to Alexandria, reaching that point on June 27th, encamping on a rise of ground immediately adjacent to the line of fortifications. The Third brigade was now composed of the Seventh, Fifth, Sixty-sixth, and Twenty-ninth Ohio regiments, in the order named. General Shields having resigned by reason of McDowell's misrepresentations in relation to the ill-advised battle of Port Republic, General Sturgis, who has recently received so much adverse criticism through the press of the country, for his brutal and inhuman treatment of his men, was placed temporarily in command. After lying at this point for nearly one month orders were received to move to the aid of General McClellan on the Peninsula, and we embarked on transports, but the order was countermanded and the Third brigade marched back to its old camp.
July 25th we were ordered to join the force of General Pope, then marching via Warrenton to the Rapidan river. Proceeding by rail to the former point the brigade was reorganized and attached to Banks' Second corps, afterwards changed to the Twelfth army corps, as the First brigade of General Augur's Second division. After a few days of "masterly inactivity" we marched in the direction of Luray. Debouching to the left on the road leading southward toward the Rapidan, we soon reached Little Washington and went into camp. While here the troops were reviewed by Generals Pope and Banks, who complimented our brigade very highly upon its perfection in drill and discipline. General Tyler was here ordered to Washington, and Brigadier-general John W. Geary, late colonel of the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania infantry volunteers, was placed in command of our brigade. His regiment and Knapp's battery were also
