Friday 31st
A cloudy damp day, in the office as usual. Engaged the Pat office Draughtsman to make drawings for my Door Fastener. I shall make application for a pat next week. Remained at home this evening except going to Mr Hartleys for Julia at 9 o’clock. I have been writing the specification for my Patent. The boys are all happy in the promise of new Boots tomorrow. Paid some Bills today, ought to have more money. Wood & coal bill for Jan’y $9.00, two fires only. Oak wood $10.00. We are very saving of fuel, no Servants this winter to waste it. We are all servants this winter. Indications of snow tonight which means more mud if that were possible.
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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 30th
Rain again today. The Lyons friends left for home this evening. The boys have staid in the house and attended to their lessons better than usual. I Have not been out tonight, been drawing some and reading the “Star” aloud. No particular war news but a good deal expected soon. The Boys went to bed at 8 o’clock, Julia at 10, it is now near 11. Wife is mending boys clothes, has a great deal of that business to do.
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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 Jan’y 29th 1862
Rained half the day and the streets in a bad condition again. Nothing new today. This evening Mrs A B Williams, Mrs VanMaster and David Griffith came up and took tea with us and spent the evening, leaving about 10 o’clock. Chas & Sally were also here. We all had a very pleasant time of it. “Bud” has rather a bad cough, has not been out today. “Holly,” after geting his lessons, went up to the “White House” with the Lincoln boys who were after ours.
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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 28
Rain today and the streets again in a bad condition. Mr Fenwick and Lady, Miss Lucy Munson (Mrs Fenwicks Sister), and Mr Cobb spent the evening here. Mr VanMaster & Lady, Mis Williams and Ed Dickerson call[ed] in a carriage for Julia to go with them to the Presidents Levee, so she got ready while the ladies waited for her (in the house) and went. There is no particular news in the papers tonight. Everything seems to move along as usual. Genl Burnside has at last been heard from at Hatteras Inlet. One vessel & cargo lost in the Storm last week. Three lives also lost (officers), Col Allen, a Surgeon, and Mate.
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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.
Monday January 27th 1862
A pleasant day, a good air & cool. There has been no news afloat. I have been in the office all day as usual. Mrs Williams, Mrs VanMaster, D Griffiths & Ed Dick’n visited the Presidents with my wife, saw the President and the “White House.” This evening myself and Julia spent the evening in their (or with them) in Maj Williams Room. Mr W & VanMaster were also there and Mr Pomeroy, the Member from Cayuga. We got home about 10 o’clock. Wife was pretty well tired out tonight and could not go. The Boys have been at the Presidents today riding the Poney. Some of the “sympathizers” with the rebellion are in the habit of starting reports of terrible disasters to our [arms?]. Last evening it was reported at all the Hotels that our troops in Kentucky had be[en] totally defeated. It mad[e] some long faces for a while and some jubilent ones.
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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 26th
Rather pleasant today. Went out to church in the morning with Julia & the Boys. Wife went in the afternoon. Met Ed Dickerson & took him to church. The two Lincoln boys were here after our boys to go up there to see their new poney. Our boys could not go on Sunday. Ed D. came home with wife and staid to tea. Mr VanMaster & Lady and Mrs Alexander Williams of Lyons came in and staid a couple of hours. They are down at Browns Hotel.
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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.
Satturday Jan’y 25/62
Weather more favorable today, a cool fine air, but plenty of mud in the streets. No news worth mentioning. The news papers are dull for want of some new sensation. Got set of chairs, one bedstead, mattress & Rocker today. Cane seats are the best I can afford for my parlor. Went to market and to Adamss for groceries & staid at home the rest of the evening.
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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 Jan’y 24th 1862
Colder today but still freezes but little. Tonight the wind blows from the north bringing rain and sleet. It is a terrible bad night out, and I cannot but think of the hundreds of poor sentries on duty who have to stand and take it. No particular news today in the City. Genl McClellan is either going to advance soon or intends to make the rebels believe that he is. I am inclined to think that it is his policy to hold Still at present. By so doing he holds the bulk of the rebel force at Mannasses, who are daily geting more and more in a desperate case, and at the same time is giving them hard blows in every direction and cuting off their communications with the West and south. The roads are in such a condition now that a “Movement” is simply impossible.
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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 23d 1862
In the office as usual. No rain today and a little cooler, but does not freeze. Geo W Prentice was an hour in our room today, quite sociable. Thinks Schoepf did the fighting at “Somerset” whether he gets the credit of it or not, and I think so too. I must call upon Mis Schoepf tomorrow. A Senatorial Committee visited the rooms of the Land office today, in company with the Comr. I have spent the evening at home. Put a stove in Julias room, fixed a lock for Buds Box, and put a lock on a cupboard door for the better preservation of the barrel of apples. They will undoubtedly keep better under lock and key with three boys about the house. Troops are moveing about in the mud and Expeditions are now on the move in all directions and “Secesh” is getting into a “tight place.” A great deal is expected of the force now in the field the month to come, and I think that a great deal will be done towards quelling this infernal rebellion.
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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 Jan’y 22d 1862
Nothing new today. Saw two of “Shorts & Smith” “Greek fire Bomb” burnt south of the Presidents House. It was (or appeared to be) quite a success. The Streets and crossings are worse than I have ever seen them before in this City. Called at Mr Hartleys for Julia on my return from the Prests, staid there an hour. On reaching home we found Ed Dickerson, who spent an hour or two here. He made my wife a present of a Bll of fine apples today, sent up by a cartman. They were very acceptable, and very fine quality “Baldwins.”
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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.
