No military organization in the United States is better and more favorably known than the Fifth Maryland, distinctively a Southern regiment. For over thirty years it has stood the equal of any militia regiment in the country. In latter years the only organization, in the popular mind, that challenged its supremacy was the Seventh New York, and when the famed Seventh declined to go to the Spanish war and the Fifth, in a body, volunteered for government service, to go anywhere they were ordered to go and do anything they were asked to do, there could be no further doubt that the Fifth Maryland, which has always clung to its gray uniform, emblematic of other days, was the “real thing,” as far as the militia of the country was concerned. It seems a shame that not only the people of Baltimore and of Maryland, but the people of the South generally, should not take vigorous offence that at this time, after the regiment has served its country for over three months, and has returned to its armory in Baltimore, for what are, apparently, political reasons and reasons of personal gratification, this splendid body of men should be threatened with dissolution. In this condition which confronts the command several things enter. In the first place, there never was any discord, never any disagreement among the officers until a certain element appeared. This element has gone now, but other troubles have arisen. Its old commanding officer, whom all the men loved, was prevented from going to the Spanish war with his command—questionably prevented,—as subsequent events have shown. With him, “physically disqualified,” were other officers, quite as well beloved and respected by the men, and all of these gentlemen still hold their commissions from the State of Maryland. The order retiring them was one from the Adjutant-General of the State, which order, by the way, has very recently been revoked,—and now a board has been appointed to examine these officers physically and otherwise. Before the Adjutant-General recalled his retirement order, they had asked to be returned to the offices to which their commissions lawfully entitled them. The make-up of the board appointed to treat the cases of these officers has been questioned, not only upon the ground that it is partisan, but because some of its members are not qualified to serve upon it. Before this number of “DIXIE” goes to press the board will have met. Possibly it will have reached its decision. It is probable, if it disqualifies these men, that numbers of Southerners will consider it a case of hanging them first and trying them afterwards.