Friday, November 23, 2012

1862 November 23 Lynchburg, Va.




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

Sunday 23 Last eveng Rev. H.R.
Scott called and sat until qr past 8.
Mary left her chamber to day--the
first time for a week.  One of Lantys
old pupils in Powhatan, Dick Cun-
ningham-was at the Institute, came
to Breakfast & the news is that Burn
side was in Stafford with batteries
directed towards Fredg--the surrender
of which he had demanded, under
pain of shelling it.  the inhabitants
had removed & the town is even
now perhaps ruined.  Its fate brings
war home to me more than other
incidents of the struggle--I know
every foot of the locality so well
what house will be first destroyed
and from what bank the cannon
will be fired--My heart sickens
at the thoughts of so many old
& cherished friends exposed to dire
necessity & want. God hep them-
I am entrusted  [or interested?] in property - but
think nothing of the fate of our
house in comparison with the
misery entailed on the inhabitants

MSS 4763

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