Launcelot Minor Blackford, letter
June 28, 1863
“Saturday morning - (yesterday) we resumed our march and advanced via Greencastle and Chambersburg, about 15 miles to this point, where we laid over to day. In the village of Greencastle the people swarmed about doors and windows and sullenly gazed on our troops passing by. Several women wore the U. S. flag on their bosoms, where it was seen by our men. Such natural and innocent indications of loyalty to their government, our soldiers would of course scorn to object to. It would be a matter of indifference to me if every woman in Pa. had one on her person, and every house one floating from its roof.”
Author
Name: Launcelot Minor Blackford
Unit: 1st Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, CSA
Document Information
Type: Letter
Subject(s):
- Civilian Support for the Union
Event Location: Greencastle, Franklin Co., PA
Document Origin: Chambersburg, Franklin Co., PA
Notes
Blackford served in the Rockbridge Artillery (Private), in the Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia (Clerk in the Military court), and in the 24th Virginia Infantry, “William R. Terry's” Brigade, “Pickett's” division (Adjutant). Following the Civil War, Blackford returned to his pre-war position as a teacher in a high school and, in 1884, married. In 1914, Blackford passed away, leaving his wife and six children to carry on his family’s legacy.
Source
Launcelot Minor Blackford to William Matthews Blackford. June 28, 1863. Valley of the Shadow Personal Papers. Obtained from http://valley.lib.virginia.edu/papers/A0001.
