“I entirely agree with Lieutenant Brown,” said a second speaker, (Frank A. Bond,) “and shall follow his example, though I see no reason why we should not now, in this very room, organize, and set to work recruiting, for I feel confident that in a short time we can gather from among those here and the many coming over, men enough to muster in.”
Those present readily concurred, and before leaving the room it was agreed that Company A should be officered as follows: Captain, Ridgely Brown, of Montgomery; First Lieutenant, Frank A. Bond, of Anne Arundel; Second Lieutenant, Thomas Griffith, of Montgomery; Third Lieutenant, James A. V. Pue, of Howard.
And thus was formed the nucleus of the First Maryland Battalion of Cavalry, a command that was destined to become an honor to the State, and the pride of the cavalry arm of the service.
Company A rapidly recruited, and was in a very short time mustered in, and ordered to the Valley of Virginia. Here it did good service—participating in Jackson’s memorable campaign against Banks, and the subsequent retreat from the superior forces of Fremont. In the cavalry engagement near Harrisonburg, between the commands of Ashby and Percy Wyndham, the gallantry of Company A was so conspicuous as to attract the attention of General Ewell, who paid it a handsome compliment.
Thence they proceeded, with Jackson’s army, to Richmond, and participated in the seven days’ fights. It was with the army of General Lee in Maryland, and after that campaign returned to the Valley of Virginia, to be joined by three companies which had been formed by Captains George W. Emack, Robert C. Smith and Warner E. Welsh.
At Winchester, on the 25th of November, 1862, the battalion was organized as follows:
Major, Ridgely Brown; Adjutant, George W. Booth; Quartermaster, Ignatius Dorsey; Surgeon, Wilner McKnew.
Company A.—Captain, Frank A. Bond; First Lieutenant, Thomas Griffith; Second Lieutenant, J. A. V. Pue; Third Lieutenant, Edward Beatty.
Company B.—Captain, George W. Emack; First Lieutenant, M. E. McKnew; Second Lieutenant, Adolphus Cook; Third Lieutenant, Henry Blackiston.
Company C.—Captain, Robert C. Smith; First Lieutenant, George Howard; Second Lieutenant, T. Jeff Smith; Third Lieutenant, W. S. Turnbull.