" R. E. Lee,
" General Commanding."
The pursuit by the Union army is thus stated by Gen. Meade in his report:
"The 5th and 6th of July were employed in succoring the wounded and burying the dead. Maj.-Gen. Sedgwick, commanding the Sixth Corps, having pushed the pursuit of the enemy as far as the Fairfield Pass, in the mountains, and reporting that the pass was a very strong one, in which a small force of the enemy could hold in check and delay for a considerable time any pursuing force, I determined to follow the enemy by a flank movement, and accordingly, leaving Mcintosh's brigade of cavalry and Neill's brigade of infantry to continue harassing the enemy, put the army in motion for Middletown, Md. Orders were immediately sent to Maj.-Gen. French at Frederick to reoccupy Harper's Ferry, and send a force to occupy Turner Pass, in South Mountain. I subsequently ascertained Maj.-Gen. French had not only anticipated these orders in part, but had pushed a cavalry force to Williamsport and Falling Waters, where they destroyed the enemy's pontoon-bridge and captured its guard. Buford was at the same time sent to Williamsport and Hagerstown. The duty above assigned to the cavalry was most successfully accomplished, the enemy being greatly harassed, his trains destroyed, and many captures of guns and prisoners made. After halting a day at Middletown to procure necessary supplies and bring up the trains, the army moved through the South Mountain, and by July 12th was in front of the enemy, who occupied a strong position on the heights of Marsh Run, in advance of Williamsport. In taking this position several skirmishes and affairs had been had with the enemy, principally by the cavalry and the Eleventh and Sixth Corps. The 13th was occupied in reconnaissances of the enemy's position and preparations for attack, but on advancing on the morning of the 14th it was ascertained he had retired the night previous by a bridge at Falling Waters and the ford at Williamsport. The cavalry in pursuit overtook the rear-guard at Falling Waters, capturing two guns and numerous prisoners."
Speaking of the recrossing of the Potomac by the Confederate army, John Esten Cooke, in his " Life of Gen. Lee," says, " Towards dawn on the 14th the army commenced moving, in the midst of a violent rainstorm, across the river at both points, and Lee, sitting his horse upon the river's bank, superintended the operation, as was his habit on occasions of emergency. Loss of rest and fatigue, with that feeling of suspense unavoidable under the circumstances, had impaired the energies of even his superb physical constitution. As the bulk of the rear-guard of the army safely passed over the shaky bridge, which Lee had looked at with some anxiety as it swayed to and fro, lashed by the current, he uttered a sigh of relief, and a great weight seemed taken from his shoulders. Seeing his fatigue and exhaustion, Gen. Stuart gave him some coffee. He drank it with avidity, and declared, as he handed back the cup, that nothing had ever refreshed him so much." The last of the Confederate troops did not cross the river at the bridge until 1 p.m. on the 14th, and in the skirmish of the rear-guard with the Federal cavalry the gallant Pettigrew fell, who had supported Pickett in the great charge at Gettysburg, where in spite of a painful wound he had done all in his power to rally his troops.
" The pursuit," says Gen. Meade, " was renewed by a flank movement, the army crossing the Potomac at Berlin and moving down the Loudon Valley. The cavalry were immediately pushed into the several passes of the Blue Ridge, and having learned from scouts the withdrawal of the Confederate army from the lower valley of the Shenandoah, the army, the Third Corps, Maj.-Gen. French, in advance, was moved into the Manassas Gap, in the hope of being able to intercept a portion of the enemy. The possession of the gap was disputed so successfully as to enable the rear-guard to withdraw by way of Strasburg, the Confederate army retiring to the Rapidan. A position was taken up with this army on the line of the Rappahannock, and the campaign terminated about the close of July."
The organizations from Maryland actually engaged on the Federal side in the battle of Gettysburg were the First Cavalry, Company A, Purnell's Legion, Cole's battalion of cavalry (in detached bodies, as guides, orderlies, etc.), Rigby's battery, First Potomac Home Brigade Infantry, First Eastern Shore Infantry, and the Third Infantry.
