Diary of US patent clerk Horatio Nelson Taft.

Thursday Oct 8th 1863

There has hardly ever been so dull a time (for news) as for the past week or two. There seems to be nothing going on in the Military line that we hear of that is worthy of especial notice. But we are expecting to hear of important events at Charlston and at Chattanooga in Tennessee. Another Bombardment of Charlston and another Battle by Rosecrans is daily expected. In the City all is very quiet. It abounds in Theatres and other places of amusement but I have not attended any place of the kind for a long time. I have no taste for spending money that way. I usualy take a long walk after leaving the office at 3 o’clock, return to Dinner at 5 o’clock. We usualy sit at the table about three quarters of an hour. Col Chesters wife and two daughters came yesterday and are now with him at Doct Munsons where I board. I do the honors at one end of the long table carving &c while Mrs Munson sits at the other with her coffee or Tea urn. One of the old boarders is an old bachelor, Dr Waters. He is about Sixty years old, is constant at his meals, always gets his morning paper before breakfast and always expects to be asked for the news. He was born here and lives from his money & rents. I take a “pipe” with him occasionaly in his room, much to his gratification. Col Chester is also an old boarder there and a man much after my own heart. His lady sits at my right hand betwen me an her husband. She is a very pleasant and sociable lady. Mr Fowle is a new comer from Newark NJ, formerly of Boston. He is Machinist at the Treasury where they have a great deal of very nice machinery for getting up the Treasury notes, fractional currency &c. He put up the geometrical Lathe which engraves the borders & backs of the Bills and all the fine line geometrical & cycloid figures. The Lathe cost five thousand dollars. Fowle is one of the best Mechanics I ever knew, can make anything from a Patent Lever watch to a Steam Engine. He built the most of this Lathe (formerly). Mathimatical and Astronomical Instruments are in his line. He has a beautiful Telescope Rifle of his own make.

There was a great crowd on the Avenue this afternoon. I went to the Bulletin Boards of two or three of the “Dailies” but could see nothing like news. I called to see Sallie. She is expecting to be confined very soon. Chas has gone today to Carlisle P.a. with Sick Soldiers of the Regular Army, will be back tomorrow if nothing happens. He and his wife are on E St at Miss Bolees Boarding house at $68.00 pr month for one room and board. Mr Woodward, wife & son are at the same house. Chas thought the price was more than he could afford to pay and Mr Woodward (the Father in law) agreed to pay a portion of it if he would come there and enable them all to live together and sit together at a private table. He seems to have taken them into great favor latterly. As he is sick, it may not be a bad thing for them. I am getting up a letter balance combined with a Calendar and pen rack. I called at Woodruffs to see about today. He is making a specimen for me. I have a model which I have made mostly in my room. I intend to get it Patented

Monday Oct 5th 1863

Perhaps I might have made it interesting to have continued my diary. But I have been absent some time since my last date, and important events it is true have occured, great Battles have been fought, and great Victories have been won by our arms. The month of July saw our arms victorious everywhere. Vicksburg & Port Hudson on the Miss River were captured. Over 30,000 prisoners were taken in the first and 7000 in the last place. The Very important Battle of Gettysburge in Penn’a was fought on the 3rd July where the Rebels were signaly beaten and Genl Lee driven back into Virginia. No important Battles since that time in V.A. Genls Meade and Lee have been watching each other since but there has been a good deal of Severe skirmishing on the part of the Cavalry. Our Army of the Potomac is now near Culpepper V.A. Our Pickets and those of the Enemy are within speaking distance of each other. A severe Battle was fought about the 11th of last month in East Tennessee Betwen the Armies of Genl Rosecrans and Genl Bragg. We lost 10,000 Men killed & Wounded and were repulsed but not defeated. The object of the Rebels was to take Chattanooga which we still hold. The Armies are now near each other in force, another Battle there is expected soon. In August Genl Gilmore at Charlston astonished the World by knocking down the Walls of Fort Sumptor at the distance of 21/2 miles and by throwing Shells into the City from a distance of 5 miles. He has now got the whole of Morris Island and is engaged preparing Batteries at Cummings Point from which point to Bombard the City with Effect. He took Fort Wagner (on the Island) after the most tremenduous Bombardment that any Fort ever Experienced. We are now expecting to hear that he has again opened upon Charlston with “Greek fire” Shells. Mr Short the inventer has been down there for some time past filling Shells with it.

