1862 April 6 Lynchburg, Va.

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

Sunday 6 A bright beautiful mild
morning. There is too much reason
to fear that this beautiful and
Holy day will be desecrated by
gods creatures killing each other
The chances are vastly in favor of
a decisive & bloody battle taking place
at York town to day--The papers of this
morning say the fighting yesterday
was nothing but skirmishing--wrote
letter to Mary Jane & to Lanty Minor
Church--large congregation--many
strangers, refugees--Large communion
Sue & Charles & Dr. Smith C.S.A. came
home with us to dinner. This gentle-
man & his wife, an old friend of Sue's
father & mother, are to board at Char-
leys for a while. He is to be in charge
of a hospital here. I like the arrange-
ment very much. After dinner a
walk with Dr. Smith. Evening ser-
vice at 4. Returning from church found
Frank Robertson & Hamor Thomas
waiting our arrival. They are both
in service but both in bad health &
on sick leave. They are going to Abing
don. Thomas is son of Jno. Hamor
Thomas who has been an inmate of
Fort Warren for a long time but now
released on parole. He is of course
grandson of old Bazil Gordon. They
staid until dark--Frank looks bad
ly and I fear it may be long before
his health is reestablished.

MSS 4763