Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/69

 Diary of Major R. C. M. Page. 63

quantity of small arms that had been thrown away. A section of Jeter's battery, from Asheville, North Carolina, now reported to me. It had come up with other troops from that quarter. Camped near Russellville, Hamblin county, Tennessee, towards morning.

November I4th, 1864. Marched to camp, near Morristown, Ham- blin county, Tennessee. Lynch now received two of the captured guns and Burroughs four.

November i$th, 1864. Lynch, with two brass 12 pound howitzers and two United States Parrotts, without any caissons, ordered to re- port to Vaughan for further active operations.

November i6th, 1864. Burroughs' battery, together with four cap- tured Parrotts (eight guns) and six captured caissons, with harness, etc. (ten in all), ordered back into camp, near Wytheville, Va. Lieu- tenant McCampbell ordered back to his company ( Lynch' s).

November 2jd, 1864. Eyes so inflamed by cold and wind could not bear the light. Rode in a wagon with the wounded, head wrapped up in a blanket. Awful road. Arrived at Mrs. Poague's, Bull's Gap. General Breckinridge and staff returned to Wythe- ville. Va.

November 24th, 1864. Arrived at a farmer's house between Blue Springs and Greenville, Greene county, Tennessee. Remained there that night.

November 25th, 1864. Reached Greenville and stayed at the house of Mrs. Williams. Was informed that General Morgan was sleeping at this house when he was surprised and killed in the back yard. Dangerous to be alone in this part of the country, as it swarms with bushwhackers and deserters from both armies.

November 26th, 1864. Arrived at Rheatown, Greene county, Tennessee. November 27th, arrived at Jonesboro, where I took train, arriving at Wytheville, Va., November 28th, 1864, and re- mained at Mrs. Dowdall's on account of sore eyes. Her son, Theo- dore, since dead, was my courier.

December i2th, 1864. Wytheville, Va. General Stoneman, United States army, reported advancing upon Saltville with four thousand men and artillery. Burroughs' battery had been already reorganized, and now consisted of four United States 3-inch navy Parrotts. His original four guns had been turned over to Captain Semple, ordnance officer.

December 1 4th, 1864. Wytheville, Va. Lieutenant Minor, of Gen- eral Breckinridge' s staff, brought me an order about 2 A. M. to prepare to move at once. Left Wytheville to-day with Burroughs'