1862 July 8 Staunton, Va.

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

Tuesday, July 8, 1862

The last intelligence confirms the rumor that M^c

 Clelland, with the main body of his army, had made 

good his retreat to James River, when he had made 

a stand. He had received reinforcements and was 

doubtless preparing for another battle if not for 

another advance upon Richmond. Our town 

very quiet. Most of the Federal soldiers down 

the Valley have gone to reinforce M^cClelland. 

Cannonading has been heard, yesterday and 

to-day. As I sit in my office (about 4 o'clock 

P.M.) I hear a low dull thumping which may be 

the sound of distant cannon. If so the fight has 

been protracted and furious. Yesterday a poor 

woman who lives in town not far from our 

house, heard that her husband, a member of the 

52^nd Regiment, had been killed by a cannon ball. 

Her wailings were heard at our house for an 

hour or two. Alick was called in to see her — I 

met him to-day, and he seemed filled with 

disgust at war — horrified that rational beings 

should thus slaughter one another, and fill the 

world with lamentation and wo. But we have 

no alternative. 

[Transcript by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258