1862 October 9 Lynchburg, Va.

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

Thursday 9  Last night was very
warm. early this morning it became
cold enough to wake me. Still
no signs of rain--The news from
Corinth indicates a serious disaster
there--we have evidently been repulsed
[?] we must expect reverses--Van
Dorn's exulting dispatch before
the battle was fully won is too
much like McClellan's telegram
on the [?] my heart is sore
and desponding. Had a satis-
factory conversation with Meem
about raising our salaries.  He
thinks [?] requires it & says
he will bring it before the board
Saturday.  About night the party
returned from the Natural Bridge
greatly delighted.  They would
have staid until Saturday, but
a new arrangement of the mooring
of the boats would have required
them to wait until Monday.  I
regret they had to come so soon
--they had a good view of the
Bridge--and admired it prodi-
geously --Eugene's leg suffered

MSS 4763