[from the diary of Lt. John Tyler of Letcher’s Artillery]
May 29th Ordered to be ready to start by 7.
o’c in the morning, & our place in column
assigned us. Just as we were about
starting, Gen. Anderson sent up to
have two guns sent down to the R.R.
immediately, my section was again
selected and I started off to the
disappointment of Lt’s B & M who
thought they ought to have a chance.
We went down at a double quick &
after waiting at the railroad for
an hour I was ordered to join my
battery again. After reaching the bal-
-ance of the Battery, we continued on
and brought up the rear of the column
Two Regts of Cavalry being left to bring
on inteligence [sic]. After proceeding some
three or four miles, we heard firing in
the direction of our pickets, and our
battery was ordered on to the front
at double quick. My section was or-
-dered on ahead & the Genl. told me to
select a position on the other side
of a stream crossed by a bridge and
protect the passage of our troops
across. I started on at a trot, and
put my guns in position, before the
head of the column came up. I re-
-mained in position until the army had
passed and then fell in with our
battery in rear. We reached our Camp-
-ing ground three miles from Richmond
at 6 o’c P.M. glad to be so near home
to do our fighting.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 6150
