1862 March 5 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]

Wednesday 5 This is the first day for the last week
I have felt anything like health. Eyes still
weak--Wm called upon by Col. Tyler, late
of U.S. Marine Corps, brother of the late Judge
Tyler of Warrenton, who wishes to rent keans
youse. His family is now at the Judges farm
in Fauquier, but he is afraid of their being
driven off. I hear of many families who
are coming here, Lynchburg being deemed a safe place.
Launcelot returned last evening from Richd.
where he spent ten days very pleasantly. He
staid two days at Edgewood. Charles Minor
has gone to join Charles. troop, as a volunteer
without pay. Ro. Saunders, Thos L. Preston &
Carey Fairfax spent the evening at our house.
The former gave many particulars of the mis-
erable inefficiency of the Legislature I was told
this evening that Gen Johnson had taken all
the cars & engines on the Orange Road and that
there would be, after tomorrow, no communication
with Charlottesville by R.R. for some time. This
will be a great inconvenience.

MSS 4763