In the closing weeks of '62 the Regiment had sought and found new life, and with the beginning of '63 had started off anew, cleared of all that might have held it back in the then coming time. Milton Opp was then the Second Officer of the Regiment. He was possessed of an ambition worthy of all the praise that grateful men could well bestow; ambitious, not for himself, but for his Regiment. In command from January, 1863, to the time of his death, the very example of his manner, his bearing, whether with belt on or off, was such, as to bring up the tone of every soldier of the 84th. The lowest in the Regiment was higher, the highest was higher, because of the presence of Milton Opp. No Regimental Headquarters surpassed his in integrity of purpose, firmness without severity of action or sense of duty in everything that was calculated to incline a Regiment of soldiers to be a credit to themselves, and an honor to their State.
How much the situation did for the general tone of the Regiment has, perhaps, been more thought of since than during the time of its service.
Aided from the beginning by a most faithful and altogether most competent Adjutant, Colonel Opp brought the Regiment up to a standard of discipline from which his successors in command never saw it depart, from which, good and able officers that they were, they would not have permitted it to depart. Between their task and his, and it detracts not one whit from them to think it or to say it, there was this difference; he made it the easier for them to carry out well, as they faithfully did, what he had so well provided. He was the most loved by those whose acquaintance with him was the most intimate. A gentleman, a Christian, a man.
How we would all welcome him, could we greet him now. And by none would he have been welcomed among us with more of good, earnest feeling, than by him who so well succeeded to the Command which was left by Milton Opp on the 6th of May, 1864.
The Battle of the Wilderness had been fought. When the soldiers of the Army of the Potomac learned that a drawn battle could be made in its results a great victory, when they learned that Grant not only commanded the masses of the troops, but had firm control of the official elements, and 48 hours was sufficient for the lesson, is it any wonder that "the greatest enthusiasm was manifested by Hancock's troops," when, on the 7th of May, Grant rode behind the 2d Corps, lying on the Brock Road, "inspired," says Grant, "no doubt by the fact that the movement was South."
No more exhibitions of jealousy among Commanders of Corps. Such conduct was now to send a Major-General to the rear as a useless incumbrance.
Early on the morning of the 7th, Grant's order had gone out for a night march to Spottsylvania.
An encounter with Early detained the 2d Corps at Todd's Tavern, and kept it from Spottsylvania on the 8th.
Having got rid of Early, at noon on the 9th Hancock was ordered up from Todd's Tavern, excepting Mott's Division, which followed later in the day.
Sedgwick, commanding the 6th Corps, was killed on the morning of the 9th, by a rebel sharpshooter.