25th, arrived at Camp Pope, near Alexandria.
"ARMY OF VIRGINIA."
On the 26th, by order of the President, the forces under Fremont,
Banks, and McDowell were constituted the "Army of Virginia," Pope in
command, Fremont assigned to the 1st Corps, Banks the 2d, and McDowell
the 3d. Fremont withdrew from the Service because thus made subordinate
to an officer whose commission post-dated his own.
The career of Shields' Division, as such, was now ended, the 1st and 2d
Brigades being sent to McClellan on the Peninsula.
Carroll's Brigade was now to be a part of Ricketts' Division,
McDowell's Corps.
* * * * *
A glance at the map, with a view to locating the places to which
reference has been made by name, will make clear the importance of the
work in which the 84th was engaged thus early in its career.
It will also make plain that all of danger to Washington did not lie
across the Long Bridge.
Length of consideration is not needed to incline to the opinion that
Jackson in Maryland and Pennsylvania, in the early days of '62, would
have produced a feeling throughout the North not calculated to lessen
the weight of the conflict.
Operations by other troops in the eastern part of Virginia would have
been impossible had Jackson overcome the forces in the Valley. Against
him Shields' Division played an effective part.
It was Shields' Division, and not the "other fellows," that Jackson's
men least desired to meet.
At the time of McClellan's Peninsula campaign, the people did not
understand the situation about Winchester and other points in the
Valley, and have not cared to learn it since.
It was well for Pennsylvania, it was well for the Union, that the fiat
against Shields had not gone forth before June of '62. He was the first
to strike Jackson with defeat, and no one did it afterward.
This noble Division of Shields' marched promptly and fought well, and
therein they had, and have, their compensation, without being sung in
lines of rhyme, or spoken in the pages of story.
* * * * *
On the 21st of June, Samuel M. Bowman, late Major 4th Illinois Cavalry,
was commissioned, and on the 25th mustered, Colonel of the 84th.
Major Barrett was promoted to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy, McDowell having
been discharged for disability, in July.
And Adjutant Craig was promoted to the Majority.