Thursday, July 5, 2012

1862 July 3 Lynchburg, Va.

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

Thursday 3   clear.  There were buried
to day Kirk Seabury, of the Home
Guard & young Mitchell of the Rifle
greys. both killed Monday Evg--also
Col Seymour of the 7 La Regt. killed
Friday last--We hear of many distres
sing casualties--young Fields with
whom I travelled 18 mos ago was killed
--being the 2d son the Judge has lost
within six weeks--The news today
is that the enemy have abandoned
the James River  [?] and are retreat
ing on the Charles city Road, hoping
to reach Wsburg & York. I do
not see how half of them can es
cape   I have it from the Secy of
War, through his nephew Lt. ran-
dolph, that we have taken 90[?] cannon
15000 stand of arms, immense stores
notwithstanding they destroyed such
quan[ti]ties--six generals one [since?] [dead?]
and 6 or 8000 prisoners.  Gen Lee has
not made the first mistake--His admi
rable plan has been admirably carried out.
From Yankee papers it is gratifying
to learn that the reinforcements
which we so much dreaded, had
actually been recd by McClellan
before the battle, as evinced by
the capture of McCall who had
a division of [10,000] There never
was a more brilliant campaign of
which [?] [?] [?]
Launcelot left us this morning.
He was well he thought, and a
sense of duty would not allow
him to remain longer away from
the company.

MSS 4763

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