1862 August 23 Lynchburg, Va.

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

Saturday 23  I was so much fatigued
when I went to bed that I could
not sleep and I heard the clock
strike 11 & 12, I was at one time
alarmed & thought I should faint
Richd Davis who came in last
night from Flat Creek left us
at 5: this morning--this is the 4th
breakfast at an early hour we
have had to furnish this week to
departing guests.--Hurried through
our Bank business and went to the
church or rather the Rectory at
10 and escorted to the church the
remains of Mrs. K.--The vestry acting
as Pall bearers--The Revd Mr. Pendleton
performed the service--rather awkward
ly I think.  His address was very
good.  He incorporated in it some
particulars furnished by Mr. K.
She was an admirable woman
in every respect.  the attendance was
large.  I went out to the cemetery
=my anxiety about William was
put at rest by a letter recd this mor-
ning by Sue from Charles which
said that he was safe & had not
seen the enemy.  News from our
army is that they are pursuing
the enemy, who have crossed the
Rappahannock.  Stuarts cavalry
yesterday overtook & captured
after an action in which they killed
15 of the enemy eighty of the 6th Penna
cavalry.  The day before, the ene-
mys guard of 90 men left at
Rappahannock Station to burn the
bridge, was captured together with
their locomotive & their cars.  Young
Singleton dined with us and
staid until night--Miss Delia
Willis & Dr. Ford spent the even-
ing with us. She  & [?] Taliaferro
go home Monday.


MSS  4763