1862 January 24

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

[Blackford has been in Fredericksburg, Va., attending the funeral of John Minor. See his son Lancelot's letter of January 18]

Friday 24 After breakfast the colonel sent me
in his carriage to the Junction; and I took the
cars for Charlottesville in the hope of reaching
home by 5 oclock. A slight accident detained
us past the hour at which was published
to move until the down train came by and
this broke the connexion at charlottesville
I went to the University and enjoyed a visit
to friends there--On the cars met two officers
of the 5th Alabama and made myself known
to them as Eugenes Father--saw also a gentlemen
who saw Lanty quite well[?] last Sunday at
church in Romney, & said he told him the ar-
tillery were ordered back to Winchester.

MSS 4763