1863 January 1 Staunton, Va.

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

1863

January 1863

Thursday night, January 1, 1863.

A dispatch from Richmond this afternoon reports that Gen. Bragg had defeated the enemy near Murfreesborough, Tenn., taking 4000 prisoners, 31 cannon + 300 wagons. The prisoners included two Brigadier Generals. We have had so many false reports from the South West, that we are now rather incredulous as to the truth of good news from that quarter. Letters from Christiansburg last night inform us that Addy Stuart has gone with his regiment to Petersburg. He was previously at Drury's Bluff, on James River. A few week ago he was in North Carolina. The town was full of negroes to-day; as usual on New Year. A negro woman hired at auction for $140! (a year). [deleted: Aunt Sally's Tom goes to Richmond with other hands to work on the fortifications.] They have on Saturday night — about 250 from this county. The hands were drafted like soldiers, and are to be employed for sixty days. Nanny and Matty were at a juvenile party, at J. B. Baldwin's last night. — I went for them at 10 o'clock. Kitty is attending a party at N. K. Trout's to-night. Va + Miss Agnes are spending the evening at our neighbor's Bledsoe — I go for them in a few minutes.

[transcript by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258