1862 September 23 Lynchburg, Va.

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

Tuesday 23  Fine weather.  called
on Mrs. Thos. Deane, (Soph Cald-
-well) but did not find her in
She has made an indifferent match
I fear. Strange, after having had so
many advantageous offers.  On my way
to the boat to meet the girls whom
I somewhat expected, recd a dispatch
from Ben that the cars would bring
Mrs. Pierce & her daughters whom
we expected Saturday last.  I waited
for them and renewed the invita
tion, but it was declined, as they
intended going up in the Boat
in the morning to the [?]?]
The Examiner had an article con
fidently affirming that Lee had
pursued McClellan and whipped
him Friday routing his army.  A
dispatch came about dark with
[?] intelligence which was
incompatible with this story.  A
column of 60.000 of the enemy crossed
the River near Shepherdstown--Jack
son fell upon the, destroyed
one of their regiments took 1500
prisoners with very little loss on his
side,--our whole force is certainly on
this side of the Potomac--I dont
think we have much to trust of
in this state of affairs--Willy
Blackford arrived on the Char-
lottesville train, having been appoin
ted Lt and ordered to the court of
instruction Richd to drill [conscripts?]
He left Maryland Thursday Evg  was
in  Seven days  battle, He was in five
days.  He has been in many battles
and bore himself gallantly--The Home
Guard is nearly destroyed--He could
tell nothing of Lanty or Wm

MSS 4763