[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, civilian clerk in the Quartermaster Dept., Staunton, Va.]
Wednesday night, June 4, 1862.
We can get no definite intelligence of move-
ments down the Valley. It seems to be true that Jack-
son has retired pretty far up towards Harrisonburg,
before a large force of the enemy. There has been
skirmishing at several points, and quite a heavy
affair at Strasburg, where the Federalists were reported
as we heard on yesterday. Many stragglers from
our army, who were worn out with marching, have
fallen into the hands of the enemy. It turns out also
that one company of the 12th Georgia Regiment was
captured at Front Royal. A Lieutenant of this compa-
ny, who was not there, however, informed me to-day
that a large number of the Federal cavalry were killed at
Front Royal, in a fight which occurred there, in
spite of the wishes and orders of the Col. + Lt. Col. of the
12th Ga. who finally went off leaving the Regiment be-
hind them. Both were arrested by order of Gen. Jackson.
A large number of wagons, which went down to bring up
the captured stores, returned to-day, many of them
empty. The enemy pressed too closely for us to bring
off all the stores. It is said that upwards of 3000
Federal prisoners were at Mt. Crawford to- day, waiting
till a bridge could be constructed, to cross the river.
Very heavy rain last night and to-day, causing a
great rise in all the water courses. Not a word of
news from Richmond, except a report that Gen.
Johnston (Jos. E.) was severely wounded. A slide on
the Central R.R., at or near the Blue Ridge, has pre-
vented trains going down or coming up. Kate and
Kitty are probably on the road somewhere.
[transcription by the Valley of the Shadow Project]
MSS 38-258
