ! "

It is needless to say that the First went over the fence, followed by the Fifth,
Company K leading, and they were soon in the midst of the enemy's infantry,
where a stubborn fight ensued, but the Federals were badly beaten and five
hundred prisoners taken. It proved to be Pope's headquarters, and that General
lost his personal baggage, horses and other property. General Stuart felt that
he had been fully avenged for the loss of his cloak and hat, captured a few days
before at Verdiersville by a sudden clash of a small body of the enemv's cavalry