1863 January 30 Staunton

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

Friday night, January 30, 1863.

A general impression that the war will soon be over. The signs from Illinois, Indiana, New York, New Jersey, certainly indicate a great reaction in those regions. Many Yankee soldiers will go out of services in May (their terms of enlistment expiring then), and it seems very doubtful if their places can be supplied. Popular meetings in Illinois + Indiana have recently spoken out boldly for peace, denouncing Lincoln, and threatening themselves to cut loose from New England. It was reported in Richmond yesterday that Commissioners from the Western States just named have arrived in that city — not so of course. Reported to-day that the Union legislature of Ky. has ordered out 60,000 troops to resist Lincoln's proclamation. How natural was poor Sister's feeling, that peace would make her grief more poignant! Often does her account of Addy's leaving home the last time occur to me — "He looked so well," she said "and Oh, I kissed him over and over again." May God comfort her. We hear that Rev. Dr. Boyd was recently shot and instantly killed in Winchester, by a Yankee sentinel.

 [transcript by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258