1862 July 23 Staunton, Va.

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

Wednesday, July 23, 1862.

No confirmation of the report that Nashville and Frank-

fort have been captured by our troops, and it is not now 

believed. Forest took Murfeesboro, Tenn., and 1200 prison-

ers whom he paroled, except the officers. A large number 

of sick and wounded soldiers have been sent here from 

Richmond — talk of taking the Augusta Female Seminary and 

Wesleyan Institute for Hospitals. At last accounts Jackson 

was moving towards Madison C.H. The enemy in that 

region are said to be from 30,000 to 40,000. Yesterday 

evening Blackley and I walked up to Legh's, going up the 

Railroad to Shumate's, and thence along the Old Middlebrook 

road, across the fields. I felt a desire to go that way, as 

I had not been along there since the road was closed, years ago. 

During my childhood and youth every foot of the way 

was familiar to me. I took a basket to get some huckle-

berries— found very few, got some blackberries, in Jeffer

son Kinney's fields as we came back. Joe Ryan was in to 

see me this morning — he is at home on sick leave. He gives a 

fearful account of the cannonading on Tuesday evening + 

night (1st — See Diary Wednesday July 2^nd) the 1^st inst, 

which we heard so distinctly. He says the scene was terrific. —

MSS 4448