Tuesday, February 14, 2012

1862 February 15 [Staunton, Va.]

[from the diary of Joseph A. Waddell, Civilian quartermaster in the Commissary Dept., Staunton, Va.]

Saturday night, Feb. 15, 1862.
The last report we have from Fort Donel-
Son is that the enemy was repulsed on the
13th – fighting probably renewed yesterday. The
Richmond train did not arrive till after dark.
Lyle remained in town to hear the news, and came
up with me. After supper we went down street.
I went to Mrs. McClung’s room to wait for the
opening of the mail. Learned there that Frank Wilson had come up from Harrisonburg and reported that apprehension was felt that the enemy might make a sudden inroad with cavalry from Moorfield, Hardy Co. There was no powder in the town, but two of our cavalry companies were expected to-night. The enemy are said to be 30,000 strong at Romney. They have pushed forward a force to Moorfield. Very few of our men killed at Roanoke Island, and I suspect, not a great many of the enemy — the last report says about 200. A few nights ago, as Kate and I were sitting in the dining room, we heard what seemed to be the shouting of a crowd in the lower part of the town. We rushed to the front porch, both of us supposing that some good news had come by telegraph. To our great disappointment, the noise was not repeated. Kitty heard the same sound, and went to window to listen, telling Kate as she entered the chamber, that maybe some good news had come. Alas! there has been nothing yet to cause a shout.


[transcripiton by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards and the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258

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