Monday, March 19, 2012

1862 March 20

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


Thursday 20
Real equinoxial weather, cold
rain greater part of the day--Met as I
was entering the Bank Francis L. Smith
late of Alexandria, who is here and saving
to procure a home for his family. I knew him
first some 35 ys ago, a sprightly young man

who settled in Fauqu Luray to practice law
He went South--returned to Virgina and set
-tled in Alexandria, married a lady of
fortune--rose to distinction in his profession
and amassed a fortune. He had built a
splendid residence from which he was dri
ven upon the occupation of the town by the
enemy. He has resided at several places
since. I hope he has succeeded in getting
a home here as I left the negotiation in a
fair way last night, when I parted with him
I am amused to find how I am relied upon
by strangers coming here for good offices. It is
rather troublesome to have such a reputation.
I shall do all I can however--We have ru
mour well founded of a cavalry fight be
tween 300 of Stewarts cavalry & 500 of the
enemys. We killed 40 and took 100 prisoners
with a loss of 6 killed on our side, among
them Thos. Waller, of [?] Of Radfords
regt. the only companies engaged were White
head & Harris--Four companies of 1 Regt
were there--whom I do not learn. I hope
William may have been present. We learn
that the Wise troop was at Warrenton Sunday
last-- The destruction of stores on the Manassas
road and at Manassas Junction was the most
unnecessary wanton & criminal act we have
yet seen during the war.

MSS 4763

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