1862 April 13 Lynchburg, Va.

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

Sunday 13 Mild but threatening rain
Large congregation at church. Went
after service home with charles &
after dinner walked with him
to Springfield cemetery to see the
lot he has bought, & to which I am
to have the bodies of his children
removed from the University bury
ing ground, the remains of my
father. The lot is quite large--
too large indeed as it will be
troublesome to keep in order. the
cemetery is becoming populated. It
is a beautiful spot, and when the
trees attain more size and the lots
are improved it will compare for
beauty with any place it the kind in
the South. it rained slightly upon
us. Passing Mrs. Irwin's new re-
sidence called for a few moments
to see the family. A night came
young Rutledge, a member of
Lanty's company, of whom he had
spoken in his last letter. He left
camp about the date of that letter.
He was in the fight and gave us
many details. He is from Hampton
County Md. and was a student of
Medicine at the University. He
says the Rockbridge Artillery had
swollen to 240 men & was lately
reorganized in three companies.
The one he & Lanty belong to con-
tains 60 young men educated at
the University or colleges on the State
and at Theological seminaries
Seven theological students also
joined them on one day. It is
commanded by Poague, late of L.
of the Rockbridge artillery--McLaugh
lin expects to be made major of
the Batallion--Rutledge staid
all night with us--He is a re
-lation of Chas Lynch--His mother
being Lynch's cousin.

MSS 4763