towards Leesburg, to Broad Run and bivouacked near Guilford Station, Loudon County, Virginia. All Saturday and Sunday, the 21st, the men lay under arms ready to move. Heavy firing was heard in the direction of Ashby's Gap. It was our Cavalry annoying Lee's troops on their way north. Lee had been transferring his forces via the Shenandoah Valley towards Maryland, and Hooker had carefully kept the Union Army between Lee and Washington.

On Monday, the 22d, Colonel Morrow dismissed the commissioned officers to the camp and put non-commissioned officers in their places for a drill. Several stepped forward and successfully put the regiment through the battalion evolutions, much to their credit. While halting here for a week, the men had a good rest before the terrible events soon to be unfolded to history, and many a poor boy wrote his last letter home.

After an all night's rainstorm, the Iron Brigade marched at 8 o'clock on Thursday morning, the 25th, crossed the Potomac at Edwards' Ferry on pontoons, and proceeding through Poolsville, Maryland, bivouacked at dark at Darnesville near Sugar Loaf Mountain. A most beautiful sight was a large school of children at Poolsville, who gazed upon the soldiers as they marched by. One cannot imagine, without experience, the cheerful feeling such a sight induces among those who have not for months witnessed this feature of civilization. This reminder of home brought tears to many an eye of those accustomed to hardships of the campaign. The soldiers were welcomed all along the route, by fair women and glad children who hailed their protectors from war's devastation.

Early Friday morning, June 26th, the column wound its way over Sugar Loaf Mountains by a very rough road, through heavy woods, into the valley of the Monocacy, which was crossed at Greenfield Mills by a bridge 256 feet long. bridge 256 feet long. It rained all day, which made disagreeable roads, but averted the heat of the sun. Two miles further on the Iron Brigade halted for dinner, when a farmer dolefully inquired of General Meredith, if the men were burning his rails by Meredith's orders. The General told him that the men must cook their coffee, and if he was a loyal man, the government would pay him all damages. The country was inexpressibly beautiful with its fields of waving grain nestling on the mountain sides and in the valley, the views from the summits being most grand. Crossing the range, the regiment encamped one mile south of Jefferson, about six miles. below Middletown.

Edward's Harry June 25, 263.

THE MARCH TO GETTYSBURG.

On Saturday the 27th, a further march of six miles was made up the Valley, encamping two miles northwest of Middletown, where the Iron Brigade halted till 3 P. M. on Sunday, June 28th, when the long roll beat and the troops marched across the mountain to Frederick City, eight miles, by a rough road north of the National Road, through Shookstown. On Monday, June 29th, the march lay through Lewiston, Catoctin, Furnace, Franklinsville and Mechanicstown, (the latter overflowing with patriotism and hospitality)-to Emmitsburg. At this place was located St. Joseph's Academy, under charge of the Sisters of Charity, who in the course of this war were ministering angels to our sick and wounded comrades. On the 25th, Captain A. M. Edwards was ordered to Alexandria, to bring back convalescents for the First Corps. He rejoined the Army at Frederick, Maryland, with 1,219 of this class, on the 29th.

Leaving Emmitsburg behind on Tuesday, June 30, the Iron Brigade, with the Sixth Wisconsin in advance, crossed the Pennsylvania line, being in the van of the Potomac Army. It moved on five miles, nearly to Greenmount, Adams County, Pennsylvania, 160 miles from the starting point on the Rappahannock, and bivouacked about noon near Marsh Creek, where the men where mustered for pay which many of them were never to receive. The bivouac was but six miles from a field which their blood will make immortal ere another sunset. Alas, the last campfire for many a weary soldier!

"To-night we sleep on Bosworth Field-to-morrow where?"

CHANGE OF COMMANDERS.

In this impending crisis, another change of Commanders in the Army of the Potomac now seemed advisable to the Washington authorities, and the following address was issued:

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
FREDERICK, MD., June, 28, 1863.

In conformity with orders from the War Department, the command of the Army of the Potomac is transferred to Major-General George G. Meade, a brave and accomplished officer, who has nobly earned the confidence and esteem of the army on many a well fought field. Impressed with the belief that my usefulness as the commander of this army is impaired, I part from it, yet not without the deepest emotion. The sorrow of parting with the comrades of so many battles is relieved by the conviction that its courage and devotion will never cease nor fail; that it will yield to my successor, as it has to me, a willing and hearty support. With the earnest prayer that the triumph of its arms may bring successes worthy of it and the nation, I bid it farewell. JOSEPH HOOKER, Major-General.

In assuming command of the army General Meade said:

The country looks to this army to relieve it from the devastation and disgrace of a hostile invasion. Whatever fatigues and sacrifices we may be called upon to undergo, let us have in view constantly the magnitude of the interests involved, and let each man determine to do his duty. It is with just diffidence that I relieve an eminent and accomplished soldier, whose name must ever appear conspicuous in the history of its achievements; but I rely upon the hearty support of my companions in arms to assist me in the discharge of the duties of the important trust confided to me.

General Hooker's management of the Chancellorsville campaign had not been satisfactory to the War Department, and he was now denied the command of some troops within his department which were afterwards placed under the command of his successor. General Hooker thus felt that "his usefulness as commander was impaired,"

and requested to be relieved. Two days after, General Meade, awake to the great interests involved in the impending crisis, issued the following:

The Commanding General requests that previous to the engagement soon expected, officers address their troops explaining the immense issues involved. The enemy is now on our soil. The whole country looks anxiously to this army to deliver it from the presence of the foe. Corps and other commanders are authorized to order the instant death of any soldier who fails to do his duty at this hour.

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Though measuring the importance of the struggle, this severe menace was not necessary. An appeal to their honor would have sufficed, such as Nelson signaled from his flagship before the battle of Trafalgar: "England expects every man to do his duty to-day."