1862 May 1 Staunton, Va.

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

Thursday night, May 1, 1862.

Nothing of interest yesterday. Legh's folks returned 

home. Lucy and Kitty are sweet children, and both 

of them, especially the latter, "take to" me very much. 

The intelligence from New Orleans was that the Federal 

fleet was at the city. Not a word from there to-day, but it 

is conceded that the Federalists now almost have command 

of the Mississippi river. The first rumor this morning was 

that Jackson's army was on the way to Winchester; the next, 

and apparently more reliable, that Jackson was march-

ing into the Valley to meet the enemy at M^cGaheysville, 

while Ewell was moving to meet a Federal force in Page 

county; the third, that Jackson was at Port Republic last

night, and Ewell in the camp at Swift Run Gap; and 

 the last, that Jackson was at Harrisonburg. Coming home 

before night, I met the Express boy who was said to have brought 

the third report. He contradicted it entirely, said Jackson was 

at Swift Run, when he left this morning, and nothing 

indicated an intention to move. We have had no tidings for 

several days of the enemy in the West. Northern papers re-

port that their troops occupying Staunton! Another rainy, 

melancholy day. A number of stores closed doors, because 

the stock of goods does not justify the payment of license 

tax.               

[transcription by the Valley of the Shadow Project]

MSS 28-258