Monday, May 7, 2012

1862 May 8 Staunton, Va.

[from the diary of Joseph A. Waddell, former owner and editor of the Staunton Spectator and a civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept.]


Thursday night, May 8, 1862.
The Yankee officer was sent off to Richmond this 
morning. He wore a plate of metal over his breast, and 
exhibited a bullet which struck him and was flattened 
like a button. Gen. Johnson did not reach Shaw's Fork 
Tuesday night, as was reported. Yesterday, he surprised the 
Federal scouts — some 200 cavalry — near Ryan's, killing 
six to ten (so reported variously) and capturing two. They left 
their tents behind them. Cannonading heard to-day from 
early morning till 4 o'clock P.M. in the direction of She-
nandoah mountain. Legh first told me of it — then Frank 
Young, and then other persons; Finally I heard it myself 
while walking out to Marquiss's to see a bee hive he 
proposed to sell me. Came back over Abrey's hill — 
was transported with the lovely landscape, although it 
is so familiar to me. Heavy fighting in the Peninsula 
yesterday. Up to 12 o'clock, M., the enemy had been repulsed 
three times — heavy loss on both sides. Between 600 + 700 
(instead of 900) prisoners taken at the fight on Monday. 
The result of yesterday's affair not know. J. D. Imbo-
den has arrived — authorized to raise companies for gue-
rilla service, in Western Virginia. Mr. + Mrs. H. J. Cran-
ford spent the evening with us — he is coming in 
after supper.  

[transcription by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258


             

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