Saturday, March 10, 2012

1862 March 11 Lynchburg, Va.

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

Tuesday 11 Bright mild morning. Rumor of
a great battle in Arkansas said to be won
by our troops--The actual loss of the Yankees
at in the battle of Hampton roads is the total
loss of the two frigates Congress & Cumberland
and of one or two steam tug--the Minnesota
badly crippled and their steam battery, the
Monitor damaged--Several guns dismounted
on the bottom at Newport News--nothing defi-
nite as to their loss in killed wounded & drowned
great distress and uneasiness in town about the
[?] [?] [?], which I think a very foolish
thing--It may have the effect of making
men volunteer and thus filling the ranks
of existing companies--The President disapproves
of the conduct of Floyd & Pillow and suspends
them until investigation be made--a pox[?]
upon all political generals--both of those in
aspiring to office and on [?] their present
position to enhance their importance.

MSS 4763

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.