Camp of the Rockbridge Artillery
1st Brigade-1st Division-Jackson's Army
5 miles from Gordonsville--Orange Co. Va.
Wm. M. Blackford Esq. Lynchburg
My Dear Father
My last letter
home was written from Camp Garnett in Louisa
on Monday, 4th. since then I have had no oppor-
tunity to write at length except yesterday when
I was too tired. I hope you received the short
note I wrote last Monday from a bivouack
in Culpeper announcing my safety after the
battle. I take up the narrative now regularly.
On Friday, 5th, I went over to Gen. Jackson's
He.Qrs. to dine with bro. Charles but was com-
pelled to hurry through the meal by an order
issued before I had been there more than an hour
or two for the first Division to move that after-
noon to this camp, the one we had occupied
just one week before. It is, as I have mentioned
on Col. Magruder's plantation, and is a very plea-
sant situation--better than Camp Garnett.
[page 2]
We remained here quietly about 48 hours only.
Thursday afternoon an order came to cook two
days rations and in a short time afterwards
to move. We did goth, and bivouacked that
night 1 1/2 miles this side of Orange C.H. the
march was not a long one and mostly made
after the sun had lost its chief strength,
yet still we suffered greatly from the heat.
Next morning we made a very early start
and did not finally halt until about
4 P.M. but then only between 5 and 6 miles of
the point left in the morning, i.e. one mile
beyond the Rapidan River. during the day, as
you see from the time we were upon the
road, we made several long halts, one at
Orange C.H., and another at the Rapidan ford.
The latter appeared to be for the purpose
of allowing Ewell's baggage train to pass us
he being in the advance, and if I recollect
right, occupying the advance of the right in
the battle, as Jackson's own division did of the left.
[page 3]
We had again orders Friday night to cook 2
days rations, which job kept us until late at
night, the provisions being very late in arriving.
During the night we were much annoyed by the
sound within a mile of us of occasional shots
of musketry. It sounded like picquets being
sometimes fast and quick, and at others slow.
Finally about 2 A.M. when shots became so much
more frequent as to cause us to rise and to
have the horses hitched up, and the Infantry
to get under arms. Ere long however we heard
one tremendous volley and then all was quiet,
and so continued thereafter, and our apprehen-
sion of a night attack ceased. It seemed that
the enemy had sent down a body of cavalry
to reconnoitre our position: they fired at our
picquets and were duly fired at in turn &
were finally tempted within the range of
the guns of a regiment of infantry we had
in readiness. All of a sudden the latter blazed
away and sent them off at double quick, tho'
strange to say doing very little damage.
[page 4]
This incident interrupted our night's rest a
good deal but we went to sleep again and
did not move on our way again until after
sunrise, Saturday morning. That day we made
6 or 7 miles. the country in Orange the way
we travelled is uninteresting, and between
the C.H. and Rapidan--3 miles--particularly so.
Soon after crossing the river however it is
very different, and so on down to Cedar Run
The residences are generally very handsome
and the country very rolling & picturesque,
particularly in the neighbourhood of Rob-
inson River, a small stream a few miles
below the Rapidan. There are many signs
of Yankee Cavalry camps along the road
and of Yankee stealing and rascality generally.
Their main body has not yet been so high.
The people told us of the most infamous
conduct of these scoundrels, who seem to have
given themselves up wholly to plunder and
harm doing everywhere thy had a chance.
[page 5]
about 3 P.M. after a slow and constantly halting
march we came in sight of a long high green
hill running at right angles to the road upon
which we discerned various horsemen of ours
reconnoitring, as if shy of going further. The
first sight of this independent of the rumors
that now began to reach us convinced me
that the enemy were near. Not very long
afterward we heard a few cannon shot &
became still better assured that a battle
was imminent. As yet we were a mile
or more behind this hill, which was itself
that distance from what was afterwards
the battlefield. Finally we moved on to
a spot about 1.2 mile in the rear of the field
except our two Parrott guns already sent for to the front
and there the artillery for our brigade ^ halted
for a time while the Infantry of our own and
other commands advanced to get in proper
position for action. Between this point
where we were and the battlefield was one
dense body of woods--of course a great protection.
[page 6]
Our Battery consists now of but four guns--tho'
six is our proper number--two Parrot and two
brass guns; the latter are a 12 Pdr and a 6Pdr.
Our consort--Carpenter's battery has one Parrott
and 3 six pounders. The Parrott guns--rifled 10 Pdrs
are always in demand in the opening of an
action, for long range, and the guns of smal
ler calibre and smooth bore generally come in
use afterwards. It was not so in the last
battle; I believe no 6 Pdrs were used at all,
though our big "Napoleon" - a splendid smooth
bore brass 12 Pdr was eventually called
into action. In this way our brass 7 Pdr was
the only one not employed and the detach-
ment thereto belonging--to which I have
been attached ever since I joined the co.--
of course not exposed to danger. It is true
a good many of the enemy's shell did
strike in our rear and otherwise near us
but not close enough to occasion serious
uneasiness. We are too much used to them for that.
