Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/442

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

great battle of Fredericksburg, on the 13th of December, 1862, when his company was engaged on the Confederate right, near Hamilton's Crossing. He says : "The Battle of Fredericksburg was a magnificent sight. I took the more interest in it because it was the home of my childhood and boyhood and I was familiar with every foot of ground. Four of my father's sons were in that battle, but all escaped injury." Jackson asked to have a company detailed for special duty with him around Fredericksburg whose cap- tain was familiar with the country. Cap- tain Blackford, being a native of the place, was selected.

During the winter of 1863 his company was camped near Fredericksburg and did its full share of cavalry duty — the roads heavy with mud and horse feed scarce.

It was while here that he read in a Rich- mond paper the unexpected news that he had been appointed judge advocate of the First Army Corps, upon the application of General Longstreet, and assigned to his stafif with the rank of captain of cavalry in the Confederate States army. The rank was the same, but the position was much more desirable. Feeling that after his two years of heavy duty in the line, he could con- scientiously take such a post, he accepted it. He reported at once for duty to General Longstreet, whose headquarters were close by, and remained with him until late in 1864, performing his share of the duties of stafT officer, as well as his special duties as judge advocate of the corps. His brother Lancelot was assigned as his clerk and Cap- tain John Cochran, of Charlottesville — after- ward Judge Cochran — was made marshal of the court.

Captain Blackford followed the corps to Suffolk in 1863, then to Gettysburg, back again to Atlanta, and bloody Chickamauga and Knoxville, and then (after a few days leave to stop over in Lynchburg to attend his father in his last illness and burial) to the Wilderness, where Longstreet was shot in 1864. Then on again to the battle of Spottsylvania Court House and the many bloody encounters between Lee and Grant on Grant's march to the lines below Rich- mond. Longstreet soon sufficiently recov- ered from his wounds to rejoin the army and established headquarters about a mile from Petersburg, not far from General Lee's. Here Captain Blackford remained until No-

vember or December, 1864, when he was detailed to Richmond to temporarily relieve Colonel William S. Barton as judge advo- cate general, remaining to aid him, upon his return, until Richmond was evacuated.

During most of the winter of 1864-65 Mrs. Blackford was with him, but on the ist of March, becoming satisfied that Richmond must soon be abandoned, she went to the University of Virginia.

The night of the evacuation of Richmond, Captain Blackford made his way out of the city up the towpath of the James river and Kanawha canal, and in three days reached the university. He found his wife and little daughter Nannie keeping a single room, with a single servant, in one of the pro- fessor's houses. Two days after he joined her they heard of Lee's surrender at Appo- mattox, and for them the war was over. He had $3.50 in money, his house in Lynchburg mortgaged for $4,000, which was more than it was then worth, his horse, and a very scanty supply of clothing for himself and family. His own graphic account of this period of his life makes a picture of historic value. Fle says :

My wife, Nannie and myself stayed at the Uni- versity, living in one room, and Virith only three dollars and fifty cents, in current money, for two months. We made the money go very far. I bought two hams and a barrel of flour on credit, giving my bond at 12 months for $25.00 therefor, and with the money we bought some sugar and coffee, which we hoarded. Strange as it may appear, the time passed pleasantly, for all were trying to make the best of everything. There were a great many charming men and women there at the time and a great many pretty girls and quite a number of crippled soldiers who had entered col- lege for awliile. Vegetables and milk were given us daily by Mr. Colston (Mrs. Blackford's brother) and others and we got along very well. I had managed through Mr. John M. Miller, of Lynch- burg, to get some money for mother's use in Lynchburg; and though I had none myself, I was quite happy, except as to how I was to secure bread and meat in the future, but my long experi- ence as soldier had taught me to let the future take care of itself, to a philosophical degree.

This state of things could not last, and I deter- mined to go back to Lynchburg on a prospecting tour. My horse had been making his own living grazing in the L^niversity grounds, but he had cast a shoe and I had no money to have it replaced, and I left him until I could have him shod. .A.t that time there was a gravel train which ran out from Lynchburg to Tye River, where they were re- building the bridge. It started back at four o'clock. There was also a sort of hand car which left Covesville at ten o'clock in the morning and con- nected with it. My intention was to reach Coves-