Sunday 9th
Have been out to church all day with all the family but Holly, he has a very bad cold. The air has been cool and Bracing today and the sun has shown nearly all day. The sight of the sun again has been here quite reviveing. Ed Dick[erson] & Alex Tower called this afternoon while we were at church, did not stay till we returned. Charles & Sallie spent the evening. Chas re-vaccinated all of us. Yesterday for the first time we tried the “ariated Bread” baked in Baltimore. It is certainly a great improvement in the Bread line. It is soon to be made here. We are sure customers for the “New kind of Bread.”
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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 8th
Nothing new at all today, a little skirmishing over the River. Some Rebels killed and sixteen prisoners taken and brought in here last night. I have not been out and have not been on Pa. Ave for some days past.
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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 Feb 7th 1862
News rcd today of the capture of Fort Henry on the Tennessee River by Comodore Foot and his Gun Boat Squadron. The news created quite a Sensation in the City as it is considered an important point. Weather damp & chilly and the Roads & crossings awful. When the roads dry up or are at least passable I intend to go over the River and visit the Camps with my family. It will be a new thing for the Boys to visit the Forts. Spent the evening at a Party at Doct Everitts. Julia was with me. Music, dancing & a late supper, did not get home till 1 o’clock a.m.
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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 6th
No news yet. All quiet. Misty day, snow all gone, more mud. In the office as usual. Went down this evening and got the NY papers & Frank Leslie for the boys. Mailed some letters for wife & Julia. Have been reading all the evening. Have put some oyster shells into the coal stove, it is said they will clear the stove of clinkers, we will see.
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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
This has been a bright and pleasant day, the first in a long time. M. this morning stood at 20. The snow has mostly thawed off in the streets. G W Prentice went home yesterday. Mr Bright was Expelled from the U.S. Senate today by a vote of 32 to14, a deserved disgrace for disloyalty. No news today, but hourly expect from the “Burnside Expedition” and also from the West.
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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
Colder, but not much frost. M. stands 26 tonight. Chas got letter from Frank, he is now on a RRoad. I got a letter from Brother C R. Mat[ty] Hartly has been spending the day here. Less excitement in the City now about the small pox. I suppose people have got used to it. I have been revaccinated but without any effect. Cloudy and damp today. Nothing new in the papers today. Indications in the U.S. Senate that Mr Bright will be Expelled.
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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
Colder, but not much frost. M. stands 26 tonight. Chas got letter from Frank, he is now on a RRoad. I got a letter from Brother C R. Mat[ty] Hartly has been spending the day here. Less excitement in the City now about the small pox. I suppose people have got used to it. I have been revaccinated but without any effect. Cloudy and damp today. Nothing new in the papers today. Indications in the U.S. Senate that Mr Bright will be Expelled.
Monday Feb 3rd 1862
No particular news today. The streets are in a wo[e]ful condition but the boys who are anxious to gain a penny — keep the crossings in tolerable condition for footmen. The hundreds of army wagons which are constantly passing keep the road way mud well stirred up.
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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 2nd
Froze a little last night but has thawed in the sun all day. Went out to church with wife and boys. Chaplin Booth of the 5th Regt Sickels Brigad[e] preached, a pretty smart man. A crazy man in the church made a disturbance by giving an Extra discourse. He was hustled out by one of the Deacons. Ed Dickerson came up and spent an hour or two this evening. The roads are in such an awful condition that a “movement” or an “advance” would seem to be simply impossible. Drills and Dress parades in the Camps are in most cases dispensed with. There is a great deal of sickness in the City, but we hear less about the Small pox than we did a month ago. Our family is in good health.
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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 January February 1st 1862
Nothing of any particular note has occured today. The ground was covered with Snow this morning, but it has thawed all day. Went down after dinner and with the three boys and got them all new boots with which they were highly pleased, paid $4.25 for the lot. Got “Bud” also a pair of pants $2.50, paid the Baker $4.25, Milkman $1.90. Got my Drawings today, shall put in my application in two or three days. I have not been out since dark, have been reading the papers, writing &c. Wife rcd a letter from her Uncle Sullivan & [Mis Recd Cook?]. It is now 1/2 past ten. The boys went to bed at 8. Wife busy mending as usual evenings. Julia is writing off Poetry from a newspaper and I am going to bed.
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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.
