[from the diary of William M. Blackford, bank officer and former diplomat with five sons in the Confederate Army]

Saturday 27  Weather quite cool
but very fine.  Bragg very near
Louisville.  Great consternation at
his approach.  I suppose  his taking
the city is a foregone conclusion.
I would rather he captured Cincin-
nati–our army in the  lower
Valley seems concentrated at
Martinsburg–Charles & Sue came
over and spent the eveng.  He
goes next week–Monday I believe
& rejoins his company–He is not
well enough- and in low spirits
-not a word from Lanty or William
I hope now Lanty will not avail
here if himself of his detail but rough
it out–Eugene’s leg improves
slowly & he frets greatly.  The Con
tribution for the orphan asylum
amounts to near 1400$.  I do not
like the position of affairs and
think we are in great danger
in spite of the splendid campaign
of the year on the Chickahominy
& in Maryland.

MSS 4763