Sunday, February 3, 2013

1863 January 28 Staunton, Va.

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

Wednesday night, January 28, 1863.
Horribly wintry day — another snow storm — began last night. No recent intelligence from the armies. The bad weather has probably prevented another threatened attempt at Fredericksburg, unless, as is rumored or suspected, disaffection in the ranks of the enemy interferes with the movements against us. A letter copied from the N. Y. Tribune, which denies that disaffection exists to any serious extent, furnishes the best proof I have of its existence. It is said to be quite wide-spread among the Northwestern troops, particularly those from Illinois. A great change has certainly taken place at the North — people are speaking out against Lincolnism and the war after a fashion which a few months ago would have promptly sent them to one of the military prisons. Since the Governor of New York (Seymour) declared that there should be freedom of speech, and the new Governor of New Jersey (Parker) followed suit, tongues long tied have become glib again
 
[transcript by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-158

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