1862 April 23 Lynchburg, Va.

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

Wednesday 23  Fine genial day. nothing
of special interest.  Mrs. B. recd letter from
Mrs. Berkeley of Staunton, saying
her son Averett was here in the Hos-
pital. I inferred, of course that he was
a patient--and visited several of the
hospitals to look for him. I accidentally
heard he was at the Washington and
called to see him.  He is Asst surgeon &
had been on the field until lately
when he was assigned  to the Hospital
at Staunton--& came here with the sick.
He is much indisposed and I asked him
to take up his quarters with us--but
he declined--Various and contradictory[?]
rumors, one really does not know
what to believe.  Recd from Charles
Grantham a piece of India rubber
cloth, which I requested him to
purchase for Lanty.  He mistook the
name & sends it as a present to Charles.

MSS 4763