1862 March 11, Staunton, Va.

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, civilian of Staunton, Va.]

Tuesday night, March 11, 1862.

Legh seemed quite exhilerated to-day at the pros-
pect of joining the army so soon. His near-sight-
edness would probably exempt him, but he ex-
pects to start with the others on Friday. The Rich-
mond train of cars have has not arrived yet, not being
able to pass a large number of cars on the track
at or near Gordonsville. It is stated that they ex-
tend ten miles — probably an exaggeration. The
telegraph reported to-day further triumphs of the
"Virginia" near Norfolk. It Four steamers of large
size and three gunboats destroyed, and three gun-
boats captured - - this is the report. The last intel-
ligence from Winchester is that when the enemy
were advancing on Saturday (?) Jackson had his
force drawn up to and Ashby attacked them
with his cavalry. They ran, or at least retired, and
according to one report have gone beyond Charles-
town. Our army are reported as in fine spirits. —
Northern accounts state that our loss in prison-
ers at Fort Donelson was six thousand, in-
stead of from 12000 to 15,000.

[transcription by the Valley of the Shadow Digital Archive]

MSS 38-258