1862 May 5 Staunton, Va.

[from the diary of  Joseph A. Waddell, civilian of Staunton, Va.\

Monday night, May 5, 1862.

Train after train has arrived to-day, bring fr various 

regiments — 23^rd, 42^nd, 48^th, 21^st, Irish battalion, 37^th,

 all of which have been through this place once or twice 

before. But how different their appearance since last 

summer? Many of the men are ragged, and quite a 

number entirely without shoes. They also look dirty, 

and sickly — I mean a large proportion. The regiments 

and battalion I have mentioned, and perhaps others, ^{(the 10th)} 

marched out two or three miles from town, on the 

West View road, to camp. Jackson's old brigade — composed of 

the 2^nd, 4^th, 5^th, 27^th +c regiments — are encamped two 

miles East of town. The town was full of country peo-

ple this evening, who were permitted to come in but not 

to go out. Pickets are posted on all the roads.

Reported that Yorktown has been abandoned by our troops 

and that Norfolk — in fact every place approachable by wa=

ter — will be. In all probability there was another great 

fight at Corinth yesterday.

The brigade (Jackson's) is composed of Valley men, and 

the 5^th regiment is (except one company) from this county. It is said 

that when they found that the army was really crossing 

leaving the Valley at Brown's Gap, they were greatly de-

pressed; but when their faces were turned towards Rockfish 

Gap, every face brightened. 

[transcription by Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258