On the 19th the enemy began pressing our rear near Sheperdstown, and A.P.  Hill was ordered to return and drive them off.  A fierce and sanguinary battle took place at Bateler’s Ford, between two portions of the armies, A.P.  Hill gaining a complete victory, driving the enemy beyond the river.  The army fell back to Martinsburg and rested a few days.  Afterwards they were encamped at Winchester, where they remained until the opening of the next campaign.

Before closing the account of the First Maryland campaign, I wish to say a word in regard to the Commissary and Quartermaster’s Departments.  Much ridicule, and sometimes abuse, has been heaped upon the heads of those who composed the two Departments.  I must say, in all justice, that much of this was ill timed and ill advised.  It must be remembered that to the men who constituted these Departments belonged the duty of feeding, clothing, and furnishing the transportation for the whole army.  Often without means or ways, they had to invent them.  In an enemy’s country, surrounded by many dangers, in a hostile and treacherous community, and mostly unprotected except by those of their own force, they had to toil night and day, through sunshine and rain, that the men who were in the battle ranks could be fed and clothed.  They had no rest.  When the men were hungry they must be fed; when others slept they had to be on the alert.  When sick or unable to travel a means of transportation must be furnished.  The Commissary and the Quartermaster must provide for the sustenance of the army.  Kershaw’s Brigade was doubly blessed in the persons of Captain, afterwards Major W.D.  Peck and Captain Shell, of the Quartermaster Department, and Captain R.N.  Lowrance, and Lieutenant J.N.  Martin, of the Commissary.  The troops never wanted or suffered while it was in the power of those officers to supply them.

Major Peck was a remarkable man in many respects.  He certainly could be called one of nature’s noblemen.  Besides being a perfect high-toned gentleman of the old school, he was One of the most efficient officers in the army, and his popularity was universal His greatest service was in the Quartermaster’s Department, but he served for awhile in the ranks in Captain Wm. Wallace’s Company, Second Regiment, as Orderly Sergeant—­served in that capacity at the bombardment of Fort Sumpter and the first battle of Manassas.  On the death of Quartermaster W.S.  Wood, Colonel Kershaw appointed him his Regimental Quartermaster to fill the place made vacant by Captain Wood, in July, 1861, with the rank of Captain.  When Kershaw was made Brigadier General, on the resignation of General Bonham, he had him promoted to Brigade Quartermaster with the rank of Major.  On the resignation of Major McLaws, Division Quartermaster, he was made Division Quartermaster in his stead, and held this position during the war.  He received his last appointment only one month before his illustrious chief, J.B.  Kershaw, was made Major General.  It