Eastern Shore Infantry

Eastern Shore Infantry. "Glorious Achievements". , During the Civil War, Union Co. James Wallace (1818-1887), 1st Regiment, Eastern Shore Maryland Volunteers, used this building as his headquarters. The unit, which camped east of here, enlisted most of its members from the Eastern Shore. It protected local residents, ensured free elections, countered the smuggling of supplies to the Confederates, and enforced wartime regulations. Detachments guarded other towns, wharves, and river ports up and down the Eastern Shore., When Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee invaded the north in 1863, the regiment fought with distinction on Culp's Hill at Gettysburg. On July 4, 1863, Wallace reported that "the conduct of my men was very satisfactory. All did their duty, and, considering that this was the first time they were under fire, their behavior was very steady. … We remained upon the field until 8 P.M. when … we took up another position and bivouacked for the night. Thus ended the participation of my command in the glorious achievements of yesterday. … We have been credibly informed that the enemy we fought was the First Maryland (rebel) [Battalion].", [Sidebars:] , Thomas Holliday Hicks (1798-1865), born near Cambridge served as Maryland's governor, 1858-1862. Although under intense political pressure to allow the state to secede, he worked closely with President Abraham Lincoln to keep Maryland in the Union. When he died, he was buried in nearby Cambridge Cemetery, and the state erected a monument over his grave., James Wallace constructed this Classical Revival-style building in 1850 for his law office. He used it as a recruiting center during the war, and after for his packing company, James Wallace and Son. The Wallace family auctioned it to the City of Cambridge in 1939. The building was leased for insurance and law offices, a gift shop, the Dorchester Educators, and the Girl Scouts. The Dorchester County Public Library acquired it in 1972., [Caption:] , Former Pvt. William H. Haddaway served in Co. A of Wallace's regiment. From Portrait and Biographical Record of the Eastern Shore (1898).