Saturday June 7 1862
Camp of the Rockbridge Artillery
1st Brigade–Army of the Valley
near Port Republic Rockingham Va.
Wm. M. Blackford, Esqr. Lynchburg
My Dear Father
My last was
dated on the 29th ult. at Charlestown
and brought my narrative down to the
morning of Saturday the 24th, the day
after the battle at Front Royal
That letter I found it for a long
time and various reasons impossible
to finish and indeed you will now
probably receive it at the same time
with this. Last Wednesday I received
your letter and mother’s of June 1 &
was truly thankful to hear of Eugene’s
safety in the terrible battle at Rchd
though deeply pained at the other
losses sustained by our town. More
of these thins anon: Thursday I got
the letter sent by Major Seddon. It was
[page 2]
handed to me in Harrisonburg by a
member of this co. who had been there
sick. I do not know how he came by
it. Many and warm thanks for the
thoughtful kindness that prompted
these letters from mother, yourself
and Mary. They are a great treat to
me and serve to alleviate the hard-
ships of the service–of late truly
severe–more than almost anything
I know. I would write myself as
formerly twice a week but the
thing is impossible while Gen Jackson
runs us about so constantly as he does.
Since the 30th April, the morning
we left Swift Run Gap, 16 miles from
here, 38 days have elapsed. Of these
we have been on the march 32 days
and have marched about 400 miles
i.e. an average of 12 1/2 miles a day–
Much of this has been done in rain
[page 3]
and mud and over very bad roads,
though roads and weather have been for
the most part good. As mentioned before,
short rations of food, carrying our
own baggage, and having imperfect
shelter from the weather at night
(no tents) have greatly enhanced iy
trials. One of the greatest perhaps
I did not mention, and that is the
short allowance of sleep of nights.
We have rarely gotten to camp before
sundown or near that time, and then
the delay about getting the rations from
the Brigade Commissariat and mediately[?]
from our own commissary, the cooking
of supper and next day’s rations,
generally kept us up until 10 at
least, often later This difficulty was
of course enhanced when, as has been
often the case, we have not gotten to
our camp until 8,9, 10, or even 11 or 12 o’ck
[page 4]
The usual time for Reveille on a march
is 3 A.M. so you observe this left but
a brief time for the rest of men broken
down by a fatiguing march. Still
more was this quantity diminished
by those who were unfortunate enough
to be on guard, as this always lessened
by 2 and sometimes 4 hours the time
of rest. Guard duty used to come
round not oftener than once a week,
but now owing to our weakness of
numbers from death, wounds, and sick-
ness it comes much oftener–
Since the 11th March last Jackson’s
Division has marched 600 miles. this
is not yet quite 3 months back (it
is the date of the first evacuation of
Winchester) so that is 200 miles a month
for the whole time. This marching wears
out in shoe leather enough to eat up the wages
if the time, at least such has certainly
[page 5]
been the case for the last six weeks.
I am such ably provided however with
shoes, of which I found plenty about
Winchester and Charlestown, and sup-
plied myself I have not yet heard
any thing of Lt. Hale and the $25.00
you sent. I take it for granted he
did not get to Winchester. I saw
there w days after the fight Capt.
Hale, his brother who was wounded.
He is an old college mate of mine.
For 10 days now we have had rain
and to day the skies are still threatening.
But few days of these 10 have been alto-
gether rainy, but every day we have
had some falling weather and some furious
rains. You can for but little idea
how immensely this enhanced the hard
ships of a march. Bad weather is the
greatest enemy of the solidiers’ comfort.
[page 6]
I reenter upon the the account of the bril-
liant exploits of a fortnight since with
much less alacrity than I did before
in view of the sequel. You have
already heard of our falling back
from Winchester and all the lower
Valley: a bitter pill to all of us, but
a stern military necessity as any
one can see at a glance. Fremont
from the northern and Shields from
the Southern side of the great Valley
route were pressing on and had we
not hastened our retreat of course
we must have been cut off, indeed
surrounded, as the forces from Balte
and Washington with the remnant
of Bank’s Division were concentrating
at Harper’s Ferry. We came off however
in time to bring off all of the large
spoils realized from the enemy, with
some trifling exceptions.
