Camp at Old Church Hanover Co Va

May 23^d 1862. 6½ P.M.

 

Col;

            I have the honor to report that in my scout or reconnaissance yesterday with my Regt. I heard of the presence of M^rs Genl. Lee in the county, & that afternoon visited her at the house of Mr Sayres, whom I met in the road yesterday. I had a long conversation with her & learned that she had come here as an assylum from White House, that Mr Sayres is almost a stranger, but having no expectation of our troops coming this way, she had come here thinking she would be safe from "Yankee Troops". She spoke of the Genl. & Col Fitzhugh Lee being in Richmond, & both thought she would be safe here. her daughter & daughter-in-law are with her here though I did not see them. I have ordered the house closely / watched, in view of intercourse from Richmond. I ascertained that Mr Sayres went to Hanover C.H. this morning, & the negroes say is expected back to-night, though M^rs Lee told me that he would not be back for two or three days. The admission of M^rs Lee that the U.S. troops were not expected this way, by her family, is so important an item that I keep recon it proper to report the fact to you at once.

 

Very Respectfully

Your Obdt Svt.

Rich^d H. Rush

Col 6^th Pa Cavalry

 

Col. Tyler                                                                               

Comdg at                                                                                

            Old Church                                                                            

 

[verso]

 

Papers relating to the                                     

possession of M^rs Gen^l Lee                             

& M^r Col. Lee and of                                      

the Forces at Hanover C.H.                            

            5^th Army Corps                                   

                        F. J. Porter                             

                                    Brig Gen^l                                             

            Hd Qrs Old Church                                                     

            May 23^d 1862

 

Respectfully forwarded to Brig Gen^l F. J. Porter as the information contained in the reports of Cols Rush & Marshall is deemed important

R. O. Tyler

Col & Comdr

 

Ent Rec. Book C. P. 157

P. Campaign

SOURCES