PREFACE. ix

Geo. W. F. Vernon, late Cole's Cavalry, Maryland Volunteers. (Colonel Vernon had
been the chairman of the G. A. R. Legislative Committee.)

The Commission organized in the selection of General L. Allison Wilmer as Presi-
dent and Colonel Geo. W. F. Vernon as Secretary,

The great amount of painstaking labor necessarily involved in the careful and
accurate compiling of the individual and collective records of the 62,959 names of those
who served in the army and navy from the State of Maryland was increased on account
of the difficulty and, in some cases, the impossibility of obtaining accurate data.

The Commission carefully examined the published records of the different States of
the Union, and finally adopted as a model the record of the State of Pennsylvania, with
some modifications suggested by the records of the State of Minnesota, as being the
briefest and yet the most complete and comprehensive record of the individual and the
regiment.

The Commission compiled all the data possible from such incomplete records as
were found in the office of the Adjutant-General of Maryland.

They invited, by circular letter and otherwise, the active co-operation of the surviv-
ing veterans of the Civil War representing the different regiments, batteries and com-
panies, soliciting the loan of retained copies of muster rolls, rosters, historical data, etc.,
and the advice and counsel of these veterans.

The Commission also requested inspection of the work in hand as it progressed,
with a view of correcting errors, more especially in names, dates of enlistment, dis-
charge, promotions, transfers, casualties, etc.

The Commission then made requisition, through the Governor of Maryland, upon
the War Department for the missing data—in many cases for the enlisted men of entire
regiments, under the provisions of Act of Congress approved March 2, 1895.

The Commission find that, while the records will be in the main accurate and com-
plete, nevertheless, by reason of the neglect and failure and clerical errors of certain
regimental, company and mustering officers in making returns of certain names, promo-
tions, casualties, etc., the record cannot be made perfect.

The Commission have divided the work into two volumes, one volume embracing all
of the troops accredited to the quota of the State of Maryland, and distinctively recog-
nized as Maryland troops ; the second volume to embrace all of the sailors, marines and
colored troops from Maryland who served in the Union army or navy.

The Commission, in preparing the histories of the different regiments, batteries,
companies and battalions, realized that the scope of the work entrusted to them did not
contemplate more than compendiums; nevertheless, they have as briefly as possible, with
the official data at their command and the assistance of survivors of the war, set forth
the material facts in connection with the organizations in as fair, just and impartial a
manner as the facts at their disposal warranted.

It has been a difficult matter, after the lapse of so many years and the death of so
many of the survivors, with so many muster rolls missing and inaccuracies therein, to
do complete justice to this work.

To recapitulate, the Commission have derived data and information from the official
records of the Adjutant-General's office, at Annapolis, Md., and the War Department,
Washington, D. C.; from retained copies of rolls, data and memoranda furnished by