862 December 18 Lynchburg, Va.

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

Thursday 18--Weather cold but clear
still picking up money for Fredg
No doubt now of the enemy having
retreated across the river at Fredg and
from the Stafford heights--first sack
-ing the town and destroying every
thing they could--They left guns, ammu
nition, knapsacks &c and six hundred
of their unburied dead in the town
and vicinity--reviewing it in all
its relations a\& effects I am incline
to think the victory of Saturday the
greatest of the war--Never did a
host come down more assured of Vic
-tory-never was a defeat more
signal and unexpected-Their loss
was immense counting by the head
but the demoralization of the army
is worth more than the actual loss
ses can doubt that all McClellans
friends, in and out of the army, will
rejoice at Burnsides overthrow.
What next?  I do not think he
will abandon the expedition-He
will most probably cross at Port Roy
-al under cover of his gunboats
He will gain nothing as to route &
will  have to fight another battle
& this time with the whole of
our forces.  We had not 30,000 men
engaged Saturday--Launcelot has
sustained another great loss in the
death of Randolph Fairfax, of
the Rockbridge Artillery, killed Satur-
-day--He accidentally saw it last night
under the obituary news of the Enquirer

He was a most admirable youth. the
loss of two such friends has cast a gloom
upon him.  to day he read me a beau
tiful letter he had written Mrs. Fairfax
The mail this eveg brought me a
letter from M. W. Robertson announcing
the death of Williams youngest son
Landon Carter aged nearly 3 yrs & 4 mos
He did not die of the severe burn he recd
a couple of months since but of congestion
of the Brain.  He was a beautiful little
boy and very engaging.  His death will
be a sever blow to  to[sic] his father--I
rec letter from Wm. L. Goggin, which
I must publish, enclosing 100$ for
Fredg. also letter dated Lovingston from
Edmund J. Lee of Shepherdstown, enclo
sing 80 from himself, Col Rust & Mrs
Pendleton & her daughter


MSS 4763