In early December of 1861, the quiet camp of the 2nd Massachusetts at Seneca Creek was disrupted by the arrival of an orderly with orders to march to the vicinity of Frederick, MD. The 2nd MA INF started off early the next morning. It was so cold, said Maj. Dwight, that "horseback was penance," and made the march on foot. Lt. Charles Morse, who was acting adjutant, also gave up the supposed luxury of riding, but marching on foot burdened by his heavy overcoat was no picnic, either. And the men had it even worse, for they were beaing their knapsacks on their backs. After so long a period of inactivity, the regiment had, in short, gone soft. The brisk 17 mile march to Barnesville "hung heavy on the legs of the men," and a good number of them straggled badly. This caused a good deal of merriment on the part of other regiments.

While supper-hunting that night in town, Dwight was entertained by the officers of the 12th Massachusetts, who boasted about the fine marching condition of their men while "alluding to our stragglers." Even General Abercrombie couldn't help rubbing it in. He assigned the 2nd Massachusetts the first position in line for the next day's march, unless, of course, "some other regiment gets started first."

Naturally, none of this humor at his expense pleased Col. Gordon. And while the temperatures during the night dropped to the point of icing over water an inch thick, Gordon's temperature rose. It was made very clear to one and all that there would be NO straggling the next day.

Reveille was beaten at half-past four and before sunrise, the regiment was on the road. Gordon tossed the reins of his horse to his groom and set off on foot, leading the way with a "smacking pace." Gordon appointed the energetic Lt. Anson Sawyer to act as rear guard, with a collection of carefully chosen men to keep any stragglers moving. Although the march began on very rough and mountainous ground, Gordon did not stop. 9 miles...10 miles...11 miles without a halt. Then, after an impatient short rest, it was onward again. When General Abercrombie finally overtook Gordon, he was amazed. "Great marching," Dwight quoted him as saying. "I thought you had missed the road."

When the 2nd MA halted outside of Frederick at 11 o'clock, it had progressed 14 miles in four hours and 15 minutes, with knapsacks. Gordon was so early that there was no officer there to meet him and assign the regiment to its camp. For more than 2 hours they waited in a field. "The responsible commander was then discovered in front of a coal-fire at a hotel," recalled Chaplain Quint. About the same time, Dwight had the pleasure of watching the 12th MA stumble in "with thin ranks." Their honor redeemed, this settled the matter as far as the officers of the 2nd MA were concerned.

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