66 Southern Historical Society Papers.
approved by General Breckinridge. Arrived in Richmond, I left the letter at the War Department with the request that it be attended to immediately. Saw Colonel Leroy Broun, of the Ordnance Depart- ment. Explained to me that the grooves of the two worthless United States 3-inch navy Parrotts captured near Bull's Gap were worn out towards the breach, and hence worthless. He ordered several guns sent to Wytheville, and a selection was made.
January loth, 1865. Returned to Wytheville. The artillery of the department now consisted of: Lynch, four United States 3-inch rifles, three caissons ; Burroughs, two United States 3-inch navy Parrotts (good), two iron 6-pounders, four caissons ; Douthat, four 12 -pound howitzers, four caissons; King, three brass 1 2-pound howitzers, one Richmond 3 inch rifle, no caissons ; total, sixteen gufls, eleven cais- sons. All other guns in the department sent back to Richmond, so that the only bad piece we had now was the Richmond 3-inch rifle, none of which had ever been worth hauling about any way. Rem- nants of McClung's, Barr's and Sawyer's men were merged into Lynch' s battery.
January i8th, 1865. Wytheville, Virginia. Lieutenant). Henry Cochran reported to me for duty.
January 2ist, 1865. Captain Lynch sent to Grayson county, Vir- ginia, to collect stragglers. About this time General Breckinridge was appointed Confederate States Secretary of War in place of James A. Seddon, and Brigadier-General John Echols succeeded to the command. Bridges destroyed by Stoneman last month quickly rebuilt by Major Poore, Chief of Engineers.
March 3oth, 1865. Up to this time had remained in winter quar- ters. Douthat, who on the i4th of March had been ordered to Farm- ville, Virginia, via Lynchburg, had his order revoked, and reported to me at Wytheville. Supplied with fifty-nine new battery horses, in excellent condition, those unserviceable being turned over to Major McMahon, Quartermaster. Lynch supplied with horses and har- ness, and others also where needed.
March 31 st, 1865. King reported to me at Wytheville, and Lynch, who had been sent to Marion on the 25th, returned.
April 3d, 1865. Moved with Douthat's and Burroughs' batte- ries, and camped at Brick Church, near Marion, leaving Lynch and King at Wytheville.
April 5th, 1865. Returned and camped near Mount Airy. Sent Lynch on to Wytheville with Giltner's cavalry. Marched with Dbuthat's battery to-night by an old road to Wytheville, and all
