It was whilst we lay here that I took advantage of the time afforded to pay a visit to the estimable family of the Hon. Alexander H. Boteler, whose beautiful residence was but a mile from our camp. I found Mrs. Boteler at home with her two accomplished and attractive daughters, and they vied with each other in their endeavors to make my visit an agreeable one. Mrs. Boteler informed me that they had been subjected to all sorts of annoyances from the Yankee soldiery, and taking me to her chamber pointed out a bullet hole through a pane of glass in the window which had been fired by a thing in uniform whilst she was looking out into the yard, the ball passing through her hair and lodging in the ceiling. It was late in the evening, and with many regrets, that I left this lovely family and their little paradise, and wended my way back to camp. Alas, all that is now left of that once sweet, happy home is a mass of ruins, for the brutal and relentless Hunter visited it soon afterwards and burnt it to the ground. On the afternoon of the 18th of June we broke camp and moved up the road leading to Shepherdstown, through which village we passed amid the joyous shouts of the inhabitants, and were in a few minutes upon the banks of the Potomac, into which the men plunged waist deep, and began make their way to the longed-for shore. I wished I possessed the pencil of the artist to paint that scene, for it was one that will never be forgotten by those who witnessed it. Upon reaching the Maryland shore the joy of her exiled sons baffled description. They shouted and screamed, and rolled upon the ground in the delirium of their joy, and to one not acquainted with the cause it would have seemed as though bedlam had been let loose, and in this Pandemonium I must confess our gallant brigade and battalion commanders played a conspicuous part, leaving out others of minor rank. That night we encamped upon the banks of the river, and next morning passed through the town of Sharpsburg and halted upon the famous battle field. After remaining in camp here three or four days, we moved on towards Hagerstown, which place we passed through, and encamped a short distance beyond. By many of the citizens of Hagerstown we were heartily received; others again scowled fiercely upon us, and no doubt wished every rebel son of us to the devil. On the morning of the 23d of June we left our camp near Hagerstown, and crossed the Pennsylvania line, and passed through Greencastle, where Steuart’s brigade was detached from the division and ordered to proceed to Chambersburg by way of Mercersburg, McConnelsburg, &c., and we arrived on the evening of the 26th without an incident worth mentioning.