1862 July 21 Lynchburg, Va.

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

Monday 21--Letter from Lanty --rather
doleful--one also from Eugene
wanting me to get him boots & spurs
Rumors of some good news having
passed through the telegraph office--
which the operators could not [?]
[?]--Report of the enemy having
made a dash at the central Rail
Road and destroyed depot at Beaver
Dam was marched on last night
which I discredited--But Mathew
Maury came up this evg and con
firmed the news.  He was in the
cars yesterday morg and was stop
ped by obstructions on the road with-
in 300 yds of the Depot.  He saw
the burning--He thinks it was
a mere handful of cavalry who
were frightened off by the train
which had soldiers on board.
Mathew was very communicative
very bitter against the Yankees &
not sanguine as to the safety of
Richd  He thinks the attack will
be made on both sides of the Ri
-ver and by [?] [?] from
also.  He is on his way to join
his wife in Albemarle--Sue
Crutchfield, his son Dick's affian
ce mad her escape from Fred
and got to Charlottesville where
she and Dick were married
Thursday last--what a time for
marrying!  called at Mrs [?]
to see Capt. Hobbes He was too
ill to let any one see him--I shd
think he was in a very critical
condition: He was in bad health
before he was wounded & the Ball
is yet in the knee--He had a
chill to day--Dr. John Minor came
in at night & staid until 10.

MSS 4763