[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, former editor and owner of the Staunton Spectator]
Sunday night, May 4, 1862.
Another bright Spring day, but full of rumors and
anxiety. This morning at Sunday School I was in-
formed that Johnson was threatened with attack by a
large force of the enemy — that he was spending the night
in town, and was sent for at 12 o’clock — that at 2 o’
clock, A. M., two trains of cars, empty, were sent
down the road to bring up reinforcements. The num-
ber of the enemy was set down at 10,000 — there it was
said that 8000 men at Ryans, in the Pastins, that our
pickets had been driven in, and that skirmishing was
going on at North Mountain. A large force was re-
ported at Millboro’, but this was soon contradicted. Return-
ing from Church I encountered Judge Thompson at his
gate. He had not heard the rumors, but seemed fully per-
suaded that the Valley was to be given up to the enemy.
Soon after dinner I heard an engine whistle, and hurried
down to see if reinforcements had come — Only the freight
train due yesterday. The Ambulances, started yesterday,
had just come in, having been sent after to return. A
little after 3 o’clock there was another whistle, and I went
to Judge T’s gate to see the train. It was a long train,
drawn by two engines, and was full of soldiers! A num-
ber of ladies were on the hill, to see what was to be seen. —
After coming home to tell the news, I went to Alick’s, and
he and I went to the Depot. He told me that he was in-
formed that Jackson’s movement was intended to deceive
the enemy. A large number of soldiers had arrived on the
train, principally such as were more or less broken down
by their march of yesterday. Many of them are badly
clothed and almost destitute of shoes. Altogether their ap-
pearance was rather tattered. I met old Mr. Jimmy
Lessley, of North Mountain, at the Depot He said every-
thing was quiet in that region, and there was no ex-
pectation of an advance of the enemy. — that one of
our scouts was at McDowell yesterday, and found
some pickets but no enemy this side! In A few
minutes afterwards the previous report as to an imme-
diate attack upon Johnson was asserted again, and
was repeated at Church to-night, with the additional
information that cannon and ammunition were sent
out to-day. I know not what to believe, but inclined
to the opinion that no enemy is pressing from the
West. Pickets have been posted on all the roads lead-
ing from town towards Rockingham, to prevent in-
formation from getting to the enemy. Gen. Jackson
+ Staff have arrived in town, on horseback. One or
two more trains with soldiers have also come. The
main body are coming afoot. I fear that most of
them will be utterly broken down. They have made
a marvelous march of it.
[transcription by the Valley of the Shadow project]
MSS 38-258