Monday, February 13, 2012

1862 February 14 [Staunton, Va.]

[from the diary of Joseph A. Waddell, civilian quartermaster in Staunton, Va.]

Friday night, Feb. 14, 1862
Intelligence this afternoon of fighting
at Fort Donelson, on the Cumberland River.
It has been going on for two days, and so far
the enemy had been repulsed. Shall we hear
to-morrow of that the Fort has fallen, or that
the final success is ours? Oh God, let not our
enemies triumph over us! There are other re-
ports from that region, but not sufficiently re-
liable to be mentioned. The Federalists have
taken several of the towns in the vicinity of
Roanoke Island. They seem to have full success
now in that quarter. There is a report that
the Emperor of France declines to interfere in
American affairs. This is discouraging. The price
of cotton in England has gone up, which in-
dicates that the expectation of getting supplies,
by raising the blockade of our ports, has di-
minished. I have felt [word lined out] somewhat re-
lieved this evening of the depression which has
afflicted me, in common with others, for sev-
eral days – perhaps going to prayer meeting
helped me. A constant purpose of business in
the office had prevented my going since last
August. The militia are to be enrolled imme-
diately, and a portion of them draughted, un-
less a sufficient number of volunteers offer.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 38-258

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.