1862 August 4 Staunton, Va.

[from the diary of Joseph A. Waddell, civilian employee of the Quarter Master Department]

Monday, August 4, 1862.

A lady arrived from Martinsburg, yesterday, bringing 

Baltimore and Washington papers which state that 

Seward, U. S. Sec. of State, has resigned, and that Ohio and 

Connecticut have refused to furnish more troops. There are 

rumors as to the causes of both, but we have no authentic 

information as to either event. If reports turn out 

to be true, we hope the occurrences alluded to will tend to bring 

the war to an end. The sick soldiers are to be removed 

from the Hospital here, to Lovingston, it is said. The 

possibility of a Yankee raid up the Valley is suggested 

as the cause, although some persons surmise that the 

object is to make room for the wounded in the battle 

which seems to be impending near Gordonsville.

[transcript by the Valley of the Shadow Project]

MSS 38-258