[page 7]
I was not therefore in the engagement and
can only undertake to tell you of what I
saw and heard relating to it without being
able to give
viz. the description of an eye witness.
At the point mentioned our 6 Pdr with its
cannoniers and one lieutenant remained, in company
with various others, until the battle was over
and the enemy driven from the field. We were
stationed just at the side of the main road
leading to the scene of conflict, and in full
hearing of the sound of artillery & musketry
and were not unemployed as to ear or eye.
As the battle went on we commenced soon
to sicken of that sad sight incident to all
battles,viz. the carrying of the wounded to
the rear. Hundreds passed us, some walking
unaided, some supported by others, some on
stretchers and some simply in blankets: all
bleeding and weary and pressing on as best
they could to the field hospital, if possible.
[page 8]
Our favourite commander of the 1st Brigade,
Brig. Gen C. s. Winder, as you have heard, was
mortally wounded. He was in command
on this occasion of 3 brigades the 1st, 2nd, & 3d
--of Jackson's own Division, which composed the
advance of our left. He fell early in the
action. At the time he was struck he was
dismounted and, as he frequently was in
actin, standing near one of the guns of
this battery. (His being dismounted was un-
usual.) He was talking to one of the can-
noniers, Edwd. Moore of Lexington, and looking
through his spy-glass at the enemy's posi-
tion, when one of the enemys shell came
along, took off his arm and frightfully
wounded his side. He was soon carried
to the rear on a stretcher by the place
where I was, to an old church about 1/2
mile back (Rev. Philip Slaughter's I understand)
where in about half an hour he died
It was a sad sight to see him lying there so
shockingly wounded: I could see him but a
[page 9]
moment as he passed, but a sad change had
already come over the handsome features &
form I had so often seen buoyant with life
and health at the head of this brigade. His
remains were brought on immediately to Orange
C.H. near which village they were finally
interred; Rev. Mr. Davis officiated at the funeral.
In Gen Winder this Brigade has met with
a great loss. I think it exceedingly doubtful
whether we shall ever get such another
officer to command us. He stands very high
in this army both with men [&] officers &
was known to possess Gen Jackson's con-
fidence in a high degree. I believe he
has no superior of his rank in the service
and very few equals. As a gentleman
all who knew him admired & like him, as
a soldier his name is the synonym for all
that is brave and noble. I have written a little
paragraph about Gen. W., herewith enclosed, which Mr Button
may think it worth while to publish editorially. please
hand it to him & send me the paper in which it appears
[page 10
After dark all the guns of our battery were
gotten together and we advanced to a portion
of the field about 3/4 mile from the first
position of our batteries, where we bivouack-
ed for the night. It was a bright moon-
light night and taking advantage of this
a good deal of cannonading was done, first
and last, on both sides. It was not with
out some effect either, though exactly
what I could never learn. Sunday morning
after some marching and counter marching
the 1st, 2d, and 3d Brigades, which had been
all hotly engaged Saturday evening, were or-
dered three miles to the rear to await orders.
This we did not very reluctantly and to-
ward noon found ourselves in a tolerable camp
near the baggage trains with an oppor-
tunity to rest a little. Saturday evening only
2 of A.P. Hill's brigades were engaged, I understood
and thus the far greater part of his Division
was left fresh. It occupied the advance Sunday
[page 11]
the 1st, 2d, & 3rd Brigades remained at this place
until Tuesday morning. We were all this
while in doubt as to what was going to be
done: first expecting for hours to hear the
roar of battle on the front, but by Monday
noon abandoning that idea because in a addi-
tion to having all our baggage trains sent
to the rear we heard that our troops had
begun to fall back from their advance po-
sitions. All things thus weighed we came
to the conclusion we would again at leas
re-cross the Rapidan. On Monday the enemy
sent over a flag of truce to bury their dead
and a conference was had between Majo4
Gen. J.e.B. Stuart and some Yankee officers. It
is said the[sic] admitted their killed to be 600
I dont know how this may be,but our
total loss in killed and wounded in estimated
at Hd.Qrs. at 700: that of the Yankees, I hear
about 2000. I imagine it is difficult to
arrive at a just estimate so soon after a battle.
[page 12]
Sunday night I had the pleasure of a visit
from my old and much valued friend Wm. T.
Haskell, of So. Ca. who came over from his camp
which was not distant, and sat some time
with me. He is a Captain in the 18th So. Ca. Regt.
in Gregg's Brigade. We had not met for
two years before, not since leaving the U[niversit]y.