[page 7]
Saturday morning, 24th ult., we did not
leave Front Royal until about 9 o’clock
I meant the main body of the army;
I suppose the delay being for the pur
pose of resting the troops. Meanwhile
however of course our cavalry were
out continuing to bag prisoners, of
whom squads of five, ten, scores, and
even hundreds passed us constantly
during our march forward during the
day going to the rear. The day
was cool, cloudy, and part of the time
very rainy. Before the battery had gotten
e3 miles on its way our two Parrott
guns were sent on ahead and were
actively engaged during the day under
a cavalry escort, at different points,
shelling the fugitives. We had 2 or 3
men wounded in this, as the enemy
at first made a stand and replied
with their own long range guns.
[page 8]
I work myself with a brass smooth bore
six pounder, and so in common with the
remaining other detachments, ours was
not engaged until the next morning
the long march of Friday–25 miles
in hot sun with frequent drinkings
of cold water brought on me that
night a severe dysentery which contin-
ued through Saturday, and up to the
time of the battle Sunday morning
I took no medicine, but singular
to say, the “secession pills” to whose
delay I was so exposed on that fear-
ful field appear to have acted as a
perfect remedy. Certain it is I have felt
no worse of my complaint except
its weakening effect for a day or
two–from the time I went on that
field of battle until now. The
cure was complete, and has struck
me as strange and amusing
[page 9]
so great was my prostration from the
effects of the malady referred to that
I had serious doubts of the possibility
of my going on with the battery when
we left Front Royal: indeed at one time
I had obtained permission to remain
and come on in the wagons About
this time however I heard cannonading
in the front and became so well as-
sured that we would have a fight
before the wagons would be up with
the battery again that I determined
at all hazards to go on. I could not
walk, being more sick than I ever re-
membered to have been, out of my bed,
but got on pretty well by riding on the
caisson (a thing generally forbidden on
a march) as I did until about 15 miles
before going on the field next morning
I suffered a good deal the while.
[page 10]
A few miles below Front Royal, on the
pike leading to Winchester, there is a
road leading across to Middletown on
the Valley pike, 12 miles from Winchester.
This is rather an indirect route, the
other is only 18 miles. A part of the
troops pressed on by the direct road,
(Ewell’s Division, I believe) and ours, or
most of it, cut across to Middletown
I am not sure about how the troops
were allotted for this advance, I only
know that they pressed on in two
columns, upon different roads. The
object I understand to have been with
one body to head them at Winchester
and with the other to pierce their col-
umn retreating from Strasburg and cut
them off, at lest in part. There ob-
jects were both accomplished, but whether
as fully as was designed or expected
I am unable to say.
[page 11]
The march across from one turnpike
to the other was rapidly done. the
road was a pretty good one and the
troops in excellent spirits; the latter
much bettered constantly by [?]
the squads of prisoners going to the rear
under guard, also many cavalry men
leading horses fully equipped and fur-
nished,–one man often leading 4 or
5 as trophies. their riders had been
dismounted, and doubtless generally
taken prisoners. there was sharp
cavalry skirmishing that morning
and many cavalry men & horses taken
We found a whole yardfull of prisoners
at Middletown that had just been
captured. After getting fairly out
on the valley turnpike toward Winchester
below Middletown the sight of presented
to our view was really very imposing
It was a very pretty evening & the wide
[page 12]
straight road gently undulating exhibited
to excellent advantage our long column
–as far as the eye could reach before
and behind my position–marching
rapidly on. The Infantry and artillery
in due proportion and succession came
on smoothly and in excellent order.
