1862 October 17 Lynchburg, Va.

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

Friday 17  Very fine day--closely enga-
-ged--indeed my duties in Bank
have never [been] more arduous--[?] per
diem has increased to what it was
two years ago--We hear nothing de
cisive of the battles in Kentucky, but
all the intimations are that we have
gained victories & drove the enemy
over the Kentucky River--It is very
strange that we should so long be
kept in ignorance--The  Raid of
Stuart into Penna. & Maryland is
not, or has not been until now appre
ciated--Because it is only now
understood that the made a circuit

in the rear of the grand army.  I
thought he had only made a dash
into Penna and returned the same
way he went.  Instead of this he
went to Chambersburg, then turned
to Maryland to his right: passed through
Woodsboro, Liberty, New Market, Ur
banna &c and recrossed the Potomac
at or above the mouth of the Mo
-nocacy--sixty miles below Hancock
when he crossed at where he set out
He passed within 5 miles of Frederick
a great Depot of the army--He did
not have lose a man.  He brought off
a great many horses, equipped his
command with clothing, shoes &
arms & brought off a vast amt
of clothing--besides destroying the
minor commissary  & ordnance stores
at Chambersurg.  History presents
nothing more daring and brilliant
The risk he ran was very  great.  The
nett work of telegraph wires center
ing at McClellans headquarters
brought him early intelligence and
nothing but great sluggishness, one
would think, prevented the assem-
-bling a force on the Banks of the
Potomac--sufficient to oppose his
recrossing.  He is said to have travelled
90 miles in 36 hours--the mortifica
tion of the enemy is extreme

MSS 4763