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armies met, when a severe fight ensued. But Jackson was on his way to Manassas
Junction, and he meant to get there. Disengaging himself, he again changed his
course, and when Pope next heard of him he was in his rear and playing sad havoc
with his stores at Manassas.

After leaving Manassas, Jackson moved around to Centreville, and thence
to the old battle-field of Manassas. On the 28th of August Pope made his attack
on Jackson, and Demerit's battery fired the first shot by order of General A. P. Hill
in person. In the desperate struggle that ensued, the battery was fought with the
utmost desperation. The conduct of Lieutenant Hill in command of a section
of the battery was particularly noticeable. As the enemy pressed on in over-
whelming numbers he would limber his pieces to the rear for a hundred yards,
halt, and renew the fight. This he did several times, until at length the enemy was
driven back with heavy loss.

The next day and the day after the battery was heavily engaged, and lost
severely in men and horses.

At Chantilly the battery was not engaged owing to the wooded nature of the
country, but during that severe engagement it was under a hot fire.

As the Army of Northern Virginia was now on its way into Maryland, we
will carry the reader across the Potomac at Shepherdstown, and thence to
Loudoun Heights, from which elevation the First Maryland battery, in conjunction
with the Chesapeakes, hurled their iron hail into the devoted ranks of Miles'
command, many hundred feet below.

After the surrender of that unfortunate command, Dement made a forced
march to Sharpsburg. but arrived too late to become engaged.

But little of interest occurred until December. After the unfortunate invasion
of Maryland, Early's Division, to which the First was still attached, moved to
Martinsburg, where it remained awhile, thence to Bunker Hill, to White Post, and
in November. 1862, crossed the Blue Ridge near Newmarket, and proceeded to
Frederickfburg, and camped below Hamilton's Crossing. On the 12th of
December it moved up and took position at the crossing.

Dement was placed on the ridge to the left of Early, and as the enemy
charged a long way to their right on the 13th, the battery participated but little
in that action, owing to their having Napoleons, though it was under a severe
fire both days.

From Fredericksburg the battery was sent to Bowling Green, where it went
into winter quarters, and the time was spent pleasantly enough until the first of
May, when camp was broken, and Dement was ordered to Fredericksburg.

At Fredericksburg the battery was placed in Andrews' battalion. Sedgwick
was there in force, threatening an attack upon that portion of General Lee's line
under Early, for Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville was really one battle, though
Early was somewhat detached from the main armyv.