1862 September 23 Staunton, Va.

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

Tuesday, Sept. 23, 1862.

A letter from Winchester this morning states that ten 

thousand of the enemy crossed the Potomac and were am-

bushed by Jackson and driven back with great loss of 

men and arms; that our army had recrossed into Ma-

ryland +c. This intelligence has relieved to some extent 

the painful apprehension felt on yesterday. If we 

were not so used to it, the sight of the multitudes of wounded 

and suffering soldiers constantly arriving, would be shocking. 

A large number of troops arrived on the train last night — 

part from Georgia and the remainder Marylanders. The 

former moved down the Valley this morning; the latter 

are still in town, and some of them, having obtained li-

quor, have been very disorderly. Several were arrested

by the Provost Marshal's guard, after a fracas. Many of 

the soldiers are walking about bare-footed — feet sore and un-

able to wear shoes. Winchester is said to be overrun with vermin.

I have just paid $1.50 for not quite 3/4 pounds of table salt.

Afternoon. — Persons arrived since dinner state that another 

portion of the enemy crossed the Potomac lower down than 

Shepherdstown, and falling into a trap set for them by 

Gen. Hill, were nearby all killed and drowned.

Jim M^cClung has come, from Winchester, sick and 

very much reduced. He says our army suffered severely 

in Maryland, and will have to fall back to Winchester, — 

 for want of subsistence in their present position. His ac-

count of the affairs mentioned above is, that Jackson, 

hearing that the enemy had crossed at Williamsport, went 

up to that place, leaving A. P. Hill with a part of his force 

at Shepherdstown. Jackson's encounter with the enemy and 

Hill's are so mixed up, that it is impossible to distin-

guish between them — the intelligence is confused — but all 

accounts agree in representing that the Yankees were signally 

repulsed.

[transcript by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258