1862 May 23 Lynchburg, Va.

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


Friday 23  Here is another hiatus.  There has
occurred nothing of any particular mo-
ment--but I regret having broken
the sequence of daily entries to accom-
plish which was my firm resolution when
I began this volume--We have had ma-
ny exciting rumors--For several days
felt much debilitated from the offices of
the cold which has clung to me for two
or three months--At my age I find the
recuperation powers of the constitution
impaired on the whole however I have
much reason to be thankful for the de
gree of health and vigour I possess.
Though never very robust, few have pas
sed through life with so few sever at-
tacks of disease.  I dare not speculate
upon public affairs--Nothing can ex
deed the imbecility of the President. His
obstinacy and self will are dreadful
He will not have about him any man
of talents or character--If our struggle
should be in vain & the cause lost, it
will not be owing to the people but to
the man they placed at the head of
affairs--Public indignation is rou
-sed to the highest pitch, by a general
order of Butler in N. Orleans, to the
effect that if any woman treats with
contempt or insults by word, gesture
or conduct any officer of soldier
of the Federal Army, she should be held
to be a woman of the town, pursuing
her avocation & treated accordingly. The
order has been read at the [head?] of
Beauregards army and its effect on
southern men may well be imagined
Can one wonder if no quarter be given.
Gen Hunter too has issued an order
emancipating all the negroes in South
Carolina, Georgia & Florida. Jackson
is marching down the valley and
banks retreating before him.
Last evening, to our great surprise
fanny Minor, Charles' wife arrived.
She came in company with her uncle
Mr Cagleman[?] who is seeking a refuge
for his children.  She has come to make
purchases for the family.  Letter from
Lewis Minor who is in charge of his
Naval[?] Hospital in Richd.  He says  Wm
has been appointed Capt of Engineers
--Not a line have we had from him since
he left here and I dont know where
he is--Dr John Minor, wife and daugh
-ter, and Mr Cazenove dined with us today
I neglected to mention that Mr lee's
brother came down in the boat Monday
evening and spent Tuesday with us Wed
nesday he took his brother int he packet
to Big Island near which he and his
family are boarding.  He has been here
since Saturday 26 April. We were very
much pleased with him--a thorough
gentleman--a man of talent & piety
and of great gentleness of manner.  He
expressed great gratitude &c--Heard this
evening that the enemy has moved
upon the Central road 10 miles from
Richd.  Rev P. Slaughter, who was going
up in the Central train, but for this
movement, came up on the South side
informs me he saw this morng, the Secy
of War  who expressed pleasure at
the hour[?]  & said it was just what
they wanted & that a fight would be
the result  Long and interesting letter
from Eugene.  He was within 2 miles
of Richmond--[?] east.  Of all our
letters he recd but two since he went
to Yorktown  He had received his bag-
gage and got the sword & clothes I sent
him by William.  I send him by
tomorrows train a servant, who is re-
commended by Charles.  He waited on
the Lieutenants in his company.  Eugene
continues to endure great hardship

MSS 4763