1862 March 6 Staunton, Va.

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


Thursday night, March 6, 1862

Before I was up this morning Va informed
me that Alick had arrived in the cars during the
night. When I went in to breakfast, I was sur-
prised to find Kate sitting in the room. Alick
started from Richmond Tuesday morning, but
at Gordonsville the engine was detached from the
train to go to Manassas, and the passengers were
left to get on as they could. They came to Char-
lottesville in the Lynchburg train, and had to re-
main there till yesterday. Kate started yester-
day morning, but the engine being very indifferent
the train did not get in till 2 o'clock this morn-
ing. Instead of coming home upon her arrival
she went to Dr Edmondson's. Dr E. and Lucy
were returning from a trip to Richmond, he having taken
down a model of a floating battery, which he had
invented! Kate has had a great deal to tell about
her visit. She and others who came up report that
there are vast quantities of army stores at Gordons-
ville — brought from Manassas. Our army, it
is said, it to fall back to the Rappahannock
River.

[transcription by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258