1862 May 16 Lynchburg, Va.

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

Friday 16  This being the day appointed
by the President as one of fasting, humi-
liation & prayer, it was observed with
religious strictness by our citizens. Our
Bank was closed down and I did not
see a place of business open.  It rain
-ed nearly all the day which thin
-ned the congregations--ours was
small.  Mr. K's sermon was not, I
thought, particularly able or appro
-priate. He justified slavery, out &
out, on scripture grounds, and conclu
-ded, therefore,that it could not be a
cause of the almightys displeasure
against us.  No rumors of any kind
afloat.

MSS 4763