July 23d. [actually June 23d] Early this morning General French was directed to turn over the command at Gainsville to General Zook, French having been assigned to the command of Harper’s Ferry. This was most agreeable news for both French and Zook. French was delighted to go to Harper’s Ferry and Zook to get an independent command. He immediately issued an order assuming command and announced me as the adjutant-general of the post. The command consists of Arnold’s First Rhode Island battery, two squadrons of cavalry, our own brigade, and the Third division, lately French’s, amounting altogether to about three thousand men.
Zook promptly made himself acquainted with the position of the troops and the character of the ground. He established a picket line personally, completely surrounding the camp with detachments of cavalry, pushed well out on every road converging on the place, also mounted patrols, who kept up communication between the pickets and our headquarters.
