1862 March 28 Staunton, Va.

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

Friday night, March 28, 1862.



This morning, about 3 o'clock, I was roused from
sleep by Kate calling to me that Wm. Waddell had come
to tell me that Lyt's little Alick was dead! I was
greatly shocked, not having heard of the child's illness.
Indeed he was not really ill for more than an
hour before he died. He was unwell yesterday, and
supposed to be threatened with scarlet fever, but no ap-
prehension was felt for his safety till past mid-night.
Lyt was at Buffalo Gap, and aunt Sally's Tom was
sent for him. I went to meet him out of town. It
was most painful to me.

Many rumors in town to-day. At 10 o'clock last
night there had been no more fighting down the
Valley. One or more letters have come from persons
in Winchester. They give the Federal loss in the
late battle as 1500 to 2000 — doubtful — the num-
ber of their slain 800, doubtful. Our total loss
killed, wounded (many slightly) and missing is put
at 465, of which 170 are prisoners and 40 to 100
killed. Our troops were all engaged in the fight
were composing Jackson's army are
all Virginians — that is Virginia Regiments,
viz: 2nd, 4th, 5th, 23rd, 1st, 27th, 3rd,37th, 42nd, & 48th,
21st, 23rd, & 27th & 32 & Irish Brigade. These Regiments did have not lately averaged
400 men, probably. The artillery is in strong force, com-
paratively. Echols told me that we did not have 3000
men in the fight.

[transcription by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258