1862 December 17 Lynchburg, Va.

[from the diary of William M. Blackford, former diplomat of Lynchburg, Va., with five sons in the Confederate Army]

Wednesday 17  My appeal to the coun
cil was not in vain--they granted
last evening 2500$ to the Fredg suffer
-ers-with a little better management
much more would have been given
-I made further collections and remit
ted $500 more to Howison.  I shall
not stop until I make up $2500
   Willis & I have agreed that more
help is necessary in the bank &
I shall bring the subject before the
board.  Learned that Mrs Lomax
relict of my venerable friend the Judge
returned to her house after the first
exodus from Fredg. and that when
the shelling took place she could not
be removed being bed ridden- & that
the roof of the house was torn off
by shells.  She was not hurt.
Gen Lee's official report is in   the papers
our line extended from Hamiltons Cros
sing 3 1/2 miles below the town to the Rap
pahannock above Falmoth--Our troops
were on the brow of the hills from
Willis Hill to Fort Hill and between
the Hills and the Rail Road below the
town--the enemy around on our right
from the mouth of Deep Run where
their lowest Pontoon Bridge was
acrooss Pratts field nearly at right
angles to the river.  The column attac
ing on our left were brought out of
the town-the points on the left
where the fiercest assaults were
made were Willis Hill--and Snow-
den-or as they know call Yeaman
Smiths house Stansbury Hill-our loss
was comparatively slight-less than
1800.  the enemy's was very great
At night engaged in putting
up the moreen curtains which I
have done, except when in S.A. annu
ally since our marriage--They were
imported by Gen Minor before his mar
riage-and are therefore nearly as
old as the Federal constitution-they
are but little injured-and where
is the Constitution?


MSS 4763