I will not tire the reader with a description of our life at the camp of instruction, to which place we were ordered after being mustered in; nor of our quarters in the pig-pens, but lately occupied by the four-legged recruits of the fair grounds; of the countless millions of fleas that took up their quarters in closer proximity to our flesh than was agreeable; of the _sweats_ around the race track at the double quick; no, suffice it to say, that through the exertions of our officers, in a very short time our drill and discipline rivalled that of the famous Lexington cadets, who were upon the ground, and vast were the crowds attracted by our afternoon drills and dress parades. The 25th of June found the companies of Captains Dorsey and Murray in Winchester, to complete the organization of the First Maryland. Capt. Clark, for some reason, preferred attaching his company to the Twenty-First Virginia Regiment, a step he ever after regretted, for the regiment was sent to the wilds of West Virginia, where they saw but little service, and were compelled to endure dreadful sufferings and privations. The companies of the regiment we met at Winchester had been organized at Harper’s Ferry, where they were for several weeks engaged in picketing Maryland Heights and other points, and through their exertions, in the evacuation of the place and destruction of the rifle works, government property of much value to us was saved that would have been otherwise destroyed by the excited and thoughtless troops, for we were yet young in the art of war.[1] Footnote 1: The property referred to as having been saved by them from the flames which were enveloping the buildings that contained it, and fired by other troops, was seventeen thousand gun stocks, which they received permission to send to North Carolina as a testimonial of gratitude for all she had done for them. For their services upon this occasion, General Joseph E. Johnston issued the following complimentary order: HEADQUARTERS WINCHESTER, } June 22d, 1861. } SPECIAL ORDER. The Commanding General thanks Lt. Col. Steuart and the Maryland Regiment for the faithful and exact manner in which they carried out his orders of the 19th inst. at Harper’s Ferry. He is glad to learn that, owing to their discipline, no private property was injured and no unoffending citizen disturbed. The soldierly qualities of the Maryland Regiment will not be forgotten in the day of action. By order of GEN. JOS. E. JOHNSTON. W. M. WHITING, _Inspector General_. The First Maryland was organized and officered as follows: Colonel, Arnold Elzey; Lieutenant-Colonel, George H. Steuart; Major, Bradley T. Johnson; Acting Adjutant, Frank X. Ward. Company A.—Captain, W. W. Goldsborough; Lieutenants, George R. Shellman, Chas. Blair and George M. E. Shearer.