Company E, Sergeant Samuel Kirk commanding.—Wounded, privates John Brown, severely; Wm. Gwynn, slightly.
Company F, Sergeant John W. Polk commanding.—Wounded, Charles A. Hoge, mortally.
Company H.—Wounded, private James Powers, slightly.
For a long while after the battle of Squirrel Level Road, the Second Maryland remained in the trenches, or were engaged in picketing along their front. It had been reduced to about one hundred men, and still these men were compelled to do the duty of a battalion. So numerous were the desertions in the brigade to which they belonged that it at last became necessary to keep the Marylanders almost constantly on picket, for as sure as this duty was entrusted to other troops just so sure were they to find deserted posts in the morning.
And still these brave men never complained of what was imposed upon them. Throughout that dreary fall and the long, cold winter, nearly naked and half fed, they silently did their duty, whilst thousands were proving recreant to the cause. Elegant and refined gentlemen, who at home never knew what it was to want for a single comfort, were in rags and tatters, sleeping in mud and filth, and when the bleak winds of December pierced many a rent in their wretched garments they only drew their sorry blanket the closer around their gaunt and shivering limbs, and cheerfully responded to the call for any duty. Was it a wonder, then, that after the battle of Cold Harbor General Breckinridge should have exclaimed, “What could not be done with a hundred thousand such men.”
I shall again resort to a diary in my possession:
December 19th.—To-day to the great surprise and joy of all, Colonel James E. Herbert, who was left in a supposed dying condition upon the field of Gettysburg, appeared in camp and was enthusiastically received. The Colonel had endured a long imprisonment at Johnson’s Island, and looked anything but well.
January 8th, 1865.—Just as had been expected, to-day Colonel Herbert, much to the regret of all, was compelled to relinquish the command of the battalion and go to the hospital. His loss was deeply felt, for the command was sadly in need of his valuable services.
February 5th.—About 10 o’clock to-day the brigade received marching orders, and moving to the right was joined by heavy bodies of troops, when the whole crossed the breastworks and marched quietly along between the two picket lines some distance, when the Federal skirmishers were attacked and driven in, and an assault made upon their works, and although maintained with great vigor, it was repulsed with heavy loss. Two other charges by fresh troops met with no better success, when the Confederates retired, leaving most of their dead and wounded on the field.
In this severe fight the Second Maryland took a conspicuous part, and, as usual, suffered severely. Among the killed was Lieutenant Charles Hodges, of Company C. The noble fellow, in the midst of the storm of bullets, halted for an instant to unbuckle the belt of one of his command who had fallen wounded, when he was struck in the head and fell dead.