1862 January 12 [Lynchburg, Va.]

[from the diary of William M. Blackford, former diplomat, bank officer, postmaster and editor in Lynchburg, Va., with 5 sons in the Confederate Army.]

We closed the Bank from 10 to 12 out
of respect to Charles Slaughter. The body was
taken to the Episcopal Church. Mr. Kinckles' sermon
was a very fine one. When he came to the delinea-
tion of character, he was very discriminating and
felicitous, and did not say a word which was
not well deserved But I am more & more
decided in my opinion that such eulogies do
not become the pulpit The attendance was large
and the conviction is general that we have lost one
of our best citizens-- I had a high admiration for
his character. He was much devoted to Staige who
reciprocated his friendship thoroughly as[?] nothing of any
marked interest during the day.

MSS 4763