1862 February 24

[from the diary of William M. Blackford, former diplomat, bank officer, and editor of Lynchburg, Va., with five sons in the Confederate Army.]


Monday 24 A very high wind all day. One
of the pinnacles at the corner of our church, for some
time past a little awry, was much toppled over
by the force of the wind and inspired a dread
that it would fall over. Mack[?] undertook to get a
rope round it and pull it back to its place, which
he accomplished. I have engaged workmen
to adjust it at once and secure properly --Wrote some
more editorials--wrote also to Eugene--The news is
very bad from Donelson--our forces all taken prisoner
except some 800 men--twelve thousand it is said
The necessity of this capitulation does not appear.
Could there have been treachery in Donelson? It
seems Nashville, though abandoned by our forces,
was not entered by the enemy as late as Friday
night. The capture is inevitable however. Our
army was at Murfreesborough where Critten
den was to join it. Yankee exaltation unbounded.
The inauguration of President Davis took place in
the rain Saturday--His inaugural was a fine produc-
tion. Its conclusion was a fervent prayer to the Al-
mighty. He must have a deep sense of religion.
There is a rumor that Gen Jos. Johnson is ap
pointed Generalissimo of the Army. Such an of-
ficer is much wanted. My spirits much depressed[?]
about 5 oclock witnessed the burning of half
the bridge on the S.S. R Road connecting the Island
with the Va & Tenn R R --a great loss--The Va & Tenn
R R has been much injured by rain

MSS 4763