But there was work yet to be done, though the nature of which we were then totally ignorant. Jackson could not long remain idle, and three days after the battle of Port Republic found us moving down the mountain’s side in the direction of Weir’s Cave, where we again went into camp, and were given to understand that our stay would be a long one. But the veterans of Jackson’s division, who knew him best, shook their heads, and were heard to say, “with Jackson a long stay means a short one, with plenty of marching and fighting ahead, now mark it.” And so it proved in this instance, as will be seen. The day after our arrival at Weir’s Cave, the First Maryland was ordered to Staunton to muster out companies H and I, whose terms of service had expired, and also to muster in a new company just arrived from Richmond under command of Captain Barry. Before our departure General Ewell issued the following General Order complimenting the command upon their gallant bearing at Harrisonburg, and directing that one of the buck’s tail captured by them in that battle, should be appended to their colors: HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION. GENERAL ORDERS, NO. 30. In commemoration of the gallant conduct of the First Maryland Regiment on the 6th of June, when led by Colonel Bradley T. Johnson they drove back with loss the “Pennsylvania Bucktail Rifles” in the engagement near Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Virginia, authority is given to have one of the captured “bucktails” (the insignia of the Federal Regiment,) appended to the color-staff of the First Maryland Regiment. By order of MAJ. GEN. EWELL. JAMES BARBUR, A. A. G. The farewell at Staunton with our comrades of companies H and I was a most affecting one. For more than a year we had shared the privations of the camp and the march, had stood shoulder to shoulder on more than one bloody field, and had learned to love each other as only a soldier can love his companion. Our new company was composed principally of young men from the lower counties of Maryland, and was a fine body, although totally inexperienced. Captain Barry himself was an old soldier, having served in Mexico with considerable distinction. From what we saw at Staunton, we were led to believe our stay would be a short one, for large bodies of troops were arriving from Richmond, and we did not doubt for a moment but we were destined up the valley after Fremont, and perhaps for the invasion of Maryland. How great our mistake, and the transportation of these very troops was intended to convey that same impression to the enemy, and thereby keep McDowell from uniting with McClellan, while Lee carried out his great plan of raising the siege of Richmond with Jackson’s assistance.