Rockbridge Artillery (Capt McLaughlin)
1st Brigade (Gen T. J. Jackson)
2d Corps (Gen J.W. Smith)
C.S. Army of the Potomac
Mrs. Wm. M. Blackford-Lynchburg
My Dear Mother
I wrote you a
long letter from our camp at Fairfax Co. Ho.
on Monday week, and another short one from
this place a few days later, announcing
our removal and new location. I hope
both were received. I intended to write
again before this, but have been unavoid-
ably prevented every day this week until
now, indeed it is not as easy to write
now as it used to be, as the weather is
getting too cold to sit in the open air and
it is not always possible to get a place tol-
erably suitable and quiet in our tents. Your
own & fathers letter of the 13th reached
me on Monday, just 8 days old. They are al-
ways thus delayed when sent by any other
way than directly by mail to me, never
when I believe none of the letters I have
written or of those written to me, have failed
to reach their destination in good time when
sent directly by mail
[page 2]
In my last letter I described the retreat from
Fairfax C.H. which newspaper correspondents
very falsely call, orderly and well constructed.
It struck me as being anything else, though
I do not pretend to be a judge. One thing
is certain, there was a considerable loss
of property, for the lack of transportation,
which it appears to me might have been
avoided by a trifling degree of foresight.
But I do not meant to criticise military
movements or strategy for truly of all the
departments of human science there is none
of which I feel so much inclined to say
“it is too high for me–I cannot attend
unto it.” The natural disposition to form
and express opinions on public transactions
it is no easy for the civilian to repress.
I have perfect confidence in our generals &
especially in Johnston, the commander-in-chief,
and do not , as a general thing, allow myself
even to form an opinion, much less express
one in relation to what they decree. As
regards the prospect of a general engagement
here I can add nothing to what my last
letter contained. There are not further data
Known to the army. Of one thing I feel confident
[page 3]
that our generals–at least Johnston, Smith
and Beauregard expect the enemy to advance
and consequently to meet them in full force,
this too by or before 1st Novr. I do not
know how the late repulse of the Yan-
kees near Leesburg may modify the ambi-
tions of McClellan or the expectations of Johnston
The victory gained by Evans the day be-
fore yesterday is a brilliant affair, by all
accounts and one for which we have
great occasion to be thankful to the Giver
of all good. I have just seen a congratulation
-or what is called a “congratulatory order”-
from Gen Johnston to be read to the army
this evening at dress parade in which he
indicates the many points of our success
at Leesburg, compliments highly Col Evans &
his brigade and felicitates the army on the
victory. He says our thanks as an army
are due to the officer & troops engaged at Leesburg.
Several regiments of infantry and four pieces
of the Washington Artillery–that gallant
corps–have gone in the last 24 hours to
Leesburg, with a view, it is supposed, to
strengthen Evans against any immediate
attempt on the enemy’s part to retrieve himself
[page 4]
The large number of troops encamped about
Centreville appears to have made it necessary
to curtail in measure the indulgences
as to moving about formerly enjoyed by some
of the army and particularly the artillery
In other words the regulations for the Troops
generally are much stricter than formerly &
our arm of the service, at least this Co, is now
no exception to the general rule. We are not per-
mitted to leave the camp lines without a written
permit and that not given except for a spe
cified purpose and very limited time. All
visiting outside our works is thus forbidden
& though the letter of the law in this res-
pect may be, and doubtless sometimes is,
evaded. This regulation is very tantalizing
and annoying as we are within a mile or
two at furthest of series of friends & acquaintances
In addition to the increased strictness above
referred to our artillerymen have a good deal
of increased duty too in order to enforce the
other in the shape of a camp guard, or line
of sentinels all around our encampment. Gen-
erally we have only a guard over our horses
and guns, and no sentinels properly so called,
except when we have brigade guard around us at Camp Harman
[page 5]
This arrangement makes it necessary for
us to be on guard every third or fourth
day, which in view of the inclement
or at least uncomfortable weather we
often have now is very unpleasant, par
ticularly rising at all hours of the night,
according to the time one has to go on post
to tread the weary beat for two hours.
My excellent great coat protects me from
all weather however as well as garment
could. It is the envy of my comrades
generally and of sentinels in particular.
In addition to the increased guard duty,
we have drills as usual and the other
duties of camp by details as common
There are however by no means onerous.
Our camp here is one of the best in
the vicinity, but the remoteness of water
and wood makes it far less desirable than
either of the other ones we have had
in the county. We do not think we
will hold this position long though of
course the future in this respect as others
here is more than usually uncertain
[page 6]
The lack of writing paper which ere long
may begin to make itself seriously felt
is one which I shall much deplore. For
a soldier I have on hand a good supply
and several quires more of [fools]cap in my travelling
trunk tray at home which I shall put in requi
sition for letters when necessary. Meanwhile
I presume I need only economise paper by
not wasting it it will be scarcely worth
while for me to shorten my letters home
on this account You observe that I do
not leave much uncovered when I write
You and father would probably be able
to find a larger supply of paper at the
University book stores than at any other
conveniently in reach. If there be really
occasion I hope father will lay in a
large supply for himself & me beforehand.
