It is much to be regretted that the young men who went South did not organize themselves into _one_ command; but the proper steps were not taken in time, and consequently batteries and companies of infantry and cavalry were assigned to other commands whose States were accredited with their services. Nevertheless Maryland had one representative, at least, in this little organization, and for which she has no reason to blush. The books at the War Department contained the names of over twenty thousand Marylanders in the service, and still at no time could the “Maryland Line” be increased to the proportions of a brigade, much less a division. One great reason for this was the fact that they were required to officer companies, regiments, and brigades of troops from other States, for, as a general thing, the young men from Maryland were of a superior order intellectually, who were actuated by patriotism alone, and not driven into the service by the conscript officer, or influenced by mercenary motives. Thinking to contribute to the interest of this little book, the author has added a few incidents of a personal character, which, with the “Maryland Line,” he hopes will be favorably received by the Southern people, and by that portion of the people of the North from whom we received a sympathizing tear during our struggle for independence. BALTIMORE, February, 1869. [Illustration] THE FIRST MARYLAND INFANTRY. CHAPTER I. It was towards the close of April, 1861, that several members of the Baltimore City Guard Battalion (which organization had been under arms since the memorable 19th) were sitting around the dinner table in their armory, discussing the probability of Baltimore soon being in the possession of the troops under the command of the subsequently infamous Benjamin F. Butler. Various were the opinions expressed; but it was pretty generally conceded that, to use Hawk-Eye’s expression, the city “was circumvented,” and the Maryland Militia had no longer any terrors for the doughty Butler and his legions. I had long before determined upon going South, when I could no longer serve my native State; and such was also the determination of most of those around me.