Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

Post image for Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft.

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft.

February 3, 2013

Diary of US patent clerk Horatio Nelson Taft.

Washington Tuesday Febru’y 3rd 1863

It was quite warm and pleasant this morning. But tonight it is cold with a keen north wind which quite upsets all my calculations for comfort in my room for the chimney and my stove do not work together at all, the draft being decidedly down instead of up. I have consequently been obliged to surrender the premises and have spent the evening with my Artist friend Mr Mulviny whose room is below stairs. He has fine Stereoscopic Views and a good Instrument and many fine pictures. He himself is half Irish & half Italian. The concert for the NY soldiers goes off tomorrow night. I have got ten tickets to Sell. I am afraid the whole thing will be a “Sell” with P.H. Ostrander as manager. I think the House will be full as great efforts are making to sell tickets. If the audience are not “Sold,” I shall be glad. Called this morning at Charleys to say to him that some of the Patients at the Ascension Hospital were complaining of Doct Dorr, and want of attention. Some of the Soldiers are given to complaining and are never Satisfied whatever their treatment may be. Such men can make a great deal of trouble if they try as there is always plenty of anxious listeners visiting the Hospitals and take it for granted that a sick or wounded soldier would always tell the truth. It is bitter cold tonight for the poor soldiers in the field and it is freezing hard.

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