1862 May 6 Staunton, Va.

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, former owner and editor of the Staunton Spectator, employed by the Confederate Quartermast Dept.]

Tuesday night, May 6, 1862.

News to-day that the Federal army at Harrisonburg 

broke up yesterday in a hurry and started down 

the Valley. According to report, the people have suf-

fered greatly in the loss of grain, flour, meat, horses, 

negroes +c taken by the enemy. Intelligence of Jack-

son's movement was no doubt communicated to Harrisonburg. 

 The 5^th Regiment marched through town this morning, 

and encamped near the Cemetery. Johnson's army 

moved West to-day — where to, we do not know. Jackson's 

army had marching orders to-day, and will start in 

the morning. His destination is unknown, but pre-

sumed to be down the Valley. I was kept busy to-day - - 

the whole army seemed to require new outfits. Got 

home after dark — found young Lacy here. Before 

we had left the table, there came a rap at the door — 

three soldiers were there applying for supper, asked 

them in — members of a cavalry company bivouaked 

bivouacked in the lot beyond us, near the forks of 

the road. We agave them supper, and invited them to 

come to breakfast. They are from Rappahannock + 

Fauquier, two of them apparently gentlemen. Norfolk 

said to be abandoned; and the Navy Yard burnt — cant 

resist an attack from gun boats! We gave up the 

lower Valley, to draw the enemy into the interior — 

they came, took what supplies they wanted, harrassed 

the people, and have gone off safely! A letter 

from Kate says that great excitement and apprehe-

nsion prevailed in Christiansburg on Saturday 

and Sunday by caused by a report that Gen. 

Heath, in command of a body of our troops 

in Greenbrier, had come to join Jackson, and 

that consequently 25,000 Yankees were advancing 

through Mercer county!          

[transcription by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258