The bands were playing and banners floating
and as the lengthening beams of the sun
shot athwart the thousands of bayo-
nets of our brave Infantry their glis-
tening was beautiful. The interest of the
scene to me was enhanced by
the fact that the regiments nearest
to me were those of our own Brigade
and the beautiful flag of Virginia
–pierced with the many bullet holes
of the Kernstown battle–reminded
me that now we were going on, as I
was confident we were, to accomplish
what the 23rd March left unattained.
[page 13]
We had not gone far from Middletown
when the signs of the rout, at least the
precipitate retreat of the Enemy, became
more and more apparent. I refer to
the scores of the enemy’s wagons that
were strewn along the roads, the teams
generally cut out and gone, though
some were left With the wagons
now and then were ambulance of
the best quality and great variety.
The vehicles were generally run off to
the side of the road so as to leave a
free passageway and in some instances
the efforts of the driver to injure
them by the suddenness of the turn
was partially successful. The wagons
were filled with every variety of sol-
diers baggage and equipment, with pro-
visions, sutler’s stores, etc etc, in endless
number The wagons themselves were fist rate
[page 14]
The troops plundered them without
hesitation, only a very few being guarded.
Most of our men got plenty of simple
sweet things to eat–a most grateful
acquisition—and at once place where
we halted, some of the fellows hoisted
a whole barrel of ginger-ckes into
our ambulance for the use of our co.
There were strewn along the roadside
hundreds of the best quality of knap
sacks, haversacks, etc, many of them filled
At Front Royal as well as here, and
after the battle of Sunday beyond
Winchester, immense numbers of them
were packed up by our soldiers, also huge
numbers of over coats, rubber blankets,
pouches, surtouts and caps. I secured
a very superior one of the ponchos
which as already added immensely
to my comfort in the many rains
we have since had. Berkeley go tone too,
[page 15]
we also got a first rate waterproof
knapsack and haversack apiece. I took
no part int he plundering of the wagons
being too unwell, even if I had felt
entirely satisfied of its propriety–
I wish I could give you an adequate
idea of the unusual variety of their
contents and of the evidence they
afforded of the almost luxurious
manner of living among the Yankee
soldiery. Lemons, oranges, dates, hermit-
ically sealed fruits and vegetables, candies,
jellies, pickles,–tea, coffee, sugars etc.
As we approached Newtown–4 miles from
Middletown our halts became more fre-
quent than before and the fellows
had better opportunities to help themselves,
and I to look around. At one long
halt about sundown we fed our horses
from some crates of hay in a Yankee
wagon close at hand & ready for use.
[page 16]
We passed through Middletown about
3 or 4 P.M. but did not go through Newton
until after dark, the enemy’s retreat
becoming more slow as night came
on and being more and more tardy
from that time until they made
the stand in the morning at Winchester
In Newton though it was night we
met with just such an enthusiastic
reception as was meet[?] The people stuck
candles in their windows by way of
illumination, and the ladies stood
in the doorways and porches and waved
congratulations which we could but
imperfectly see for the darkness. In passing
through this village the street being very broad the
troops marched in double column In this way
the Louisiana Brigade was thrown abreast of us.
These gallant fellows then led and cheered lustily
as all our men had, dark as it was, and
such a noise you never heard, all the
while the army was passing through
[page 17]
At Newtown the enemy had gained some
time by their artillery firing checking our
advance and just beyond the village we
discovered that they had availed them-
selves of the opportunity to set fire to
a number of wagons. These we found
burning brightly and wholly ruined.
Among other things was a great scow
such as you see on the canal. This
hey had on wheels and had evidently
hauled up the valley for navigating
the Shenandoah. I may add, to relieve
apprehension, it was not a gunboat (!!)
A little beyond Newton the rascals
prepared an ambuscade by crouching be
hind a stone wall and pouring in a
fire on our infantry advance. This created
some confusion but did little other
harm and the enemy were soon com
pelled to retire–We had no further such annoyances.
