1862 September 14 Lynchburg, Va.

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

Sunday 14th.   Here is a hiatus [?]
A fortnight of great interest--marked
by momentous events, and great per
=sonal anxiety, and yet not an entry
to record the passing news or impres
sion.  I was too busy in fact to
record what was going on.

The success of our arms on the 28.29
&30-last month in the vicinity of
Manassas was most glorious and de
cisive.  The enemy were outgener
aled  and whipped in a [?]?]
ley inferior numbers -- and with a
disparity of loss most wonderful
The demoralization of their army
was very great. Their loss in killed
wounded prisoners & missing is not
below 35,000--their dead five times
at least as many as ours--I was
kept in great suspense as to the
fate of William & Launcelot until
Friday 5 when a telegram from
D. O.P. Fairfax  [?] of Richd.
informed me they were both un
hurt as late as Sunday Aug 31st ha
ving passed safely through the great
trois jours.  His son Randolph
a messmate of Lanty had written
to him & requested him to inform me
Saturday 6 having been assured
that Eugene would be able to leave
Monday 8 I went to Richd via Char
lottesville, where I saw for a few min-
-utes Dr. Davis.  Found Eugene looking
pretty well but unable to stand alone

Next day heard certain news of the
advance of Lee into Maryland with
60 or 70,000 men.  It was quite electr=
=fying --I cannot [?] from myself
the hazard of the enterprize and
yet it was the only alternative
Heard Mr. Peterkin preach Sunday &
partook in his church of the Holy Com
munion---Monday at 5 pm left Rich
-mond in the packet boat with
a great many passengers. Eugene had
assigned to him the servants room
where he was made quite comfor
-table.  Mary Gwatkins & her child ac
companied us.  We had at least 70
to sleep in the cabin the first night
On the whole the voyage was not
unpleasant.  We arrived yesterday
morng at qr past 6 and found Mr
Dean in watching for us, with an
ambulance--but Dr. Green had sent
his carriage.  Found all well at
home & learned in Richd that Wil
-liam had a horse killed under him
on the Monday after the great battle
at the skirmish at Germantown
noting of any marked interest since
my return--Eugene improving on the
whole, but his leg has swollen again.

Last night Mr. Wyndham Robertson
came in, just from home.  Mary &
children all well--He is on his road
to take his seat in the Legislature
Bishop Elliott spent Thursday Evg
with us.  He was called here by a te-
legram from his son who was wounded
slightly at Manassas
   An excellent and appropriate
sermon from Mr. Kinckle--prepara
tory to the Thanksgiving on Thursday
large congregation--Cha Garlick
& Jane returned from church and
dined with us--they go to morrow
to Richd to [?] We shall miss
them exceedingly--Jane is one of
the best of women.  There will re
main in family which will stand
in the same relation to us -- Charles
Sue & Anna Colston came over in
the eveng. The two former both very
[?] of [?] Sue had one
of her dangerous attacks while
on a visit to Briery Knowe . Wrote
to Launcelot & William and gave
the letters to Rev. M. Thomas, who
is going to Fredrick city and may
have an oppty of sending the letters

though I feel that they are bread
cast upon the waters.  It is very
[tantalizing?] and trying to the patience
the little news we have from the
army--service tonight

MSS 4763