1862 May 4 Staunton, Va.

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

Sunday night, May 4, 1862.

Another bright Spring day, but full of rumors and 

anxiety. This morning at Sunday School I was in-

formed that Johnson was threatened with attack by a 

large force of the enemy — that he was spending the night

in town, and was sent for at 12 o'clock — that at 2 o'

clock, A. M., two trains of cars, empty, were sent 

down the road to bring up reinforcements. The num-

ber of the enemy was set down at 10,000 — there it was 

said that 8000 men at Ryans, in the Pastins, that our 

pickets had been driven in, and that skirmishing was

going on at North Mountain. A large force was re-

ported at Millboro', but this was soon contradicted. Return-

ing from Church I encountered Judge Thompson at his 

gate. He had not heard the rumors, but seemed fully per-

suaded that the Valley was to be given up to the enemy. 

Soon after dinner I heard an engine whistle, and hurried 

down to see if reinforcements had come — Only the freight 

train due yesterday. The Ambulances, started yesterday, 

had just come in, having been sent after to return. A 

little after 3 o'clock there was another whistle, and I went 

to Judge T's gate to see the train. It was a long train, 

drawn by two engines, and was full of soldiers! A num-

ber of ladies were on the hill, to see what was to be seen. — 

After coming home to tell the news, I went to Alick's, and 

he and I went to the Depot. He told me that he was in-

formed that Jackson's movement was intended to deceive 

the enemy. A large number of soldiers had arrived on the 

train, principally such as were more or less broken down 

by their march of yesterday. Many of them are badly 

clothed and almost destitute of shoes. Altogether their ap-

pearance was rather tattered. I met old Mr. Jimmy 

Lessley, of North Mountain, at the Depot He said every-

thing was quiet in that region, and there was no ex-

pectation of an advance of the enemy. — that one of 

our scouts was at M^cDowell yesterday, and found 

some pickets but no enemy this side! In A few 

minutes afterwards the previous report as to an imme-

diate attack upon Johnson was asserted again, and 

was repeated at Church to-night, with the additional

information that cannon and ammunition were sent 

out to-day. I know not what to believe, but inclined 

to the opinion that no enemy is pressing from the 

West. Pickets have been posted on all the roads lead-

ing from town towards Rockingham, to prevent in-

formation from getting to the enemy. Gen. Jackson 

+ Staff have arrived in town, on horseback. One or 

two more trains with soldiers have also come. The 

main body are coming afoot. I fear that most of 

them will be utterly broken down. They have made 

a marvelous march of it. 

[transcription by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258