1862 April 16 Staunton, Va.

[from the diary of Joseph A. Waddell, civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept. and former owner and editor of the Staunton Spectator]

Wednesday night, April 16, 1862.

The general talk to-day had reference to the antici-

pated arrival here of the Federal army. The Banks have 

made arrangements for departure upon an emergency, 

and boxes are ready for packing the records of the Courts. 

 Mrs. M^cClung & Miss Agnes, it is now understood, are 

to come to our house. I called to see them this morn-

ing on the subject. Probably Legh's family will come in 

 also. The Richmond train arrived at half past 4 o'clock

this afternoon — the first time for many months that

it has come so early. The North claims the victory in 

the South West — they lost 20,000 men and we 35,000 

to 40,000! This is the statement of their papers. No news in re-

gard to the war. Arch Alexander came in to-night, while 

we were at supper, and afterwards Jimmy and Emma 

Frazier — so we have a house full. Arch says Jackson's 

army is quiet. The Yankees were said to have 10 to 20,000

 men facing Jackson, and 14,000 more coming up. Arch

 informs us that forty Federal prisoners, lately 

 confined in the Harrisonburg jail, have been 

taken down to Jackson's army. I am utterly 

at a loss to know what the movement means.   

[transcription by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258