[page 18]
We marched the whole night, pushing the
enemy on inch by inch, as it were, be-
fore us. You may judge that our progress
was slow and stops frequent when
I tell you we did not make more
than some 6 or 7 miles during the whole
night. Sunrise found us within 1 1/2
miles of Winchester. Our two Parrott
guns were ahead already operating
on the enemy’s lines at long range,
the firing being sharply returned. this
measured duelling of artillery at this
hour and place convinced me of what
I had had but little doubt before
viz that we must have a battle
before seeing Winchester again. After a
short delay they began to distribute
the troops for action. We were all still
in a low place in the road and could
not see the battle field at all, though
the cannonading was near and loud.
[page 19]
Our battery or rather the four remaining
guns were ordered to the left up a steep
road by a mill and along a lane to
a position afterwards to be assigned.
As we passed and discovered across a
branch that skirted our road within
a short distance behind us the tents of a Yankee
camp all left standing. It must have
been a regiment or two, and the tents
seemed all the best Sibley. I do
not know whether the enemy could
see us in this road or not but if not they
must have guessed our passage there
by the shower of shot and shell that
blew over our heads, albeit harmlessly
to any of ours. We took two posts
under two hills to await orders for
taking position and then were ordered
successively from each to the top of
a third–not hill, but gentle eminence.
Here we unlimbered and went to work.
[page 20]
Previous to this time in our several posts
of reserve and on the passage to the field
we had been under fire–(literally under
it as the missive blew over our heads) for
1/2 or 3/4 hour but with very few or any casualties.
When our battery opened, as it did in
short order, it immediately drew the
special attention of the enemy’s guns
which were enfiladed on us, and not over
500 yds. distance, I believe. In addition
to this they must have had a corps of
their sharp-shooters playing upon us
from the number of wounds received
from minnié balls in our col As said
before it was by far the hottest and
most destructive fire t his battery had
ever been under. All of our men stood
up to the mark faithfully, so far as I know,
though our excessive fatigue & exhaustion prevented
the battery from being as rapidly handled
as it would otherwise have been. You never
saw men so broken down as we had good reason
to be. We worked here for about 1 1/4 hours. At least
so some one told me who noticed.
[page 21]
I would fain describe accurately the striking
and thrilling scenes but can only give
it to you by dashes here and there
as I can recal[l] them. My recollection
is chiefly confined of course to my
own detachment, though the four were
abreast and operating together
The first man wounded as far as I know
was one of the drivers from to our gun.
Just as the piece had been unlimbered
and he was putting the limber in position
in the rear I noticed him quickly dis-
mount and fall to the rear. The sergeant
asked him what was the matter. He
exclaimed “My arm’s broke”: he was right,
and another took his place. Washn.
Stuart (a friend and connection of Fanny
Cazenove’s) a very nice fellow, and old col-
lege mate of mine, who had been a mem
ber of the co. but a week, had no regular
[page 22]
number but was among the supernume-
raries behind the limber waiting to relieve
some of the cannoneers. Our No 3 became
much exhausted, and Stuart was summoned
and went with alacrity to take his place.
Poor fellow he had not fired the gun
once when a minié ball ploughed the
side of his face shockingly and he was drawn
off, speechless if not senseless, to the rear.
Another took his place and our furious
work went on. About this time I looked
to the right and saw my friend Jno.
McGregor, Jr. (my fellow M.A. of ’62) borne
off bathed in blood: I then recognized
him as the one who had exclaimed a
few minutes before–“I’m killed!”—or
some such expression of terror. Poor
fellow, the ball pierced his arm above
the elbow, (breaking no bone however) and went
round his back, coming out on the other sided.
The force was mainly spent or of course the ball
[page 23]
would have been fatal. As it is his wound
is very serious though I hope not dangerous.
