Friday, July 6, 2012

1862 July 4 Staunton, Va.

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


Friday morning, July 4, 1862.
There is little to say in reference to the great 
battle below Richmond. The papers disagree as 
to the result Tuesday night. It seems that the 
telegraphic reports greatly exaggerated the num-
ber of prisoners taken, and probably our suc-
cesses generally. I cannot receive as true 
any reports coming in that way. A dispatch 
last evening stated that the enemy had made "
final stand" at Turkey Island, when they were 
defeated with great slaughter and the loss 
of all their artillery. This needs confirm-
ation. I am only certain of this, that the 
enemy have been repulsed, losing several 
thousand men in killed, wounded and prisoners, 
 and some cannon +c; and that our loss is 
also heavy.

[transcript by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258

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