1862 May 22 Staunton, Va.

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept., Staunton, Va.]

Thursday night, May 22, 1862

Nothing of special interest to-day. Intelligence this 

morning that Jackson had left, or was leaving the turned 

off the Valley Turnpike, at New Market, as some sup

posed to abandon the Valley; but the more probable sup-

position is that he has gone down the road to Front 

Royal, where, it is reported, a portion of the Federal 

army under Gen. Shields is. Their main force is at 

 Strasburg. Gen. Heth's dispatch to Richmond claims 

a signal success in Giles Co. at the recent fight there. 

Tremendous battles near Richmond and Corinth (Miss) 

are pending. A man from Highland was in town a few 

days ago offering for sale a very elegant pistol. In an

swer to a question, he said he had taken it from a Yan-

kee. "Did you secure the Yankee?" "Yes," said the man. — 

"Where is he now?" "I dont know." He proceeded then to 

relate that he had often seen the Yankee passing through 

the country as a bearer of dispatches, but was afraid to in-

terfere with him while the Federal army had control of 

the country. As soon, however, as he heard of their reverse near 

 M^cDowell, he and another man went to look out for the ex-

pressman or any other game that might come along. When he 

came along, they shot him and secured his horse, equipments 

and dispatches. The latter were from Gen. Milroy to a Fed-

eral officer commanding cavalry in the West, giving in-

structions as to his proceedings, that he might escape capture 

or give assistance to the his routed friends.  

[transcription by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258