Again I heard some one within 20 yds.
of me exclaim–“Help here, McKim is
not dead yet!”—and I saw Robert
McKim borne off the field insensible
and almost hopeless, though he lived
some hours longer. The top of his head
was fractured & furrowed by a bullet.
He was just adjusting the primer in
the touchhole of the howitzer ( to which
he was no. 3) and was holding the lan-
yard, when he fell backward in his
mortal pang. A little later a solid
shot (or unexploded shell) dashed right
over my head (having first shattered
the wheel of my gun, and of course silenced
it for the time) and with ligh[t]ning quickness
went through and through the two
lead horses of our limber within 5 feet of which
[page 24]
I was. the horses were standing a little
sidewise, so that the ball transfixed them
The poor beasts made a desperate lunge
round to the left– ( I was on the right)
and were quickly disengaged from the
harness-just in time to die At the
same time the driver of the wheel horses
of the same limber was wounded, scarcely
I imagine by the same ball, though it
had than appearance. Our gun was now
pretty much hors de combat; its wheel
shattered, two horses killed, and six men of
the detachment wounded–two very slightly
though incapacitated for further work.
The battle by this time was declining
however, or rather the artillery part of it,
and fierce musketry had begun. soon
heard our men cheering and ere long the
glad tidings came that our infantry had
charged their batteries, that they had limbered
up and their whole force as in rapid flight.
[page 25]
Berkeley had a narrow escape of a se-
rious wound; at[sic] it was he only had
a blow of sufficient severity to disable
him for work for the time, and occasion
soreness for some days afterwards. A frag-
ment of a shell pierced a roll f blankets
and rubber cloth–5 or 6 inches in diameter
-which was strapped to his back and
struck him on the shoulder. The force
of the piece of shell was so much broken thus
as to be almost neutralized, and the
chief harm it did Berkeley was the
ruin of the rubber cloth and great
injury of the blanket.
As soon as the enemy began their re-
treat iour whole force of course joined
in the pursuit. the other guns of our
battery preceded mine, as it took some
time to replace the horses, put on a
fresh wheel (the spare one from the caisson) and
get the piece into good moving order.
[page 26]
Pending this delay I went a short dis-
tance to the rear to a barn yard where
the dead–or rather the moribund &
wounded from our part of the field
were lying. They were not very numerous,
as our whole loss was not heavy, but the scene
was a sad one indeed. Poor Robt. McKim
lay insensible and past all help, but
still in a natural position. I thought
him even then dead, though I learned
that he did not actually expire for
some hours later. Others wounded in
a variety of ways were under the surgeons’
hands–and yet others patiently awaiting
their turn for attention. And yet gladness
in some sort rested in the hearts of all
of us that the victory was ours, for
the shouts of our victorious columns
pressing on the enemy’s heels had not
scarcely died from our ears. I was
soon afterwards mounted on the limber of my gun
trotting on with the rest of the detachment to town.
[page 27]
The battle was fought just in front of
Winchester, so near that one of our shells
burst, though harmlessly, in the town.
Genl. Winder wanted us to shell the enemy
as his troops were entering town–but
changed the order upon David Barton’s
running up to him and exclaiming–“Gen-
eral, I live in Winchester, and know that
you cannot throw shell in that quar
ter without their bursting in the town.”
To describe my feelings on the eve of
during, and just after the battle were
a difficult task. While under fire the
danger seemed so imminent and the chance
of escape so small that I was constantly
commending my soul earnestly to God and
momently expecting either death or wounding.
While doing this I endeavoured to perform
my whole duty faithfully, and believe I
did, as far as my exhausted strength per-
mitted. I was awed and excited certainly
[page 28]
but upon the whole was more calm and
self-possessed than I have ever before been
in actin, or in its expectation. It was,
it is true, somewhat the calmness of
desperation. The killing and wounding of
my comrades pained me, but did not
shock or surprise me: I believe scarcely
any casualty could have had that af-
fect on me. My mind was made up to
expect anything, and so nothing shocked me.
