1862 October 21 "Eudora," near Leesburg, Va.

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

Oct. 21st) Very heavy frost last
night.  Feel not as well this morning, side
pains, & head aches, badly.  Had side rubbed
with linement.  Sun shining; but atmosphere
hazy.  Mr Miller was over here, ce matin, and
brought me a plate of fruit, consisting of fine
pears, peaches, & grapes – and a lovely bouquet.
What a pleasant home he must have;-be-
-sides the enjoyments of an interesting fam-
-ily, to have such a variety of charming sur-
-roundings.  Can such know what unhap-
-piness is?  This question causes a sigh in
response, the only answer I have the heart
to give.  Mr. Braden came a short time ago
and said some, bareheaded & frightened poor

wretches came by here this morning, - some of Whites
Cavalry – and said that a little skirmish had
occurred some two or three miles from here be-
-tween, Whites, Trahon’s & Grubb’s cavalry Cos & a
much superior force of the enemy, resulting
in the worsting of our men & their falling back.
Passed most the morning reading.  Hear the after-
-noon that Genl. Geary was in command of the
Yankee troops this morning, and dined about a mile
from here today.  A part of our force who were cut
off from the others in their retreat to the Short Hill
captured the Yankee pickets & took them along
with them.  Miss L- & Mrs P- spent the evening with
me, the latter gave me two of the Candles Lectures to read
over which had a hearty laugh.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150