History of Western Maryland. J. Thomas Scharf

      CHAPTER XIII. THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN.

      After the termination of the Maryland campaign, the Army of the Potomac remained on the north bank of the river, in the vicinity of Sandy Hook, Sharpsburg, and Williamsport, with a large detachment thrown across at Harper's Ferry, occupying Loudon and Bolivar Heights.

      Reconnaissances were made on the 16th and 17th of October from Sharpsburg in the direction of Reameysville, Leetown, and Smithfield, Va., and from Harper's Ferry to Charlestown. In the latter the Fifth Maryland participated. On the 21st of October a reconnaissance was also made from Loudon Heights to Lovettsville, in which the Third Maryland bore a part. On the 26th of October, Gen. McClellan began his second advance into Virginia from the line of the Potomac. Early on that day a cavalry force under Gen. Pleasonton crossed the Potomac at Berlin, and moved in the direction of Purcellville. Soon after the Ninth Corps began to cross in light marching order, and took position near Lovettsville. The First, Sixth, and Ninth Corps, the cavalry and the reserve artillery crossed at Berlin between the 26th of October and the 2nd of November. The Second and Fifth Corps crossed at Harper's Ferry between the 29th of October and the 1st of November. The Twelfth Corps was left in the vicinity of Harper's Ferry, to guard against another invasion of Maryland. Attached to it at this time were the Third and Fifth Maryland Infantry Regiments, Purnell's Legion, and Cole's cavalry.

      On the 7th of November an order was received from Washington relieving Gen. McClellan of command and appointing Gen. Burnside as his successor. On the 13th of December, Burnside made an assault upon the Confederate heights in the rear of Fredericksburg, when " a slaughter the most bloody and most useless of the war" took place. Gen. Jackson commanded on the right of the Confederate line, and Gen. Longstreet on the left. On the Federal side Franklin was on the left, Hooker occupied the center, and Sumner the right. The Federal attack was repulsed with a loss on the Union side of about fifteen thousand killed and wounded, and on the Confederate side of about five thousand. After the battle of Fredericksburg, Gen. Burnside was relieved of the command, and Gen. Hooker appointed in his stead. The Twelfth Corps, which had been left at Harper's Ferry when McClellan advanced towards the Rappahannock, again joined the main army in the latter part of December. During its stay on the upper Potomac several reconnaissances were made to ascertain the location and strength of the Confederate forces in the Shenandoah Valley. In one of these expeditions, made by the Second Division, under Gen. Geary, on the 9th of November, the Third Maryland and Purnell's Legion participated. The division moved from Bolivar Heights to Rippon, within six miles of Berryville, driving back the enemy, and capturing prisoners, arms, horses, and cattle.

      From the 2nd to the 6th of December, Cole's cavalry and the Third Infantry formed part of a column under Gen. Geary, which marched to Winchester. En route Cole's cavalry skirmished with the enemy's cavalry at Charlestown, Berryville, and Ash Hollow. On the withdrawal of the Twelfth Corps from Harper's Ferry, Cole's cavalry and the Fifth Infantry were left in that vicinity, while the Purnell Legion was sent to Frederick City.

      The First Maryland Cavalry did not accompany the Army of the Potomac in the Maryland campaign of 1862. It was given a more arduous duty in the defenses of Washington south of the Potomac. During the fall and winter months it made numerous reconnaissanees through the section of country lying between the Bull Run Mountains and the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers. The regiment was kept almost incessantly in motion, picking up guerrillas, watching dangerous defiles, scouting across the country, always on the qui vive against attack or surprise.

      On the 25th of October, 1862, while making one of these reconnaissanees, a detachment of the regiment was attacked near Manassas Junction by a superior force of the enemy, and had one man (Robert Starkey) killed, two officers (Lieuts. A. S. Dorsey and N. P. Patterson) wounded, and seven men captured. Again, on the 27th of December, a portion of the regiment, under Capt. Joseph H. Cook, aided in repulsing Stuart's attack upon the town of Dumfries. After a sharp and determined fight, lasting several hours, the enemy was driven off with considerable loss. Capt. Cook was highly commended by Col. Candy, commanding the post, for his efficient services on this occasion. In the morning a detachment of the First, commanded by Capt. J. K. Buckley, had been sent from Dumfries on a scout in the direction of Stafford Store and Springs. Next day, while en route from Fairfax Station to the relief of the garrison of Dumfries, the Third Maryland Infantry took part in a skirmish with the enemy at a point between Occoquan Creek and the town of Dumfries. Finally, on