1862 March 23 Staunton, Va.

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, former editor and owner of the Staunton Spectator]

Sunday night, March 23, 1862.



Legh walked in this evening, to our great astonishment.
As soon as we could recover sufficiently to enquire how he
happened to come, he told us that He when the men were
inspected to be "mustered in," he was rejected, on account of his
defective vision. He gave us a glowing account of whaat his
adventures on the way and with the army. The trip was
very exciting and pleasant to him, and he would have been
glad to stay for a short time, but was of course gratified
that he was not taken in for three years. The army, he
says, seemed to be in a high state of enjoyment, but glad
to receive the reinforcement from this county. The volun-
teers were dressed in every imaginable style — some wore
slouched hats, some caps of their own manufacture, and others
the old-fashioned high-crowned beavers; the only thing uniform
about them was the dirt. When he arrived at New Market
alla large number of wagons were engaged in bringing the
stores from Mt. Jackson. The loading loads were emptied in
great haste and the teams hurried back for more, as the
enemy were approaching. The people of the neighborhood
were flying with what property they could carry off —
some apparently poor persons having their chickens
tied on the wagons. The men, however, old and young, were
coming into the army with their guns. The hurry & tu-
mult were kept up nearly all night. The next day the
Augusta troops were marched down near Mt. Jackson, and
they met meeting the army coming this way, and were quartered nearon
the Wren farm. The cavalry were between them and the
enemy at Woodstock, and a battle was regarded as certain. —
The next morning (Friday 21) Saturday 21the army suddenly put into
rapid motion towards Woodstock, and it was passed turned out
that they were pursuing the retreating enemy: The people Legh
encountered appeared greatly relieved when they learned that
that the Yankees had gone back. He brings no news certain in
telligence as to affairs — only the rumors we had heard before —
Jackson, however, had received no reinforcements from
Johnson's army. A Lieutenant of Legh's regiment was
engaged to do the washing for some of his men!

MSS 38-258