1862 March 5 Staunton, Va.

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

Wednesday night, March 5, 1862.



No Railroad train yet, and no communication by
Telegraph. The public are at their wit's end to know
the cause of the detention of the cars. It is said that
a number of trains are kept "fired up" at Manassas,
ready to start at a moments warning, and it is presumed
that some important movement is on foot. The
train which should have arrived here yesterday has
no doubt been employed for the same purpose. For
a week or two past we have had rumors that our
army stores were to be removed from Manassas, Cen-
treville &c., to Gordonsville, where, we learn, exten-
sive store houses have been erected. Many wagons,
moreover, have been impressed in Albemarle and
other Eastern counties, to go to Manassas. This morn-
ing forty 4-horse government wagons started from
here for the same place, in pursuance of orders re-
ceived on Monday. What does it all mean? There
was a rumor this morning that Winchester would
be evacuated in a day or two by our troops, but stage
passengers, who arrived afterwards, contradicted it.
Tom Preston and Lucy are here to-night.

MSS 38-285