June 28. — Sunday, and the sound of the church bells in Middleton seemed pleasant indeed. I went over to General Howard’s with General Reynolds, and from there started down for Frederick, when we met an orderly with an order for our three corps to move down to Frederick. The general sent me back to Generals Doubleday and Howard, with orders for them to move at once. While at General Howard’s we learned that General Hooker had been relieved, and General Meade put in command.[1] The intelligence was welcome, although I should have preferred McClellan to any one else. I went on and joined General Reynolds at headquarters, and then picked out a camping place near the alms-house, and a mile west of the town. In the evening it rained. During the day it was cloudy. Secured some chickens and eggs to-day. The movement of the army to-day looks like a move to protect Baltimore.
[1] I was with General Reynolds when he received the order appointing Meade to the command of the army. He said he was very glad of it and he spoke most highly of Meade. He then told me, confidentially, that the command had been offered to him, but that he had refused it
