252 SEVENTH REGIMENT INFANTRY.

advanced sentries on a private reconnoissance. Returning, he failed to hear the chal-
lenge of the sentry, who failed to recognize his officer in the1 darkness. He was shot
through the lung and disabled for further service. A few days after, a personal difficulty
between two non-commissioned officers resulted in a severe pistol wound to one of them.
The shooting was clearly a case of self-defense.

'On the 5th of June, 1863, the Seventh moved across the river to its old drill-
ground on Maryland Heights, and the brigade was once more united.

Gettysburg Campaign.

A new and eventful chapter in the history of the Civil War was now upon the eve of
development. The air, which for several days past had been heavy with rumor, now, on
the 14th of June, throbbed with distant cannonading in the direction of Winchester.
The flash of the guns and shells could be seen after dark. The next day the tongue of
rumor was busy with a thousand startling reports, all of which centered around the
established fact that Milroy's command at Winchester had been crushed by an over-
whelming force of the enemy on their march to transfer the seat of war to the Northern
States. We heard with especial regret that our old comrades of the Sixth Maryland and
Alexander's Baltimore Battery had shared in the general disaster, but without loss of
reputation.

Toward the end of June, Hooker came and ordered Maryland Heights to be aban-
doned. The troops were in line ready to march. It was then reported that the order had
been countermanded by Halleck. They did not march. The next report was that
Hooker was out and Meade in command. By his order, General French, a regular and
a Marylander, made his appearance and took command of the troops on Maryland
Heights, comprising the Maryland brigade, some heavy artillery and the wreck of Milroy's
command.

On the 30th of June the position was abandoned. Big guns were spiked or hauled
down to the canal, and ammunition which could not be removed was destroyed. During
this process, while the troops were moving down, an accidental explosion in the magazine
of a thirty-pounder battery filled the air with fragments, killing and wounding twenty-
one men.

Under French to Frederick.

On the 1st of July the two brigades of French's column, Kenly's and Morriss', con-
tinued the march through the Middletown Valley to Frederick, the heavy firing of the
first day's battle of Gettysburg being at times audible on the left. On the 2d of July
a ringing order was issued with the announcement that "any officer, no matter how high
his rank, or soldier who fails of his full duty at this crisis, will suffer death, under imme-
diate trial by drum-head court." This order was followed up by a choleric visit from
French to every regiment and picket post, the deliberate design of which seemed to be to
exasperate the entire command to the fighting pitch. Such, at least, was its effect. On
the next day (July 3d), the command was paraded through town in column of platoons
equalized, field music playing, on the march to Monocacy Junction. At the corner of
Market and Patrick streets the column passed General French in review, and at all
points was loudly cheered by the citizens. On each of these days, especially the third,
the sound of artillery continued from the direction of Gettysburg.