1862 October 6 Lynchburg, Va.

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

Monday 6.  Warm weather. Charles
called at a little before 6 for Mary
Jane.  They got off on the Orange
train.   We part with the dear little
girl with great regret--one of the
sweetest children I ever saw.
Charles goes to rejoin his regiment
though far from feeling fit for duty.
He is not pleasantly situated--His
troop is small and he is not on
good terms with his colonel.  I wish
he could get a staff appointment
He is admirably qualified for that
line of duty.  I have hopes he may
yet get a place with Jackson, near
whose person he served for some weeks
He is in low spirits. We learn
through Mary R. that Gen. Stuart
has written to the Secretary of War
urging as an act of justice the
promoting of William saying his
services have been invaluable. The
Secretary says there is no promotion
in the Engineer Corps. I hope he
will yet be made a field officer
or some cavalry officer--He hav
ing proved himself greatly--Lewis
is ordered to make a survey of
Louisa County--Eugene went
up this morning to Liberty with
Ben to see a  horse which he bought
The late owner is to keep him un-
til E. is ready to go.  He returned
at 4 in the evening.

MSS 4763