There has been less demand on the supply
of stationery in the University stores during
this past few months, I imagine, than others
I have been much interested in all you
tell me of Mr. Brooke and am very glad
he proposes to join this Co. Robt. Hunter
as I mentioned before, has spoken to me
of his intentions etc. I was at college
[page 7]
with Hunter in 1855-56, and knew and like
him well We have renewed our acaquain
-tance very pleasantly in the army.
He is now Adjt of the 2d Va Regt in this
Brigade, and we are always very near
each other. I know Joe Sherrard too, the
son of pa’sold friend. He is a very pre-
possessing fellow, and I am informed
distinguished himself highly by gallantly
in the battle of Manassas. He is a
private in the “Winchester Rifles”–Co. F
2d Va. Regt., but at present is a home sick
It is a source of much pleasure to me
that our house has so long been the
asylum of sick soldiers. In addition to
the reward afforded by the consciousness
of a humane act done it may be “bread
cast upon the waters.” The good name
of our excellent people of Lynchburg will
not soon fade from the recollection of
a large portion of C. S. soldiers, as vindicated by
the courtesies of the citizens to well men
& their attentions to sick ones, in private
homes and scarcely less the Ladies’ Hospital.
I have heard with lively pleasure of the
success of the latter excellent enterprise.
[page 8]
I had not heard that Dr. Shelton was to
be married. Who was the lady & whence?
I was not a little surprised that Mr.
Kean was to run for Congress and in view
of the fact that he stands no chance
of election, regret it. I shall vote for
him however, as I suppose will the
family generally. The mention in father’s
letter of the 13th of Ned Cunningham being
sick at Mr. Deane’s was the first intimation
I had of his being in Lynchburg, except
a vague one through some one in the army.
I heard too his parents were with him.
I hope you all may have shown or will
show him some attention as to a valued
and dear friend of mine, & to Mr. & Mrs. C,
if they are in town, as good friends of mine
to whom I am under many obligations
for great kindness and many courtesies when
I lived with them & since in my visits to Powh[ata]n
Ned is a first rate fellow every way and
a friend whom I always remember with
affection and desire to retain steadfast
I always recur to the time spend Mr C’s
roof as a period than which I have spent none
since more pleasantly or profitably.
[squeezed in lower right corner]
Please give my love
to Ned if you have
any opportunity & my
respects to his parents.
[page 9]
We are as you know still quartered in tents
and so expect to continue for weeks to come.
The weather is growing cold now and all
of us experience of course a good deal of dis-
comfort but those of us who are well
clad & provided with bed furniture manage
to get on very well so far, much better
I am sure than our friends think. there
is a vast difference between entire comfort
and a degree of it such as a soldier will
congratulate himself with possessing or be
satisfied with. The latter I, and those
you care most for in the army, have, &
have no right to complain. Our troops
must suffer greatly this winter, however
much the home folks exert themselves
in their behalf, but for myself I endea-
vour not to “take trouble on trust.” We
maintain a great deal of cheerfulness
as a general thing, and try and make
the best of everything. Our sick list is
very small and the general health &
vigour of the company good. In our mess
there are 3 or 4 who amuse themselves
[page 10]
laughing at each other for being so fat.
My own health continues unimpaired,
I am thankful to say, and those who
have not seen me for some time are
constantly telling me I look better
than they ever saw me.
Last Sunday we had no preaching ac-
cessible but at 11 o’ck we had a prayer
meeting in my tent attended by as many
as it would hold and that crowded.
I had the pleasure of conducting it. For
an hour thus we occupied ourselves prof-
itably and pleasantly At night this meeting
was repeated in a tent near mine. I
together with 2 or 3 other fellows accustomed
to such exercises, sought and gained permis-
sion to hold a meeting in a large tent
occupied by the drivers and others of the
rougher sort of our men some really hard
cases. The attendance consisted of the inmates
of the tent and others of the same stamp
generally, to the number of 15 or 20. The
attention and interest manifested was
very marked; the order, I need not add, perfect.
I have seldom attended a more pleasant
meeting. We expect to continue them if possible
[page 11]
twice, at least once, every week. I have never
seen a better field for the exercise of effort
to evangelize than this Co. affords, for although
the majority of the men are such as you
know there are many of the sort above re-
ferred to who have apparently not much idea
of religious obligations Etc, though very willing
to be approached & influenced in this regard.
There are indeed few aagins tents in this co. where
a proposition to hold a prayer meeting will
not be willingly and even gladly responded to
Tracts are eagerly read: this however is no
peculiarity for soldiers generally are ready
Enough to take and read them. As you
have opportunity I wish you would send
me some tracts, by the way.
Please ask father to send me five dollars
(- if convenient, if not less will do) in one dollar
notes on the Farmers’ or Va Bank. They may be
sent in a letter, better in two instalments
to save risk. Not half of what I brought from
home is gone yet, but I wish to husband the gold.
