1862 August 7 2 1/2 miles from Orange Court House, Va.

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


Aug 7th.  After Breakfasting with the Dr.
and spending several hours very agreably
with the ladies, was sent for by Henry, who
had returned with a wagon to take on
the balance of our Camp plunder.  This
being attended to, and leaving half our
tents with Dr Quarles, who kindly consent-
-ed to take care of them for us, Henry &
I  being invited to dine with the ladies
went over to the Dr’s. where after paying our
respects to the ladies, we did the same
to a most excellent dinner.  In an
hour or so after dinner started to overtake
our wagons, which we did 3 or 4 miles be-
-yond Gordonsville.  The battery having moved
on, I waited until next morning  Aug 8th
before following with the wagons.  Started
with Henry at about 8 o’c without break-
-fast & reached Orange C. H. (10 miles) at 11 o’c
where we found the wagons and met Maj’s
Taylor & Ginter, & Lt Tanner.  Went up to Hotel
and got dinner tickets for Henry & self.  At 2 o’c
our whole party made an ineffectual at-
tempt to get dinner, and at 3 o’c some
gave up in despair; but a few of us more per-
-serving managed to squeeze into a crowd-
-ed dining room, where a magnificent repast
rewarded our efforts. (corn bread & fat
bacon).  Soon after our dinner nap the wa-
-gon train was ordered on and that night
caught up with the Battery 2 ½ miles
beyond Orange C. H. –

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150