1862 September 17 Lynchburg, Va.

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

Wednesday 17.  the morning papers bring
an apparently authoritive account
of the capture of six or 8 thousand
Yankees at Harpers Ferry, by a
division under A P Hill which
crossed the Potomac at Williams
port.  I hope this is true.  Later
in the day a report, which was
traced to the Telegraphic oper-
ator [prevailed?] that Gen. Sam
Garland Jr had been killed
in the battle which [prevented?] us
the surrender--Though [?]
it makes me very uneasy.  News
from Lorings Army offensive shows
he has had severe skirmishing
with the enemy, but has drawn
them down the Kanawha with
much loss & taken Charlestown
which they burnt, together with
all their stores.  Gen Jenkins with
a thousand cavalry was below them
and the probability is they will all
be taken--The salt works were
not much injured--salt worth
35 c a bushel there.  Surely every
thing is prospering  Nothing certain
of the movement upon Penna
I think a battle in Fredk Co
will be necessary before an advance
is made--A letter was recd from
wm H. Blackford dated 8th from
the Monocacy--He says nothing of
Wm. or Lanty  No mail from
Richd.  quite a busy day in Bk
--sold the Government agent
J. B. Ferguson £6800 sterling at
140 for amt.  Ferguson goes to
England to buy blankets and
cloth--Mary Green spent the
eveng with us.  Charle & Sue
called---

MSS 4763