1861 July 12 Camp Maupin, Albemarle Co. (University Military School) Va.

Mrs. Wm. M. Blackford
Lynchburg,

My Dear Mother

The arduous occupa-
tion of my time during the week we have been
in barracks or camp as we call it viz cavalry,
has left me but little time unimpeded for
writing letters, this being the first penned in
that time. As I become more used to the life
I hope I shall suffer less from physical exhaustion
and have therefore better capacity to improve leisure time.

Before going further I cannot help recurring to the
subject now uppermost in my mind, viz the dan-
gerous illness of poor Mary Minor. She has as you
know all that medical skill and careful nursing
can supply, and yet we entertain the saddest
anticipation of the result. I consider her recovery
very improbable, and yet no one, so far as I cam
aware has yet given up hope, not I, certainly. We
can only give up the case to the hands of Him
"in whose hands are the issues of life and death."

[page 2]
It is thought that the fever (typhoid) was brought
on by her near-exhausting working for soldiers, most
recently, I believe, for a company of Md. Volunteers.

I saw by the papers that at Centreville last
Sunday services were held by Rev. Mssrs Slaughter & Griffin
and the Holy Communion celebrated at which time
three officers were admitted to the full fellow=
ship of the Church. I am very sollicitous to know
who these officers were and cannot help hoping
that one of them was my dear brother Charles--
Please inform me. I wrote to him last week
at Centreville, but have had no letter in reply
From Eugene I have had nothing, except indirectly
from Richmond, since I saw him. I presume he
is gone by now to Manassas. From Lewis I have
had not a word either: from bro Wm ditto
but suppose from newspaper accounts he is now
in Frederick Co. or thereabouts. All of my bro-
thers were never so frequently in my thoughts &
prayers, and I am much concerned not to hear of
or from them: I would expect information at
least by way of Lynchburg. Except Marys' [?]
I believe our friends in Albemarle are all well. I rarely
leave the University,not at all indeed in the week
past except for Church. Our time is so twisted as to
make it very inconvenient to get off without cutting into

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I am well pleased with the school here although
of course the hard duty and constant pummels of mili-
tary discipline gall me not a little. I endeavour to
submit to it all and to observe all the requirements
as a matter of duty. Our time is devoted somehow
as follows--Reveille (7 times with drum & fife) at 5 A.M. when
we have to rise and making a hasty toilet go out on
the parade ground to answer to the Roll: at 5 1/2 Drill;
at 7 Breakfast; at 9 Drill; at 10 1/2 Lecture (though not
over 4 times a week): at 1 Dinner: at 5, Drill; at 6 Dress
Parade; at 7 Supper; at 9 1/2 Tattoo--(call to rooms) and at
10 Taps (Lights out & all in bed) To this will probably
be added another Drill, before long. We have to wait
on ourselves altogether, servants--(except of laundry) never
entering our rooms. You would I am sure enjoy seeing
me hobling off 100 yds. to the pump after water
early in the morning, and then, after cleaning my shoes,
proceeding to sweep the room, make my bed--a mattress
on the floor--Etc, etc. this is the "glorious privilege
of being independent" with a vengeance. We have now
about 110 Cadets--among others a Professor a piece from
R[andolph] M[acon] College & Univ. N[orth] C[arolina]. There are a good many old
University men here, enough to make me feel no lack
of society: we have 7 A.M.s in the Corps, as one item.
My roommates and nearest neighbours in quarters (Dawson Row)
are everything I desire, all men of religious character, Episs & Presbys

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My room-mates are Randolph Fairfax (son of Dr. Orlando Fairfax
of Alexandria) and Theodore S. Garnett, Jr. son to the senior of that name.
Fairfax was a student of the University this last session.
We have three men in every room, and the rooms
are all comfortable and airy. In my next letter
I will write more of the life here, as I have a good
deal to say which will interest you. I am better
convinced than ever of the prudence of my coming hither
for even the exertions of this life almost break me down
when by I am shown that it would have been
exceedingly hard, if nt impossible, to stand camp at once
I think that I will remain here till 1st September

I am anxious to have a fatigue shirt of gray flan-
nel or such stuff. I hear there is one at home be-
longing to Lewis, which perhaps I could get, if not
I will be grateful to have one made and sent
me as soon as possible. Page,the Tailors has my
exact measure which would furnish dimensions. The
material need not be at all fine, though I would
like some neat decoration in front, simple at the [?]
I have written now on the many interruptions and
very unsatisfactorily to myself but will try &
write again very soon. My love to Sister Lu and kind-
est sympathy on her grief at bro Charles' absence. My
love to father Mary & kind regards to the servants

In great haste--your affectionate son
L[ancelot] M[inor] Blackford

Lancelot Minor Blackford, 1837-1914, was later the beloved principal of Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va., for over 40 years.

See posting for 1861 May 27, University of Virginia Board of Visitors minutes establishing a School of Military Science and Civil Engineering at the University.

University of Virginia alumnus Randolph Fairfax, of Capt. Hutter's Company, Virginia Infantry (The Southern Guard), fell December 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg, Va.

Theodore Garnett, Jr., 1844-1915, a member of the 9th Virginia Cavalry brought the dying JEB Stuart to Richmond after the general was mortally wounded at Yellow Tavern in 1864. Garnett returned to the University of Virginia after the war and earned a bachelor of laws degree. He was the keynote speaker at the unveiling of Stuart's Monument Avenue statue in Richmond

MSS 5088