1862 December 3 Staunton, Va.

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, former newspaper employee and civilian employee of the Confederate government]

Wednesday night, Dec. 3, 1862

Again no war news. It is thought, however, that a battle must soon take place at Fredericksburg. At my suggestion, the ladies are making blankets for soldiers out of church carpets. Several days ago the papers contained the correspondence between France, England and Russia in regard to a proposition for an armistice in this country. France insisted the other powers to unite with her in a proposition of the kind, but they declined on the ground that it would do no good. I received two hogs to-day, each weighing 180 lbs, at $20 per hundred = $72.00 — only $3 (three) less than a month's pay!

[transcript by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258