1862 May 28

[from the diary of Lieutenant John Tyler, of Letcher's Artillery]

P.M.  May 28^th.  Read orders early this morning

to return to Kilby’s Mills station & then wait

orders.  When we reached the road that

turns off to go to Ashland, one mile

from that place, Videttes came galloping

up from Ashland saying that the enemy

had driven in our Pickets and were ad-

-vancing on the place in body, being then

only a half mile off.  When hearing this, Genl

Anderson, ordered our battery into position

commanding the road to Ashland for

a mile, and had it masked.   Then we

sat for sometime on horseback watching

for the approach of the enemy with our

glasses, guns loaded.  In an hour or two

my section ^ ‘was’ ordered to limber up and start

on to hunt the Yankees up, so we took

the road to Ashland and reached

the place without being interfered with.

I put my guns in position comman-

-ding the railroad & turnpike.  While we

were there, Cavalry pickets were sent out

in different directions, but reported no

enemy in sight.  The Quartermaster’s dept.

was opened and the soldiers allowed to go

in and take off anything they found,

they wanted.  They went in & such a sight

I haven’t seen for many a day.  It was like

sacking a city.  The men came out loaded

most indiscriminately.  Jim [Tyler’s slave] went in &

secured a chest of tea, some writing

paper & envelopes, & two testaments.  Hearing

that there was a box of cannon amu-

-nition in there I had it put on my

cassion, & found I had some that was

just right for my guns.  After remaining

until 5 or 6. o’c and no enemy appearing

we limbered up and started on to Kilbys

3 miles off.  I reached our place of biv-

ouac just beyond Kilbys about 8 ½ o’c,

having had not a mouthful to eat since

5 o’c in the morning & riding all day.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150