1862 December 14 Staunton, Va.

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

Sunday night, Dec. 14, 1862.

A mild, spring-like day. — The bees out in large force — many dead ones about the hive in the flower garden. I brought Robt. M^cFarland home from church to dinner. Jim M^cClung afterwards came in and also dined with us. This morning, as I learned at church, intelligence was received by Telegraph, that the enemy were repulsed at all points on yesterday — that Gen. J. R. R. Cobb, of Georgia, was killed +c. +c. Upon going to church to- night, the crowd at the door was talking over the news brought by the Railroad passengers. They stated that the enemy had been repulsed, as reported this morning, that Gen. Cobb had not been killed, but had lost a leg, and that a general engagement along a line of five or six miles was in progress to- day. As the Telegraph Office was opened again at 7 o'clock, P.M., I went down after church to enquire the news. The operator informed me that he had not a word, except that the Richmond office had assured him since night that there was no fighting to-day. Reported that Millroy is advancing with a large force from Moorfield, Hardy Co., towards Strasburg.

[transcript by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258