The battle over and the victory ours,
the whole current of my thought was
burned into deep and adoring gratitude
to God for my own signal preservation from
harm and the happy success vouchsafed
our arms. My joy was all the while, it is true
tempered by the recollection of my dead and
wounded comrades.
As we entered town I met Mr. E. W. Barton
looking almost wild with excitement inquiring
as we passed
after the safety of his boys. I shouted to him ^
that David and Robert were safe, but could
give him no sure answer about the others. Strother
in the 2d Va. (lieut.) was safe,but his first born,
Marshall 1st Lt. in Cutashaw’s Battery, was killed.
Four of them were engaged thus in the battle
–literally for their homes.
[page 29]
The reception of the Confederate Army
in Winchester was such a one as those
whose privilege it was to share it will
never forget. Our passage trough the
town was one of the proudest and happiest
moments of my life. It is impossible
to give you any adequate idea of it.
The doors, windows, and porches of every
inhabited house, apparently, were crowded
with women, girls and old citizens, but
particularly with people of the gentle
sex, who waved handkerchiefs and flags,
bowed, smiled and in every possible
manner indicated their welcome. Some-
times at an humble doorway an old
lady would present herself and with
less demonstrative but no less unequiv-
ocal signs manifest a welcome and
a god-speed. It was a delightful
and most interesting study to watch
by different people
of welcoming us
the various methods adopted ^
[page 30]
As we approached the more fre-
quented portions of the town and the
handsome streets the only difference
was that the crowd was greater and
the people better looking &better dressed.
The same enthusiastic spirit pervaded
age
every class, condition,^ and sex, and the
consciousness of being disenthralled, even
for a time, seemed to make every one
wild with joy and excitement. The
effect produced upon our troops by all
this you can better imagine than I can
describe. The Infantry were at quick
march and the artillery at a trot, but
the men cheered and huzzzaed vocife-
rously, waved their hats, bowed Etc.
I was riding on the limber of my gun
with others of my detachment, and in
a long artillery-train, and thus had
a fine opportunity for observations
I waved my hat and bowed to the
different groups of ladies & others whose
[page 31]
acclamations elicited this acknow-
ledgement, but in a short while had to
abandon such and make a wholesale
one by remaining uncovered, hat in
hand, all the time; and this I did
until we had left the town and
gotten out again on the turnpike.
The effect on our troops by the re-
ception in Winchester was the happiest
possible. If filled them with new hope
and ardour and fully compensated for
loss of food and rest, and the exhaus-
tion of a 24 hours’ march. About
a half a mile out of town as we
wee passing a pretty cottage on the
road side an old woman came to
the door and with her own hands
unfurled a large C. S. flag to welcome us.
You may be sure she got a hearty cheer.
It was at the same house,if I mistake
not, that the same flag was thrown out last
December as we were passing up to Martinsburg.
[page 32]
About 5 miles from town we halted &
rested on the side of the road. Subsequently
we were permitted to go into camp here
and remained until Wednesday following
There were troops along the road for
a long distance above and below us, on
both sides,–a large part, if not the greater
one, of the whole army. The whole Louisiana
Brigade happened to be just opposite us.
We had not long halted when I heard
at a distance down the road loud cheering.
We immediately exclaimed–“Old Jack’s coming”
-for we knew no one else elicited such shouts–
and ran to the road side. Sure enough a few
hundred yards down the road we saw him coming
on at a canter. As he came on the men pressed
in shoals to the road side and waved their
hats and cheered enthusiastically. It was deafening
and the tribute of all the troops without reference
to Division, Brigade or State. The Louisiana boys
were very vociferous. I never saw a more thrilling
scene, not one that filled me with more interest.
Gen. Jackson himself seemed much affected, and as
he rode on uncovered and bowing constantly
I doubt not he esteemed it the proudest
and happiest hour of his life, and
well he might!
