1862 April 27 Staunton, Va.

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

Sunday night, April 27, 1862.

A calm and beautiful Sabbath — almost as quiet 

as those we used to have. I attended Sunday School 

in the morning, and felt remarkably free from the 

excitement which has been habitual with me since this 

 miserable war began. Quite late in the afternoon 

the Rev. John Miller, Capt. of Artillery in Johnson's 

army, came up to see Mrs. M^cClung. He confirmed

a report, which we had heard before, of the capture by 

our cavalry, in Bath Co., of twenty-five of the ene-

my's wagons + a hundred horses sent out on a for-

aging excursion and prevented by high waters from re-

turning. Six men were captured also, and six killed. The 

wagons were burnt, as they could not be brought a-

cross the swollen streams. Passengers by the even-

ing's train report that there is nothing further in re-

gard to New Orleans. A rumor that Jackson ex-

pected to be attacked to-day, and had called Ewell a-

cross the Blue Ridge to assist him. Another report 

of fighting at Yorktown. If it be true that New Or-

eans has fallen, we have suffered the greatest disas-

ter of the war.     

MSS38-258