Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/64

 58 Southern Historical Society Papers.

the extent of your opportunities, in rendering effectual the endeavors of the University of Virginia to perpetuate, in an accessible form, the unadulterated and indispensable sources of future history. We have the honour to subscribe ourselves,

With assurances of profound consideration and respect, Your Obedient Serv'ts.

GEO. FRED'K HOLMES, ] Committee

JAS. L. CABELL, \ of the Faculty of the

JNO. B. MINOR, j Univ. of Virginia.

Diary of Major R. C.M. Page, Chief of Confederate States Artillery, Depart- ment of Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee, from October, 1864, to May, 1865.

Early in October, 1864, received an order from General R. E. Lee to report for duty to Major- General John C. Breckinridge (Vice- President of the United States of America under Buchanan's admin- istration), in command of the Department of Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee, with headquarters at Wytheville, on the Virginia, East Tennessee & Georgia Railroad, Wythe county, Virginia, of the purpose of reorganizing the artillery of that department.

October jth, 1864. Reported to General Breckinridge, at Wythe- ville, for instructions. Informed by Major J. Stoddard Johnston, A. A. G., that some of the artillery was in camp with Vaughan's cavalry brigade, near Saltville, Washington county, Va.; some at Saltville; a battery at lead mines, near Max Meadows station, Wythe county, Va., and one in camp near Wytheville.

October 8th, 1864. Went to Abingdon, Washington county, Va., by rail, and thence to Brigadier-General Vaughan's camp. Found there McClung's battery, tolerably complete, and remnants of Lynch' s and Byrne's batteries. As Vaughan was about to advance into East Tennessee, in accordance with instructions from headquarters, I or- dered Captain McClung to report to him with two iron 1 2-pound howitzers, one iron 6-pounder, one Richmond 3-inch rifle, and two caissons. Present for duty : Captain McClung, First Lieutenant Alex- ander Allison, Senior Second Lieutenant J. L. Pearcy, Junior Second Lieutenant W. G. Dobson, twelve non-commissioned officers, includ- ing orderly and quartermaster sergeants and sixty-eight privates. By selecting the best, the battery was fitted out with thirty-six bat-