1862 August 27 Manassas Junction

[from a diary fragment of Lancelot Minor Blackford, of the Rockbridge Artillery]

Manassas Junction--Thursday night. Aug. 27, 1862
This morning witnessed the consummation of one of
the most brilliant strokes of Lee's strategy and of
Jackson's execution that the war has yet exhibited
viz. the occupation of this important point by
the Army Corps under Gen Jackson's command and the
getting in behind the whole force of Genl. Pope.
Monday we started at an early hour from our bi
vouack near Jeffersonton in Culpeper, though we
did not get fairly underweigh until 9 or 10 o'clock
I was fortunate enough to get a good breakfast in
the village at the house of my hospitable friend Mr
Davisson before starting; as well as to meet there for
a short time with my excellent and valued friend W.
P. DuBose, of So. Ca, Adjt to the Holcombe Legion--Evns Brig. Lonstreets Corps

We moved on by Amissville and finally crossed the Rap-
pahannock at ______Ford a a mill where the river was
quite narrow.  this point is some 6 or 8 miles above Jef-
fersonton.  After crossing we moved on rapidly pas-
sing by the village of Orlean in Fauquier about dusk.
We travelled virtually all Monday night, very rapidly
until toward midnight and then holding up to get
some provender and feed our horses, expecting to move
on as soon as this was done.  Instead of this however
we halted in the road some 3 or 4 hours just there,
every moment expecting to be ordered on, and con-
sequently the men either sleeping not at all or
very unsatisfactorily, the night being very cold and
no blankets unrolled.  By dawn, or before we pursued
our onward journey, moving quite rapidly all the forenoon.

Diary fragment begun on the 19th ends at this point.

MSS 5088