1862 October 11 Lynchburg, Va.

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


Saturday 11  It rained a good deal last
night and during the greater part
of the day. Never was rain more wan-
ted.  The ground was too hard to seed wheat
I hope it is not yet too late.  The Board
discounted some 85,000 half or [?] new
They did an act of justice to the offi-
cers in a handsome manner--[voting?]
unanimously to increase the salaries
25 percent to commence with 1 Jan
exception--my case.  My advance pay
is to begin 1 July--owing to the board
having paid for substitutes for Miller
and Christian & lately given 300$ to
Mr Jellie  This does not place me
on an equality but I am very [much?] [content?]

the percentage of advance is larger
than I expected.  I did not look for
more than 20 per cent. this measure
makes my salary $2812.50--or $562.50
more than it was.  It will be a
very seasonable help though still
the salary is not more than half
as valuable as it was two years
ago.--for I cannot name an article
of living that has not doubled in price,
while most of them range from
three to ten times the price they for-
merly brought.  Our profits in Bank
this half year will be very large
We have an interest bearing fund
of near $1.100.00--one half of it at
8 percent.--nothing of any interest
during this day--In the At night
Drs. Williams & Johnson called and
sat an hour or two.



MSS 4763