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[30] headquarters, where we were in discussion, announced a messenger, who brought, with the compliments of General Banks to General Patterson, the further information that in a few moments the former would present himself in person, to receive upon his shoulders the heavy burdens which were afterwards to be laid upon him.

Thus it was that the reign of Patterson within the Department of Pennsylvania was transferred to Banks, who changed the designation of the Department to that of the Shenandoah. It was only one week later that the Army of the Shenandoah--with the exception of my regimentwas ordered to cross the Potomac, and take up positions in Maryland. With an addition to my command of twenty cavalry men, I was left with the Second to occupy and hold Harper's Ferry. The order directing me to hold that outpost was dated the twenty-eigltlh of July, but it was followed by another, dated the twenty-ninth of July, issued from Sandy Hook, in which three companies of the Second Massachusetts Regiment, with a cavalry detachment, were ordered to remain as a garrison within the town; while the remaining companies, with three guns of the Rhode Island Battery, under my command, were ordered to cross the river into Maryland, and take position on the western face of the Maryland Heights.

Transferred to the plateau overlooking the Potomac, from an elevation half-way up the mountain, seven companies were in position to cover — the three commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Andrews at Harper's Ferry. We were in an exposed location. Deprived of tents, we sought shelter under leaves and branches. The scene was picturesque so long as the leaves were green, and the repose was sweet so long as the sticks interwoven with branches remained pliant. In furnishing guards from Sandy Hook to Harper's Ferry; in closely watching the mounted scouts of the

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