1862 March 9 Staunton, Va.

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


Sunday night, March 9, 1862



Dr. Foote, of Romney, in town to- day, and preached
this morning and to- night — if his discourse to-night
can be called preaching. It was an account of the
ravages of the enemy in Hampshire county, and an
appeal for volunteers. The congregation was large.
News came last night by telegraph that the Merrimac,
ironclad +c, and now called the Virginia, made an
assault yesterday upon the Federal shipping at New-
port News, and did considerable execution. The intelligence
is confirmed by the Railroad passengers this evening. One
Federal steamer was sunk, with all on board, and
several others captured — we presume from the ac-
count. It is said also that Gen Magruder was
shelling Newport News. The dispatch of last night
stated that Gen. Price had gained a victory at
Boston Mountain, in Missouri or Arkansas, killing
two thousand of the Federalists and taking four
thousand prisoners. No confirmation of the re-
port to-day. A skirmish on Friday very near to
Winchester. Report a few days ago of a victory near Leesburg - pre-
sumed to be untrue, as we have heard nothing of it
since. Last night I was quite sick — suffering
from pain in my head, an unnatural action
of my heart.

[transcription by the Valley of the Shadow]

MSS 28-258