1862 November 27 Staunton, Va.

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, former newspaper publisher and civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept.]

Thursday, Nov. 27.

No war news from any quarter. The enemy still opposite Fredericksburg. Northern papers of last week claimed great credit for Burnside on account of his "change of base" from the Potomac to the                   Rappahannock — so expeditiously accomplished, they said, that Gen. Lee knew nothing about it till he was left far behind by their army, which was then probably at Hanover Junction! When they learned that Lee was at Fredericksburg, with a considerable part of his force, one of them or their cried out that there was treachery somewhere — that no sooner was the movement determined on at Washington, than Lee was in motion, before Burnside had struck a tent! It is undoubtedly true that Gen. Lee anticipated the movement, but not likely that he received information from Washington. Reported that the enemy are concentrating a large force at Suffolk, in Nansemond Co.                    Yesterday and to-day I was busy about a sale of government horses — nearly three hundred. Mrs.                   M^cClung + Miss Agnes returned last night, in good health + spirits. Ann Eliza Wilson went to Tom Preston's this morning. John Graham and Mary here at supper to-night.

[transcript by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258