1862 December 19 Lynchburg, Va.

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

Friday 19  Weather fine & pleasant.  No
news of any particular interest.  The
importance of the victory at Fredericks
-burg is more and more magnified
as the particulars are known--our
loss will not exceed 1800 or 2000 men
while the enemys will reach 15,000
It appears Burnside was not on the
field-not on the same side of the river

not in the same county with his army
The Yankee correspondents represent
him as stationed in the Balcony of
Alex Philips's new home on the Staf
ford Hills about 1 1/2 miles from the
River on the old stage road to Aquia
Creek.  There with a powerful glass
he is represented as watching the bat
-tle and dispatching couriers with
the injunction to"lose no time."  Here
he is represented by his toadies as
giving his armies orders with the
greatest coolness & promptitude.
In a direct line he was at least
four miles from where the hottest
of the battle on his left took place
Our generals were all under fire
what would have been thought of
Gen Lee had he took up his post
at  Chewnings in the war--The whole
of the enemy's force have recrossed
the Rappahanock--Fredericksburg
-or what is left of it was occupied
by our Troops Monday  The enemys
soldiers sacked the town before leaving
it, ruthlessly destroying furniture
and every thing they could lay their
hands on.......

MSS 4763