in sober verity.

With this change in our affairs our relations to the Army of the
Potomac terminated, and we were turned over to our own militia officers
by the following order:

Head-Quarters, First Division, }
Department of the Susquehanna. }

Special Order No.-- July 15th, 1863.

Brigadier-General John Ewen will take command of all the New York
troops in this Division, and proceed with them to Frederick,
Maryland, at which point transportation will be furnished them to
New York City. In parting with them the General Commanding must
express his admiration of the courage and fortitude with which they
have stood the toils and privations of their late marches.

By order of

Brigadier-General W. F. SMITH.
PRESTON F. WEST, A.A.A.G.

The tribute to our fidelity paid us in this hastily penned order will
lose nothing of its value when read in connection with the ungenerous
slur upon our trustworthiness contained in the paragraph, before
alluded to, of General Halleck's Review. Nor was General Meade
unmindful of what was due to us, as witness the following:

Head-Quarters, Army of the Potomac, }
July 15, 1863. }

Special Order, No. 190.

The troops comprising the command of Brigadier-General W. F. Smith
are released from further service with the Army of the Potomac, and
will be reported back to General Couch for instructions. The
Major-General Commanding thanks Brigadier-General W. F. Smith and
his troops for the zeal and promptitude which, amid no little
privations, have marked their efforts to render this army all the
assistance in their power. ******

By command of

Major-General MEADE.
S. WILLIAMS, A.A.G.

On the eve of our departure homeward there were signs in camp of a mail
having arrived with news from home. Beside the usual precious gift of
letters there flamed out from the persons of many of the
fellows--especially the younger men, quite an assortment of patriotic
and other symbols. One flaunted a pretty tri-color, jauntily pinned on
the breast of his coat, evidently just extracted from a dainty looking
letter which he was reading. Ah, I fear me, the delicate thought of a
sweetheart thrilled in that bosom, while coarser eyes only saw
fluttering on the outside a tiny badge of red, white and blue. Another
sported a miniature flag in the form of a pin; and other devices the