1862 June 8 Staunton, Va.

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

Sunday evening, June 8, 1862.

Exciting reports this afternoon, causing the most seri-

ous fears for the safety of Jackson's army. A number 

of cavalrymen have                                 come in, stating 

that Shields' (Fed) army        [diagram        came down on the East

side of the She-                    inserted          nandoah river this 

morning. Jack-                      here]             son's army being at c and 

his headquarters                                       at b. That a Regiment of 

the enemy's cavalry forded South River at Port Repub-

lic (a) and captured our ordnance train at b— that 

Jackson crossed North River and got to his army, and, 

according to our report, shelled the enemy out of Port Re-

public. It would appear, however, that Jackson is now 

between Shields and Fremont, who is doubtless pressing 

from Harrisonburg. His escape seems almost impossi-

ble, especially as his ordnance stores are lost. The Fed-

eral prisoners, at Waynesboro' still this morning, may be 

recaptured. Some persons (Alick + Legh included) went 

down to North River, on the M^cAdamized road, this morning, 

to reinforce Imboden, who is guarding the ford there 

with several pieces of cannon. Yesterday we heard the 

sad news that Ashby had been killed near Harris-

onburg. I was very sick all day yesterday, and not 

well yet. Rumors that large reinforcements are 

coming to Jackson — too late : Cannonading heard all 

morning, up to 2 o'clock P.M.  The cavalry men 

were arrested upon their arrival here, and put in 

the guard house, for running off from the battle.

Later. — Several persons have come up from the 

army. They say there was a brilliant skirmish, 

that our cavalry pickets ran off, that a portion 

of the enemy made a bold attempt to flank 

Jackson, but were easily repulsed, and that we 

lost nothing whatever. Passengers by the cars, from 

Waynesboro', report that the portion of the enemy 

who made the attempt were captured with their 

cannon. This is doubted. It is stated that Jackson 

and his staff crossed the bridge, to get to the army, un-

der fire of the enemy. In the skirmish near Har-

risonburg, day before yesterday, it is said we lost 

40 in killed and wounded, but did great ex[illeg.] tion up-

on the enemy and captured from 20 to 75, according 

to the various rumors. As I was going down Street 

to hear the news, after I had heard the first reports, I stopped 

Dr. Hamilton and Sam Baskin near Judge Thompson's 

gate, to inquire what the former had learned — he was just 

coming up. He had heard only what I had. While we were 

ta[l]king Miss Nancy Clark came up the ally by the 

Catholic Church, and called to them that John Bas

was not going, that Jackson had whipped them and 

taken cannon and ever so many prisoners. It seemed that

John Bakin Mr. Craig and others had told her so, as 

they passed her house. It seemed that John Baskin, 

who is a soldier in the 5^th Regiment, and at home 

on the sick list, was about leaving[?]  with other sick sol-

diers, and his friends were to escape from the enemy, and 

his friends were in the act of assisting him off.

Sunday night— Going to church this evening Va + I went 

to see Aunt Sally, who is not well. As the street near the 

Railroad, was full of wagons I went down to get the news. — 

The wagons were bringing the sick and wounded from the 

Hospital to the Depot — a train was filling up for Green-

wood and Charlottesville. A courier had arrived from Jack-

son's army, having left at 4 o'clock, P.M. Ewell's division 

had been fighting with Fremont, at Cross Keys, all day. So 

far the enemy had been repulsed. A prisoner was brought in 

this evening by a negro man. The negro delivered the man, 

a little German unable to speak English, to one of our 

officers here, saying, "Mass Mason told me to bring him 

here dead or alive, and here he is." Mason caught the 

fellow near Mt. Crawford. After church Kate + I walked 

up to Mrs. Skinner's with Betty Lyle. Thought we heard 

cannonading, and saw several persons going out to listen 

— they said they had heard it. Jimmy Tate is down street 

 to get the last news (past 10 o'clock) — he has just 

come in. Says another cousin has arrived — Jackson 

whipped the Yankees under Fremont and is pursuing them!  

[transcription by the Valley of the Shadow project.  See their website for diagram]

MSS 38-258