In winter quarters.
The command proceeded to
Sugar Valley on the 27th of November, to go into quarters for the winter, and during all the early part of December the men were engaged in building houses for themselves and stables for the horses.
The officers,
Captain Rowan,
Lieutenants Ritter,
Giles and
Doucaster, and
Surgeon Rogers built themselves a cabin twelve by sixteeen feet, with a fireplace and chimney, window and door.
After their long campaigning, this was a delightful change.
On the 20th of January, 1864, the whole battalion, for easier access to long forage, was ordered to
Kingston, where it again built winter quarters.
Between the 1st and 10th of January sixty men were received from the
State of Georgia, and the battery was shortly afterwards joined by fifteen volunteer recruits.
This accession necessitated drill, which was had twice a day. The camp here was in a wood near
Hightower Creek, a beautiful stream emptying into
Etowah river
The Third Maryland was, on the 23d of March, ordered to
Dalton to rejoin the battalion which had been sent thither, to aid in repelling the enemy, now pressing that point.
The command remained encamped near
Dalton till the 6th of May.
On the reorganization of the Artillery of the Army of Tennessee,
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118]
Johnston's battalion, to which the Third Maryland belonged, was put in
Smith's regiment, but was soon afterwards transferred to
Beckham's regiment, of
Hood's corps.
The artillery was made an independent body, no longer subject to the orders of division commanders, and constituted a brigade under
General Shoup.
