" When the rebel Gens. Jones and Imboden, in April last, threatened to overrun the entire State of West Virginia, your prompt movement under orders to the support of Gen. Roberts at Clarksburg alone saved from destruction much valuable public property, as well as that of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Your services afterwards in aiding to drive the enemy from the State were not less valuable, and deserve great praise."
Upon returning to Harper's Ferry the daily routine of camp was re-established, and preparations were made for the summer campaign. About this time the Eighth Regiment was the recipient of a national ensign and a set of guidons, the gift of Marcus Denison, of Baltimore. Col. A. W. Denison presented the colors in the name of his father, and they were received on behalf of the regiment by Lieut.-Col. J. G. Johannes.
On the 30th of May the First Regiment recrossed the river and again occupied the site of the old camp on Maryland Heights. It was followed on the 9th of June by the Seventh. Company B of this regiment was still at Hagerstown, where it had been stationed since December.
Gen. Hooker took command of the Army of the Potomac on the 26th of January, 1863, and at once proceeded to reorganize it. In his testimony before the Committee on the Conduct of the War, Gen. Hooker thus describes the condition of the army when he assumed command:
" It had recently returned from two unsuccessful efforts to cross the river and drive the enemy from his position, the first resulting so disastrously as to render a second effort soon after, even with propitious weather, almost futile. Before the second effort ended the winter rains set in, and all operations for a while were suspended, the army literally finding itself buried in mud, from which there was no hope of extrication before spring. With this prospect before it, taken in connection with the gloom and despondency that followed the disaster of Fredericksburg, the army was in a forlorn, deplorable condition. At the time the army was turned over to me desertions were at the rate of about two hundred a day. So anxious were parents, wives, brothers, and sisters to relieve their kindred that they filled the express-trains to the army with packages of citizen clothing to assist them in escaping from service. At that time perhaps a majority of the officers, especially those in high rank, were hostile to the policy of the government in the conduct of the war. The Emancipation Proclamation had been published a short time before, and a large element of the army had taken sides antagonistic to it, declaring that they never would have embarked in the war had they anticipated this action of the government. I may also state that the moment I was placed in command I caused a return to be made of the absentees of the army, and found the number to be 2922 commissioned officers and 81,964 non-commissioned officers and privates. These were scattered all over the country, and the majority were absent from causes unknown. When it was announced to me that I had been placed in command of the Army of the Potomac I doubted, and so expressed myself, if it could be saved to the country."
Having thoroughly reorganized his army and matured his plans for a campaign against Richmond, Gen. Hooker on the 27th of April, 1863, commenced his advance, and on the 2nd and 3rd of May fought the battle of Chancellorsville, in which he was defeated with dreadful loss. The Confederates under Lee gained a great victory, but this was more than counterbalanced by the death of Gen. " Stonewall" Jackson, who was mortally wounded by the fire of his own men in his attack on Howard's corps, and died on the 10th of Maj-. His loss was irreparable, and was deeply felt throughout the South.
" After the battle of Chancellorsville, the position occupied by the enemy," says Gen. Lee, " opposite Fredericksburg being one in which he could not be attacked to advantage, it was determined to draw him from it. The execution of this purpose embraced the relief of the Shenandoah Valley from the troops that had occupied the lower part of it during the winter and spring, and, if practicable, the transfer of the scene of hostilities north of the Potomac. It was thought that the corresponding movement on the part of the enemy, to which those contemplated by us could probably give rise, might offer a fair opportunity to strike a blow at the army then commanded by Gen. Hooker, and that in any event that army would be compelled to leave Virginia, and possibly to draw to its support troops designed to operate against other parts of the country. In this way it was supposed that the enemy's plan of campaign for the summer would be broken up, and part of the season of active operations be consumed in the formation of new combinations and the preparations that they would require. In addition to these advantages, it was hoped that other valuable results might be attained by military success."
Having arranged his plan of campaign, Gen. Lee proceeded with great energy to put it into execution. The infantry were organized into three corps, under Longstreet, Ewell, and A. P. Hill, each of these corps containing three divisions, the cavalry under J. E. B. Stuart, consisting of the brigades of Fitzhugh Lee, Hampton, and W. H. F. Lee, which were concentrated at Culpeper Court-House. All his preparations having been made, on June 3, 1863, McLaws' division of Longstreet's corps left Fredericksburg for Culpeper Court-House, and Hood's division of the same corps was ordered to the same place. On the next day Ewell marched in the same direction, leaving A. P. Hill to occupy the lines at Fredericksburg. On the 11th and 12th, Hooker broke up his encampments on the line of the Rappahannock and moved cautiously northward, followed by Hill. Meanwhile Gen. Lee had continued his march to the north.
On the 14th of June, Milroy was attacked near Winchester by the Confederates under Ewell, and on the next day was defeated with the loss of nearly his whole command. After their return to Harper's Ferry, the Sixth Maryland (Federal) Regiment and Alexander's battery were permanently attached to Gen. Milroy's command in the valley, and in the defense of Berryville and Winchester bore the brunt of the heavy fighting, and suffered severely, the latter losing their guns at the battle of Winchester. The remnant of Milroy's force after this disastrous engagement retreated to Maryland Heights, where with the Maryland Brigade they strengthened the fortifications, and observed the movements of the Confederate forces.
During these operations Cole's cavalry had come in for its usual share of hard service. On the 12th of June, when Rodes' Confederate division was approaching Berryville, Company A, under Capt. Vernon, made a scout into Loudon County to ascertain the enemy's movements. Next day it boldly attacked a superior force of Confederate infantry at Berryville, which proved to be a part of Rodes' division. The company was compelled to retreat with the loss of several men, but the object of the reconnaissance was accomplished. Having ascertained that the enemy was pushing in the direction of the Winchester and Martinsburg pike, in rear of the Union forces at Winchester, Capt. Vernon dispatched a scout through the Confederate lines to apprise Gen. Milroy of his danger. On the 14th the company skirmished all day with the enemy on the roads leading from the Potomac to Winchester.
Capt. Summers' company ran into a large body of the enemy's cavalry near Berryville. After losing one man wounded and two men captured, the company fell back to Charlestown and then to Halltown, contesting every inch of the ground, and inflicting some punishment on its pursuers.
On the 15th of June, Vernon's company was at Charlestown and on the roads beyond, covering the retreat of remnants of Milroy's command, then endeavoring to effect their escape to Harper's Ferry. On the 16th it skirmished with the enemy's advance, then moving on the roads from Winchester to the Potomac. At Charlestown, Capt. Vernon's squadron, consisting of his own and Capt. Summers' company, was summoned to surrender. To this demand Capt. Vernon responded, "I did not come to Charlestown to surrender, but to fight to the best of my ability, and I propose to do it." By skillful maneuvering he succeeded in extricating his command, and at night fell back within easy striking distance of the Federal lines at Harper's Ferry. On the 14th and 15th, Company C scouted the country from Kearneysville to Shepherdstown, Hallstown, and Harper's Ferry.
On Sunday, the 14th of June, about 4 p.m.. Gen. Rodes, who had been instructed, after dislodging the force at Berryville, to cut off the communication between Winchester and the Potomac, appeared before Martinsburg, held by two regiments of infantry, Fiery's company of Maryland cavalry, and one battery of artillery, the whole commanded by Col. B. F. Smith, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Ohio Volunteers. Gen. Jenkins, commanding the Confederate advance, demanded the surrender of the town, which was refused, and an attack was then made, which Col. Smith resisted until dark, when he began to evacuate the position. The cavalry and artillery