I beg he will keep a strict account of all
he spends for me as I shall in time have
of my pay quite enough to reimburse him
fr all that I owe him. I would be glad to
[page 12]
have a dollar or two in small silver change
sent me by the first opportunity This is often
useful, and of course very hard to get here
After the retreat from Fairfax C.H. Randolph
McKim gave up his nice berth with Haskell
in Gen. Smith’s Staff and returned to his musket
in the 1st Md. Regt. Haskell was very sorry to
give him up but Ran was moved to it by
the double consideration that a fight seemed
imminent , and that he did not feel it right
for him to be enjoying a life f comparative
Ease while his comrades in arms were exposed
to the increased hardships of the infantry service.
These motives he himself has told him moved
him to the change. They are, you will agree
with me most honourable: just what I wd
have expected from the man. Ran
was here to see me this evening. He is the
very picture of health, vigour & manly comeliness
and always a cheerful and ardent soldier.
He acknowledges gratefully and reciprocates
your kind remembrances of him. The 1st Md.
is about 3/4 mile from this camp; in sight, I believe.
I speak of many of our soldier friends as looking well very often
you know This is noteworthy: young men who at all good-looking
as a general thing appear handsomer than ever before after a few weeks service.
[page 13]
Thursday–Oct 24/61
Your letter of the 20th, with the one of the
same date from father reached me yesterday.
My letters & papers come very regularly, and so
I have no fault to find with the P.O. Dept.
The same mail yesterday brought me a letter
from Chas. Trueheart at the University making
enquiries as to lutfit Etc for this Co. He,
Chas. Minor, of Brook Hill, and John Maury
(Cousin Mat’s John) are coming to join us. These
with Mr. Brooke will be valuable accessions
I need not say that I will take great plea-
sure in shewing Mr. B. all the attention in
my power when he gets here, and in doing
what I can to make his berth an easy one
I am confident that, going in as a private
as he does, he will be better suited in this
Co. than any he could find in the service.
Your letter, my dear mother, was one of
your very best and gave me great pleasure.
I only regret that I am not more worthy
of the good opinion my parents have of me,
though I do honestly strife to deserve the
Kind estimate they hold of my character.
Whatever good there is in it I owe in largest measure to their training
[page 14]
It is a great comfort to us in the army
to think that our friends at home pray
for us, in private, in the social meeting, in
family worship, and in church. I hope Mr.
Kinckle used that beautiful prayer for the
soldiers he has sometimes read, and a copy of
which I presume father uses in family worship
as I left a MS[?] copy of it in the book of prayer
We here pray for “our friends at home,” in
private, in meeting, and in the regular mor-
ning & evening prayers of our soldier’s chaplain,
(Rev. Mr. Goul of Louisa, a Presbyterian minister)
at reveille and tattoo. They are constantly remembered
Berkeley is generally well, though he has been
a little ailing for a few days. I do not
think there is much the matter. He
sends his love to you and all at home.
When Trueheart, Manny & Minor join us their
will be five of the Minor clan in this Co.
I have written once to Uncle John at some
length and expect to write again ere long.
I am fond of writing letters but the cold
weather now begins to make it hard to
do with comfort, and then I devote a good
part of my time for this employment to
writing home which I do not wish to curtail
[page 15]
I am very much obliged to father for his
letter which is a longer one than he has
favoured me with for some time. I have
not time now to respond to the military
part of it, as I would wish, but think his
views very just. It is impossible to look
forward to a general engagement here without
infinite anxiety, as he says, however great
the confidence in our generals and troops,
for accidents do often turn the fate of
battles. We must trust in God to bring us
out aright, and strive to leave contentedly
the issue to his providence.
I met several weeks ago with Lt. Col. Botts
and see him frequently. He has treated me
with marked attention and immediately
established the footing of Kinship and auld
lang syne between us. He is said to be a
very pious & excellent man and a great fav
orite with the men: he has inquired
repeatedly and particularly after the different
members of our family. I have had the satisfac-
tion of letting him meet bros. Chas. and Eugene.
He told me “his first name was Lawson, and
that he should call us by ours’ and wished
us to call us by his like old times” Of course I could not do this.
[page 16]
John B. Haskell, the young man pa met last year
is certainly chief of the Commissary Dept in Gen
G. W. Smith’s staff. He is about 19 or 20 yrs. old.
I have read with great interest the excel-
lent address of Breckenridge to the people of Ky.
If it does not rouse those who can see it;
nothing will. The people of Ky. however have
gotten down very low and have a great
deal to do to redeem themselves in my opinion
I hope when the “Southern Churchman”
begins to be issued again that father will
send it to me regularly. I shall welcome
its reappearance gladly—-
Why does not Mary write to me? She has
never acknowledged my long letter further
than by a single page. If she saw the
difficulties under which I often write
she would not think it a hard matter
to write now and then sitting before a good
fire, in a chair with a back to it, etc. She ought
to write me the “small talk”—-
I must now conclude to save the mail
though a usual I have plenty more to say–
my love to all at home, with Kindest regards
to the servants, especially Peggy. My love too to
Sister Sue and to all the family at Dr. B.’s.
Your affectionate son
L.M. Blackford.
Lancelot Minor Blackford, 1837-1914, one of the five Blackford brothers to attend the University of Virginia was later principal of Episcopal High in Alexandria for over 40 years.
MSS 5088
