1862 April 20 Lynchburg, Va.

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

Sunday 20 Easter Day Attended ear-
ly morning service. Last evening prom
-ised a fine day. the moon was overcast
--Rain let up--cold rain--and a more
uncomfortable day I have not experien
-ced this winter past. It, of course pre-
vented many from going to church. Still
there was a tolerable congregation and
a goodly number of communicants--Service
again at 1/2 past 4. Visited in the eve
-ning the hospital in Bookers factory
some 120 or 30 in ti. None very sick
--they have been thrown here before the
hospitals are ready. They were comfort
-able however, that is as comfortable as
the sick can be when in a large room
they are placed within three of four feet
of each. Saw some who were wounded
at Kernstown and elsewhere. Some eight
hundred have arrived or will arrive
to day & night, from Staunton. We
may expect 2000 sick here. It is no
pleasing prospect and bodes no good
to the health of the town --rumors
about Jackson very contradictory, though
that his falling back is certain. One
story is that he crossed at Swift
Run Gap and that Ewell was
falling back to join him at Gordons
ville. this I think probable. On the
whole our prospect is very discouraging.
Nothing but a decisive victory and
the destruction of McClelland's army
can save Ricd or prevent the aban
donment of Virginia. I have little
doubt that t his place is considered a
city of refuge--will be in the hands
of the enemy before the 1[s]t June..I
never felt so much dejected before.
I do not admit the possibility of ulti
mate su[b]jection, but what a dreadful
loss will Virginia be to the Confederacy
and what a horrible condition we
shall be in. It is but a poor compen
sation to reflect that success on the part
of the Yankees is ruin to them. The
annals of the world may be consulted
in vain for a parallel to the overthrow
and ruin brought upon a giant na-
tion by contention[?] discord & evil war
in the course of little more than a
year. The re-establishment of the Union
under the old constitution is an idea
which I suppose no sane mind indulges
The whole character of the government
must be changed before the north &
south can be held together.

MSS 4763