1862 March 21 Lynchburg, Va.

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

Friday 21 The story of a fight near War-
renton Junction turns out a miserable fa-
brication. the fellow has been drunk so long
that he has lost the power of distinguishing
truth from fiction. There was no fight or
skirmish at all. The militia are coming
in from the neighboring counties--I am stuck
with their fine physical appearance --bet-
ter material for an army need not be wished
--could they be drilled sixty days before
their services would be needed, they might
be relied on--Recd letters from Wm. Meen[?]
saying Jackson was only four miles down
the Valley & thought of making a stand at
the river----Wm. Meen has lost 9 negroes--the rest
are on the way hither. His farm would be
a splendid battlefield. Many hundreds
of times forty years ago, when sitting on the
porch of the house casting my eye over
the spledid domain have I fancied
it the scene of a battle. Little did I then
think I should live to see it the scene of
civil war and that son of mine should be
one of the combatants Rendered further
service to my refugee friends--attended
a meeting at 4 oclock in the young mens
Hall, to organize a society to bring to bear
upon the men the moral & religious feeling
of the country--very few present--Bishop
Early in the chair--B[?] made a speech
as did Goggin--Rev. [?] Mitchell (not J.D.)
Edwards, [?] & Dodge. a committee was
appointed of which I was one, to make a
report to an adjoined meeting But the whole
affair is a failure--The mistake was in
putting the clergy forward. Made prepar
ations to go to the University tomorrow to see
Sue, though not altogether assured I
shall get back in good time.

MSS 4763