1862 August 19 near Brandy Station

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

  (Aug 19th)  Were on the march a
little after day light.  Crossed Rapidan & passed
through Stevensburg.  Halted at 4 o’c a few miles
from Brandy Station (this side).  Stewarts
Cavalry to day captured a great many strag-
-glers from the retreating enemy.  After arriv-
-ing at our Camping ground, I went out with
Johnie Colquitt in search of a dinner for
the Genl & ourselves.  To accomplish this we
branched out from the main road and on pro-
-ceeding a short distance down a crossroad,
were hallooed to by a little boy and told there
were two Yankees down that road, looking
ahead we saw two Yankees on foot armed.
I had nothing with me but my pocket pistol
& Johnie had no arms at all.  So I rode up to
them pistol in hand, demanding a surrender
which they did without any resistance.  Turned
                                             
them over to two Cavalrymen who came up a
little while after & went in search of dinner,
which we found not far off at the house
of an old friend of Maj. Ginters where we also
found some late Yankee newspapers.  Taking so
late a dinner, we did not need supper so
retired early.  Awakened in middle of night
by orders to start at dawn.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150