The meeting was a most pleasant one.
Tuesday the army generally fell back across
the Rapidan, and mostly to their former
camps; so it is at least with our Division.
On our way we tarried some hours about
Orange C.H., thus affording me an opportu-
nity of going to the house of Rev. R. T. Davis
where I was hospitably entertained at dinner.
Thus we found ourselves, at the end of a 5 days cam-
paign once more where we started from:
What the next move will be we have
no idea, of course, but Longstreet's Division
is here now and Gen. Lee came up to day,
so we may look out for something stirring ere long.
[page 13]
I enclose some lines copied from a newspaper
which I admired so much that I send them
to mother. I send the MS copy rather than
the printed thinking that mother may be
not unpleasantly reminded of me by the hand
writing and may keep it near her. (I dont
mean by this to arrogate the little of "her noble boy"
however) I wish Mary would make a copy of
it and let it be printed in the Virginian.
Br. Charles sent me a late letter of yours yes-
terday. I am very thankful to hear that
Eugene is mending and hope he may soon
get home. Give my love to him whenever
he does come and my renewed congratula-
tions on his promotion which give me great
pleasure. I hope Gen. Rodes is doing well.
Please say to the Misses Willis that I, at least,
will be sure to remember their kind invitation
and find out their house if we are anywhere
near it now or in future. I would like to know
more of its locality, if they could tell me.
[page 14]
I am happy to know Lucy Landon was so
soon expected and hope she is ere this in
Lynchburg. If so give my love to her I
have heard nothing from Berkeley lately
and don't know what has become of him
though of course we know he is still de-
tained from duty by sickness. My love too
to Fanny Cazenove and to Sister Sue.
I wish you could hunt me up some
really good material for a shirt. I want but
one, and that for summer wear, through not
too thin. I would like some dark check
stuff, or stout gingham, something taste-
ful and durable and not too light either
in quality or colour. I want the shirt made
like an ordinary white one, with broad pletes
in the bosom, and a neat collar, sewed on to the
shirt. The sleeves should be full, as should
the whole garment. (My arms are extra long)
Let one of my vest be taken from my
trunk to cut it by, but make the sleeves a little
longer than those.
[page 15]
I wish some experienced hand may be put to
this job. I fear Mary Isabella is not such.
I want this shirt as a "Sunday" one and as it
is but one I hope you and mother will
try and see I have something nice. Please
send it to me as soon as possible.
I wish you would let me know what a regular
good stout pair of heavy grey pants can be
had for, something substantial and nice
You can find out from Burroughs, who has
my measure and whom I would probably employ
I am wanting my great coat. I left it
unavoidably at Mr. Gwatkin's in Richmond.
Will you charge yourself with endeavouring
to send it to me as soon as you can.
Yet again let me trouble you. I sent 25 ¢
the other day for P.O. stamps. I send now as
much more for which please send me the
worth in stamps. With the other 50 ¢ worth
I fear I gave you a great deal of trouble
yet I have none to whom I can apply for
these favours.
[page 16]
We have been perfectly quiet here for the last
48 hours, though there are signs of a move on
hand now. the signs may fail however. Mean-
while come what may I trust I can go forth
without alarm, relying for strength, protection
(and salvation, in case of death) on One who
has never yet failed to shew himself for me a Mighty
Deliverer, as he is ever our blessed Redeemer
The protection and favour shewn me by
God in the past certainly warrants me in
indulging for the future
fortably though at the same time I trust,
and humbly hope that He will again be with me.
Among the wounded at Cedar run was
Major F. W. Holliday of Winchester- (Major to
the 33rd Va.) He has lost his right arm, poor fellow
and is now at Charlottesville. He was always
a great favourite with me and one of the
best officers in the brigade. It is a sad loss to us.
Lt. Col. R.H. Cumningham of the 21st Va., 2d Brig.
1st Div., was killed; also a fine & gallant officer.
I knew him very well and mourn his loss.
I had a letter yesterday from du Bose who sends
you and mother and Mary his respects & kind
regards. His corps--the Holcombe Legion--Evans' Brig.
Longstreet's Divn (He is the Adjt.) has been ordered
to Va. recently. He wrote from Richmond, but
probably by this time is in this army.
My love to Mary Isabella--my dear sister--
of course to another for whom this letter is half,
and kind regards to the servants especially
Peggy--my love too to all at the doctor's
Your affectionate son
L.M. Blackford
[cross hatched in left hand margin of page 16]
Our sufferings from heat during the late expedition were very great
Five such days of oppressive heat in succession I never knew,
I think. We had to live on crackers and fat bacon, the while,
not very congenial diet. the whole trip was terribly exhausting.
MSS 5508
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