The First Cavalry, under Lieut. -Col. Deems, with Mcintosh's first brigade of Gregg's (second) cavalry division, broke camp at Aldie on the 26th of June, and marched to Leesburg, covering the rear of the army advancing into Maryland. Thus was commenced that series of rapid, continuous, and exhausting marches which brought it upon the field of Gettysburg, and continued with scarcely an intermission until the opposing armies were once again confronting each other on the line of the Rappahannock. In the pursuit of the Confederates after the battle of Gettysburg, the First Maryland Cavalry did valuable service, capturing many stragglers, participating in a skirmish near Emmittsburg, in which one man was wounded, and encountering the enemy in a spirited engagement on the 10th of July at Old Antietam Forge.
On the 5th of July the First Potomac Home Brigade, whose gallant conduct at the battle of Gettysburg has already been described, started with the army in pursuit of the enemy, marching, via Littletown, Frederick City, and Crampton's Gap, to the neighborhood of Bakersville, where it arrived on the 10th, threw up breastworks, and remained four days. Advancing on the 14th, the enemy's works were found deserted. On the 16th the regiment reached Sandy Hook, where its connection with the Army of the Potomac ceased.
In this campaign the officers and men of the First Potomac Home Brigade were subjected to the severest hardships, besides trials and dangers of every description, yet throughout the trying ordeal all behaved with a nobility of spirit well worthy of record. Each and every one seemed aware of the great issues involved and the importance of the struggle in which they were engaged. From the time the regiment left Baltimore, on the 25th of June, until it reached Sandy Hook, on the 16th of July, it marched more than one hundred and fifty miles, engaged the enemy on three occasions at Gettysburg, built breastworks and other fortifications, suffered great hardships of every character, and under all circumstances exhibited the greatest fortitude and courage.
On the 19th of June the Second Potomac Home Brigade was ordered, with the First Virginia Volunteers and a section of artillery, to Cumberland. On the 6th of July, Gen. Kelley, who was in command, moved these forces from Cumberland to co-operate with the Army of the Potomac, then in pursuit of the Confederates. The Second Potomac Home Brigade was attached to Col. Mulligan's brigade, Department of West Virginia. Leaving Cumberland at 9.30 a.m., July 6th, Col. Bruce marched his regiment, the Second Potomac Home Brigade, eastward over the National pike. One mile from Cumberland, Company B, Capt. Morrow, was detailed to return to town and proceed down the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, for the purpose of repairing the telegraph-line along that route. At 6 p.m. the regiment halted for the night at Gilpintown. Marching all day of the 7th, and until 2.30 a.m. of the 8th, it reached a point one mile east of Hancock. After daylight the regiment returned one mile west of Hancock, where it encamped through the night, and where it was joined by Company B. Continuing the movement eastward, the Second bivouacked the night of the 10th at Indian Spring, and the night following at Clear Spring, where it remained until the 14th, when the march was renewed to Williamsport, at which place a junction was effected with Gen. Meade's army.
The Confederate army having retired into Virginia, Gen. Kelley's command on the 15th of July moved to Cherry Run, where it crossed the Potomac and advanced to Hedgesville, where skirmishing with the enemy was maintained until the 20th. During the night Gen. Kelley learned through a loyal citizen of ', Martinsburg that the enemy in force was moving on his rear, and immediately retreated into Maryland. , The enemy approached and threw a few shells across the river, but soon withdrew. At North Mountain,! during the advance into Virginia, the Second Potomac Home Brigade supported a heavy skirmish line. On the 24th of July the regiment again crossed the river with Gen. Kelley's command, and marched to Hedgesville. Leaving this place on the 1st of August, it arrived at New Creek on the 7th, having marched via Shanghai, Pughton, Great Cacapon Bridge, Blue's