[page 33]
A few minutes afterward and he was
out of sight. At 1/2 hour afterwards I
discovered him–having come round I think
by some by-way-in our company talking
to Capt Poague. He came to get our two
Parrott guns to go on with the cavalry
in pursuit of the enemy, and came in
person–a high honour to us–to order
it. Under ordinary circumstances the
order would have come to us through
the A Adjt. Gen.of the Div., our Brig. Gen. & his A.A.G.
The men were completely worn out but
the general’s coming for us in person caused
them to start without a murmur. The
order was happily countermanded
afterwards, and our fellows had not
to go far before returning. Gen. Jackson
always will have us in for it when
there is any select duty to be done,
in addition to the employment of
us hotly in general engagements.
[page 34]
Monday morning the Captain allowed me
in view of my indisposition, or rather the
prostration consequent on it, to go in to town
and stay till next evening which I did
and enjoyed very much. I was the guest
of Mr Williams in Winchester, but I saw
most of my friends who had remained there
and enjoyed meeting them immensely–
Mr Williams with exceeding kindness,,
thoughtfulness had, I found, undertaken
the interment of the two members of our co.
killed on Sunday. They were Agner, of Rock-
bridge ( a plain but worthy man) and Robt. B.
McKim. The latter was well acquainted
I believe at the house, at least known to
them; the other a total stranger. When
I go to Mr. Williams’ Monday I found the
two corpses lying in suitable coffins,
and carefully dressed with white flowers.
The funeral service of the Episcopal church
was read by Rev. Mr. Averett (Mr. W.s’ son in
law the chaplain to the 7th Cavalry [Ashby])
[page 35]
and the deceased were interred with all
deference and solemnity in one of the cemeteries
in town. A large number of members of
our co. attended the funeral and some
Marylanders from the 18th Regt. & elsewhere
among others Randolph McKim, & Lieutenant
Duncan McKim, of Gen. Trimble’s staff-both
cousins of Robert’s. In the afternoon
I attended at the church the funeral
of Lieut. Chas. Marshall Barton, of Cutshaw’s
Battery. It was a very interesting and solemn
occasion and a most touching one.
I was at Mr Barton’s Tuesday morning &
saw them all. Mrs. B. received me (as they
all did) very kindly and with much emotion.
she spoke much of her son, and seemed, while
bitterly lamenting his loss, fully resigned to his
death in the good cause to which she
is so much devoted and fully pledged.
She seemed to find full comfort in the
brief sentence–“He died a Christian soldier
–driving the invader from his father’s home.”
[page 36]
On Tuesday I enjoyed exceedingly seeing my
friends in a quiet way. I could fill pages telling
some of the many incidents they told me of
the Yankee occupation, but I have not time.
Sufficient to say that that time of trials
has infinitely stimulated the devotion
of our friends to the good cause of liberty:
it has confirmed the wavering and strengthened
the weak with an undying spirit.
The Yankees were not content with running
off the slaves with the usual incitements
during their occupation, but on Saturday & Sunday
morning added to their previous pilfering the most
unblushing lies. They declared to the negroes that
they they[sic] were going to burn the town that Jackson
was cutting the throats of all the negroes
as he came on down the valley, and that
the only safety lay in flight–and many
fake unblushing falsehoods. In this way they scared
off many who had before remained steadfast
to their masters. In this way Mr. Williams lost
two valuable men, house servants, who had
not returned at last accounts and were probably
carried off by main forces, to Maryland at least.
On Tuesday afternoon I returned to camp
fully restored to my usual health
Your affectionate son
L.M. Blackford
Lancelot Minor Blackford, 1837-1914, Rockbridge Artillery
MSS 4763
[crossed hatched on page 36]
The Yankees burnt a whole square of buildings on one side where
their commissary stores were. The fire was happily extinguished by a rain
after their departure before it reached the magazine which they
designed to explode or their would have been a terrible catastrophe
All the ammunition and medical stores–a large quantity–fell
into our hands and was secured.
