[from the diary of Joseph A. Waddell, former owner and editor of the Staunton Spectator]
Saturday night, April 26, 1862
Our community has been much more depressed to-
day than on yesterday, although there was no intelli-
gence specially calculated to have that effect. Perhaps
the absence of encouraging news was sufficient to excite
apprehensions. Since the apparently reliable statement
of Ewell’s movement to re-inforce Jackson, we have expected
to hear that the Federal troops were retiring down the Valley;
but this morning the first news was that th a body of
their cavalry was at Mt. Crawford, unable to cross the
river, and anxiously enquiring for the whereabouts
of Jackson and Ashby. Josiah Roler conversed with
them across the river, and they pronounced the people
of the neighborhood particularly dull because they
could not give them the desired information. Next
we heard that one or two of our cavalry had been killed
near Deerfield. There it was rumored that Gen. John-
son’s private baggage had gone to Afton Depot, and
army stores were going in the same direction. In a
word everything was in suspense. To-night the cars bring
a report that the Federalists have taken New Orleans.
I received a nother letter from Tate to-day. He wished
me to telegraph to him at Lynchburg, the condition of
affairs here. He was in Richmond, and still rather hope-
ful. Mrs. Hill, Bell + the children with us still, wait-
ing to go to Alick’s where they find it necessary to locate
permanently. Johnson’s army may move at any moment.
Oh, miserable times! The country ruined in any event.
May God in mercy interpose for our help. One of
the Sittington’s reports that the Federalists in Highland
are suffering for supplies. Many negroes have joined
them, and some having stolen food to relieve their hunger
were shot recently at Monterey — six of them, he said
[transcription by the Valley of the Shadow project]
MSS 38-258
