1862 August 22

[from the diary of Lancelot Minor Blackford of the Rockbridge Artillery]

Friday Aug. 22/62-- to night we find ourselves within
5 miles of where we staid last night.  Early in the day
our guns got together again and after halting to [?]
moved slowly up the river with the rest of the corps
abandoning the Ford we were at yesterday.  Longstreet is
some distance below at another ford and has been skirmish
ing very heavily with the Enemy to day with artillery
We halted with the artillery train of our Division for
5 or 6 hours to day at Dr. Wellford's house and enjoyed the
rest on the grass in his great shady yard very much
also the drinking cool clear water from his yard-pump
We subsequently moved on and bivouacked within a
mile of the house.  The Infantry moved on ahead and had
some skirmishing along the river, I believe.  Hard rain this
afternoon and but poor prospect for sleeping to night.

MSS 5088