On the 27th of April winter quarters were broken up, and the troops left the little village in which they had spent so many happy hours with regret. The campaign of the year was now about to be inaugurated, and they were to change the quiet and (in this instance) pleasures of the camp for the perils and privations of the field. After a short march the battalion went into temporary quarters a little distance southwest from the Junction, on the old telegraph road. After remaining here until the 23d of May, most of the time engaged in guarding the various railroad bridges in the vicinity, the Second Maryland was ordered to Hanover Court House, there to await orders from General Breckinridge. On the 26th, by order of that General, it joined his division, when the whole moved down the telegraph road and halted within ten miles of Richmond. On the 28th the march was resumed as far as Atlas Station, where next morning slight skirmishing ensued, in which the enemy were repulsed. On the morning of the 30th they opened a heavy artillery fire upon Breckinridge’s command, which was as vigorously responded to, and kept up until the evening of the 31st, the battalion sustaining a loss of but one man wounded. June 2d.—In the early part of to-night the division moved in the direction of Gaines’ Mills by way of Mechanicsville, passing on the road many destitute families fleeing from the neighborhood. There were a large number of children among them who were suffering terribly from hunger, and their appeals to the rough soldiers for a mouthful of food was distressing indeed. These shared their day’s rations with them, and they eagerly devoured the coarse bacon raw. In the afternoon the division of Breckinridge reached the farm of Dr. Gaines, and took its position in line of battle, which was upon the same ground held by the Federals in the memorable engagement of the 27th of June, 1862. The Second Maryland was here held in reserve, to support Echols’ brigade of Virginians, and formed line about one hundred yards in rear of the main body. The skirmishing was very heavy during the afternoon and evening, and the enemy made repeated attempts to charge the Confederate lines, but the utmost efforts of their officers failed to induce the troops to leave the shelter of the woods in which they were posted. During the night the lines were strengthened by the arrival of Wilcox’s and Finnegan’s brigades, which also formed in reserve. June 3d.—To-day is memorable in the history of the glorious little Second Maryland, for they this day won honors of which every Marylander may be justly proud, and wrung from the great Lee, in his official report, a compliment which will live forever on the pages of history.