Friday, September 21, 2012

1862 September 22 Lynchburg, Va.



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

Monday 22.  Fine weather. Various &
contradictory rumors from the army
-the prevailing feeling one of dejection
credence being given to the lying
accounts of the Yankee papers--but
the arrival of the mail brought
more correct accounts.  The Battle of
Wednesday at Sharpsburg was
one of the bloodiest and best contes
tion of the War--though presently
it was a victory to our army.  We
maintained our ground indeed advan
ced and the enemy fell back
The second day thereupon Lee recros
-sed the Potomac.  This will afford
the enemy pretext of claiming a
victory.  This morning went
with the girls to put them on
board the Packet to carry them
to Bethel where Lanty Morris
carriage was to meet them.  As
an evil augury the boat started
before we reached the wharf &
I had to pursue in a hack.--In
the evening, recd a letter from Fanny
Minor to Mary I. written 18 but
postmarked 22 requesting them not
to come as there was sickness in
the family.  This caused us great
uneasiness. There is no decent
place to stay at and unless they
engaged an express to go for the
carriage I dont know what  they
was their fate. Two more help
-less girls could not be found.  There
is a fatality in our [writing?] to
Lancelot.  I had a dread of some
thing untoward happening.  I think
I shall discourage any further
effort.  Recd a good deal more
money for they asylum.


MSS 4763

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