1862 March 13 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.

Thursday 13 Rain in the morning but it held up about
8. Went with Launcelot to the Island. He took
the cars there for Richd. intending then to go in
search of his company, his furlough having expired
I parted with him with poignant regret and
with some forebodings that I might see him no
more. He is a noble fellow--a true man--[?]
conscientious, devoutedly pious. I never know a
purer minded man. May God bless him &
give protect him from all danger--Went with
[?] who wanted to examine Garlicks house
No letters from any quarter. I learn that
the bridges on the Manassas road are destroyed
as also those on the orange beyond the
Rappahannock--that our whole army has
fallen back to the Rappahannock--that the
rolling stock of the Manassas Road is on the
track from Gordonsville to Charlotteville for
three miles--thus blocking up that road &
preventing any communication with the Valley
in any situation I cannot see the wisdom
of this falling back & giving up communication
with the Valley. Their surrendering up to the
enemy without a strike--Adjourned meeting
did nothing. Lanty Minor spent the evening
with us & staid all night--my eyes very sore
--Mary laid up with bad cold and rheuma-
tic pains aggravating all her other complaints

MSS 4763