Wednesday March 12th 1862
Walked up to the camp of the 98th at Meridian Hill with Julia after dinner. Saw all our officer friends there. Called upon Col Dutton who is sick at the old Comodore Porter Mansion. He appeared quite sick and was as I thought very uncomfortable. I invited him down to our house where he could have quiet and rest for a few days. He declined. Said he would be “all right” in a day or two. Mr Seward was at the camp of the 103rd German Regt nearby. We got home before dark, pretty tired.
______
The three diary manuscript volumes, Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, are available online at The Library of Congress.
Tuesday March 11, 1862
The “Stars & Stripes” are floating over Centreville & Mannasses, the Rebels having ran away. McClellan is there with over two hundred thousand men. News this morning of a desperate battle in Arkansas betwen our forces under Genl Curtis & Price, McCullochs army. The Rebels were totally routed with great loss. It has been a delightful day. Tonight Comodore Smiths son (Capt Smith of the Frigate Congress, killed in the fight with the Merrimac) was brought up to his fathers, funeral tomorrow. Took a walk with Julia & Willie tonight after dinner. “Bud” & “Holly” have gone out to the camp of the 98th Meridian Hill to see their Lyons friends. They stay in the camp tonight. I think one night in the tent will satisfy them.
______
The three diary manuscript volumes, Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, are available online at The Library of Congress.
Monday March 10th 1862
This has been an exciting day. The troops commenced moving last night about midnight and have been going over the River nearly all the time since. It is said that not less than fifty thousand have crossed into Virginia today. It is confirmed that the Rebels are running from Manasses & Centreville, so our troops will have no fight there. The exploits of the Rebel Iron clad Steamer Merimac yesterday at Hampton Roads destroying the frigates Cumberland & Congress created a good deal of excitement in the City. But the exploits of the little Iron Boat Monitor (Erricksons Boat) eclipsed all as she fairly drove the Merrimac back to Norfolk. The son of our next door neighbor, Comodore Smith, commanded the Cumberland congress and was killed. They are in great grief. I was down to Willards tonight, two Regts of Regulars passed on their way over the River. Wrote today to Brother C.R. Taft & to Col Mirrick, home tonight 1/2 past 9.
______
The three diary manuscript volumes, Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, are available online at The Library of Congress.
Saturday March 8th
The weather is now fine & the roads are drying up. Troops are coming into the City and crossing over the River. Rumors afloat of fighting today near Mt Vernon. Nothing is published and little is known publicly of War operations. The prospect now is that there will be a desperate Battle near here soon. The Rebels will try to retrieve their recent losses, and will fight with desperation. McClellan is well prepared and has an immense army near here all ready and anxious for a fight. Went up to Franklin Square with wife & the boys after dinner. Wife & myself continued our walk to Lafayette Square pass [sic] Genl McClellans home. He was standing at the Window. I did not go down to the Ave tonight, got a “Tribune” of the news boy & read Carl Shurze Speech at the Cooper Institute NY.
______
The three diary manuscript volumes, Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, are available online at The Library of Congress.
Friday March 7th 1862
A beautiful clear day but rather cool out, in the office as usual. Nothing new in the city that I hear of tonight. I have been down to Charleys. He has been doing some writing for me, my work in the Land office. Troops are coming into the City and moveing about a good deal. We may expect lively times soon over the River. All seems to be quiet now.
______
The three diary manuscript volumes, Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, are available online at The Library of Congress.
Thursday March 6th 1862
The event of the day has been the Funeral of the gallant Genl Lander. It took place at the Epiphany church, starting from the Residence of Sec’y Chase. The family (ours) all went. Mrs Doct Barnes & Julia were at the office. I went up into the Hospital with them. They were out to see the procession pass. Mrs O Knight called this evening. Prof Sparks was here an hour. Edwd Dickerson called and he and Julia went to the great Gotschalk concert at Willards Hall, returned about 101/2 o’clock. It has been dry but quite Cool today. The roads are getting better. No news from over the River and no advance as yet.
______
The three diary manuscript volumes, Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, are available online at The Library of Congress.
Wednesday 5th
Went down on to the Ave this evening, had a talk with Judge Edmonds, Comr of the Land office, at the National. Called into “Willards.” Saw Mr Stillson there, was introduced to Mr Wills, a lawyer of Chicago, who is engaged in the great Land suit against the RR Company at Chicago. He appears to be a “smart one.” Called on my return home at the office of Maj Williams on 11th st. Saw VanMaster, just from Lyons. Nothing new from there. We are all much attached to the place. I have spent most of my life there.
______
The three diary manuscript volumes, Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, are available online at The Library of Congress.
Tuesday 4th
This is Julias Birth day. I must try and make her some little present. There is talk about town the the [sic] Illumination “goes off” tonight but I think it will not. It has been dry today but the Weather does not appear to be settled yet. No news that I have heard of.
______
The three diary manuscript volumes, Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, are available online at The Library of Congress.
Monday March 3d 1862
It has rained all day. Snow all gone and mud again much to the disappointment of all. We heard this morning of the death of the gallant Genl Lander. He was one of the bravest of the Brave and we could have spared almost any of our Brigadiers better than him. He died of wounds rcd at the fight at “Edwards Ferry,” up the river, last fall. The Evacuation of Collumbus K.Y. is officialy anounced. It was the last rebel Strong Hold in K.Y. The papers say nothing about army movements, they are not allowed to. I have been at home all the evening and the boys have staid in the house all day studying their lessons some and amusing themselves drawing &c. “Bud” shows quite a talent for drawing & painting in water colors, but his practice is confined to Houses, Steamboats, Soldiers &c.
______
The three diary manuscript volumes, Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, are available online at The Library of Congress.
Sunday March 2nd/62
Pleasant morning but the ground is covered with snow tonight. Snowed very hard the middle of the day. It has thawed all the time. Went to church with family. Chaplin Marks of the Pa. 42nd Regt held forth, quite an interesting man. The military on both sides of the River are under marching orders and all ready to move. Doct Barnes of the 27th came over yesterday & brought his wife. The 27th is all packed up and ready, stirring times looked for now. The Sick in the camps have been placed in Hospitals. Artillery has been moveing for two or three days past. There is an abundance of it on the Potomac. McClellan depends much upon that arm. There is much excitement in the City and much satisfaction expressed now that the immense army here is to move at last. The force must be crushing to “Secesh.” There cannot be less than 250 thousand men on & near the Potomac in the Union Armies under Genl McClellan.
______
The three diary manuscript volumes, Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, are available online at The Library of Congress.
