1862 April 29 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]

Tuesday  29  clear and pleasant and
most genial.  very busy in Bank, and
much engaged otherwise--news from
N.O. better  city not surrendered
altogether the affair is painfully
[?] and very disgraceful--
Fort Mason has also surrendered. This
will cut off our communication with
the south on the Atlantic line
disasters crowd upon us--but
we must take courage.  Went in
the afternoon to see Jane Kean who
came last night.  I could scarcely
believe it possible that she had
been gone a whole year.  She
looks well & her children have
grown much.  Called on Mrs Stuart
who is now boarding at Mr Merri
-weather's--Her little boy is quite sick
She had heard nothing lately from
the general.  Hugh McGuire, a son
of my old school mate, Dr. H H
McGuire, of Winchester, and a
member of the Stockbridge Artil
-lery called to see me--and after
wards spent the evening with
us.  Sent by him an Indian Rub
-ber blanket to Laney.  Little Landon
continues very poorly--the Doctor
does not know what is the matter.
Peggy is improving--We have quite
a hospital.  Got Dr. Green to call
and see Dr. Berkeley at the Wash-
-ington.  He thinks him in a bad way
and prescribed for him.

MSS 38-258


MSS 4763