The 124th did such splendid service at Chancellorsville that it was transferred to the roll of "first class, tried and to be trusted, veteran battalions," although only six weeks before it had been classed among the "untried recruits." June 9th it was part of an expedition of these veteran regiments which recrossed the Rappahannock, did some more fighting, under General Buford, and captured some of the enemy's pickets. General Pleasanton accompanied General Buford and ordered an advance in force, but he found the enemy reinforced and the troops were withdrawn after a loss of about 800 on each side. The 124th and 86th were commended as "reliable regiments" in the day's doings. [Illustration: Soldier's Memorial, Goshen] About this time the old Whipple division ceased to exist in consequence of the losses at Chancellorsville and mustering-out of several regiments. Berdan's sharpshooters and the 124th and 86th were assigned to General J. H. H. Ward's brigade of General D. B. Birney's division. On June 14th they started on one of their longest and severest marches northward, and on June 25th crossed the Potomac at Edward's Ferry near Ball's Bluff. Just before it was ordered Milner Brown was assigned to the command of the regiment. They proceeded through Fredericksburg to Emmetsburg, and here on June 30th the 124th had but 264 rifles in line, so great had been the losses in battle and from disease. They were informed that General Hooker had been succeeded by General Meade. The Confederates had invaded Pennsylvania and a great battle was anticipated. A forced march was made to Gettysburg through such intense heat that many were prostrated, and when the regiment reached the high ground south of Gettysburg not more than 100 men and five or six officers appeared in the regimental line, but the next morning it was 240 strong. It was placed in the right center of the brigade, and in that decisive battle of the war distinguished itself by its steadiness and daring. For forty minutes Ward's and De Trobriand's brigades of about 3,000 men held their ground against Longstreet's entire corps. By a mere chance the whole regiment escaped capture. General Ward harangued its men on the battlefield, and said the heroic resistance they had made "was beyond anything he had ever dared to hope for." Its active part in the great three days' battle was finished on the second day, as it was not called upon to participate in the fighting of the third day, which brought defeat to Lee's army. The 124th had lost thirty-three killed, including Colonel Ellis, Major James Cromwell and Captain Isaac Nicoll, and fifty-nine wounded, including Lieutenant Colonel Cummins. A number of the severely wounded remained in the hands of the enemy several days. The regiment was now reduced to 150 men with muskets and nine commissioned officers. Some had been sent to the corps hospital. They were now temporarily commanded by Captain Charles A. Weygant of Co. A.