1862 June 2 Lynchburg,Va.

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

Monday 2 Never felt less like work
Full list of the killed and wounded
of the Home Guard reached--five of
the first & 21 of the latter--Twenty
one wounded in the Battery (Lathams)
--The real character of the battle at
length known, our success but modest
the advantages in all expect except
the killed & wounded, with us--We
drove them back, took 14 guns and
some 500 prisoners--but from their fight
ing behind entrenchments I fear
our loss is greater than theirs--The
Orange train brought the rather
startling news that the enemy had
returned in force to Front Royal &
was marching on Strasburg from Moore
field--Jackson is in danger--but
I doubt not by prompt movements
and hard fighting will extricate him
-self--he had ordered Ewells column
to attack the enemy at Front Roy
-al  to while he advanced to Strasburg
Sheeran, one of Eugene's men in the hos
=pital here, called to take leave, hes
intendng to join his company tomorrow
--send by him a ham & a box of biscuits
for Eugene--It is gratifying to hear

the way he speaks of his captain
Ro. Saunders came on his way to Rich-
mond with a trunk full provi-
-sions for the wounded of his late
Regt--Rain at night.

MSS 4763