1862 August 24

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

Sunday-Aug.23[sic]/62--We rest tonight 1 1/2 miles from our
bivouack of last night, viz just at the village of Jefferson
We had scarcely done eating what we could get by together
for breakfast-for rations were low the early part of
the day--when the placing of some of our own batteries
above the ford drew the enemy's fire with unpleasant and
indeed dangerous proximity to the artillery train of our Div.
Encamped all together and nearest to the river, though fully
shielded from the Enemy's sight by thick intervening woods
We were immediately ordered to move back which, in
common with wagons, and other troops, we did pretty
speedily as the Enemy's fire became more annoying.  I was
sorry to learn that notwithstanding our speedy change of
quarters, one man, a quartermaster it was said, got  his
head knocked off by one of the Enemy's shot or shell
Skirmishing has been kept up with artillery across the
river more or less heavily all day.  This afternoon the
firing was very rapid and loud.  Though in a place
of security we could see the shells bursting in the air
at a distance at any time.  No good of any kind was effec-
ted of any kind by all the firing, so far as I could learn
It was as unprofitable as these miserable long-range
artillery-duels generally are, particularly when a river
flows between the combatants.  Orders were received to
prepare 2 days rations. It being my turn to be one of
the cooks I spent the whole afternoon laboriously
at this duty--the most disliked of almost of all those
that fall to our lot in camp.  Our cook Israel went to
Albemarle sick early this month and has not yet
returned, nor with our present moves is likely to do so soon.

MSS 5088