Saturday, April 7, 2012

1862 April 8 Lynchburg, Va.

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

Tuesday 8 A cold rain most of the day.
Very little to do in Bank but obliged
to be in place. This is irksome. I pre
=fer to be closely engaged. Additional
news of the battle. It was fought at
a place in Tennessee called Shiloh
18 miles N.E. of Corinth on Mississippi
River. It will bear the name of
"Shiloh" I presume. The victory was
complete and the enemy driven
to their transports. Gen Prentis &
several other prisoners generals were and 5000
men were taken prisoners in --Loss hea
-vy on both sides. The President sent
to congress a letter announcing the
victory and the death of Gen John
-son. In the House a letter, from him
to the President, of a private character,
was read, which completely exonerates
him from all blame in the Donnelson
affair. In doing this he carefully avoids
casting blame on Floyd, Pillow or
Buckner. The letter is a noble one in
its time and shows he was a hero.
The Whig gives the important intel
-ligence that the Merrimac went
out yesterday at 12. Nothing has
been heard of what she had done
The weather was foggy and she may
have not operated. The roads are
full of transports--Lewis writes
that 240 had landed troops at
Newport News. He thinks the design
is to throw twenty them and move
on the Nansemond & try to reach
Suffolk. He is very indignant that
the Merrimack[sic] fully ready was there
5 Inst. lying at the wharfside
while such a fleet with soldiers
on board was at Newport News.
He think Com. Tatnall too old &
infirm. I shall want the news with
intense interest-- Never was so much
depending on the exploits of a single
vessel. If she destroy, capture or
disable the Monitor she will de-
molish the whole fleet of transports
and may frustrate all McClellans
plans--possibly lead to the capture
of his army, for she could prevent
supplies from reaching him. I must
possess my soul in patience and wait
events. Eugene's regt and brigade
have certainly gone to the Peninsula.

MSS 4763

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