1862 May 17 Lynchburg, Va.

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

Saturday  17  Rain occasionally--sometimes
quite hard--very small offering.  We
learn that Banks has certainly fallen
back upon Strasburg and that Jack
son is expected to return to Staunton
to day--Six or seven thousand troops
are at Gordnsville intended to reinforce
Ewell.  Coming home at dinner time
learned that Charles had come.  He has
been sick and the medical director
of Ewell's Division advised him to come
home. He has shaved his face and looks\
quite strangely.  His regiment is in Page
county--I wish he could have gone there.
The enemy in large force occupied
that county and retreated via Front
Royal. Went over after dinner to Chas
and staid until sun down.  A Better [?]
feeling seems to prevail in Richd.  Recd
letter from G[?] informing me
he had paid the note on which
Charles & I were endorsers due 21 Inst
and to renew which I had sent him
a blank, which he returns.  He sent
me also a check for 250. Two hun-
dred of which I applied to pay a
note of his, in which I am endorser
renewed a fortnight since--The other
50 of I gave, at his request, to Mrs C
Blackford--The note being payd in
F.B. Richd . I gave Norvell the money
and took his order for the note. No
telegram today.
MSS 4763