My Family has remained in Sag Harbor since they went there in June last year. I was at home in August last and staid two weeks. The weather was extremely hot all the month of August everywhere and I did not enjoy myself so well on that account. I returned to Washington the 18th of the month. In the months of June and July while the Rebels were in Maryland and P.A. I belonged to the Volunteer Regt of the Interior Department and drilled about every other day expecting to be called out into the Rifle Pitts back of the City every day. But the danger passed away after the Battle of Gettysburgh since which there has not been much drilling by the Employees of the Department. Washington is if possible more crowded than it was last year. It is utterly impossible to get a House to live in if one is wanted and a great many are wanted. People have to Board and pay high. Provisions, fuel &c are very dear, best flour $12.00, Butter 35.cts, coffee 40., Sugar 16., potatoes $1.25, peaches $1.00 per peck, Tomatoes $2.00 pr B.
Beef 18.cts, Oak wood $9.00 pr cord, Coal $10. pr ton &c &c. In August little Jessie died, the first child of my son Charles & Sallie. She was about 10 months old and a very sweet child. She was much loved by Mr & Mrs Woodward and by us all. Mr W provided rather extravagantly for the funeral, attending to everything himself, the coffin (of the finest Rosewood) cost $45.00. He paid all expenses. It is proposed to have a meeting of all our Brothers and Sisters at Lyons this month. I have had two or three letters upon the subject and my attendance requested. I do not know as I can go. It will take too much time and money. On Saturday last I went down to Alexandria V.A. My good friend Surgeon N S Barnes at the Mansion Hospital insisted upon my staying over night with him in the Hospital. The Mansion Hospital is (or was) a large Hotel. The old Braddock House forms a part of it and in that part I slept. It has been built about 120 years and is still in a good state of preservation. Some of the Stone at the corners were crumbling away or scaling off and with the usual Yankee desire for Relics I brought away some of the pieces. The Streets in Alexandria are Strongly Barricaded with round timbers set in the ground close together and standing about eight feet high with holes for Musketry. I returned to Washington last evening. I visit the Hospitals in the City more or less every week. I go to the Stanton Hospital the most. It is composed of Barracks or low wooden buildings on the Square in front of the Douglass Hosp’l. I have taken quite an interest in some of the patients there and visit them frequently, especialy in H W Brown of Lyons and John Peters, both wounded at the Battle of Chancellorsville the 3rd of May last. Brown can just go about on Crutches. Peters has not yet been off his bed, both were wounded in the thigh (compound fracture). Not many live through it. One Rebel Col and about forty other rebel prisoners are there. They all receive the same attention which our own soldiers do in everyrespect (clothing &c).

Monday June 29th 1863

The very atmosphere has been full of rumors today in reference to the movements of the rebels in P.a. & Maryland. Yesterday they captured a large wagon train (170 Six Mule Teams) within Ten Miles of this City. The train was on its way To Frederick M.D. The Rebels are probably in Harrisburg by tonight. A people which will refuse to turn out en mass to repel the invader deserves to have its capitol taken, and their Country laid waste. If nothing Else will “wake up” the inhabitants I hope that fire and plunder will. Genl Hooker has been superceded and Genl Meade is now in command of the “Army of the Potomac.” It is said today that Mr Stanton has been superceded as Sec’y of War by B. F. Butler. I hope it is so. This morning a Squad of Rebels came within six miles of Washington and came near capturing P M Genl Blair as he was coming to the City from his Country residence. They got his horse, which he was riding, he escaped in the woods. A Negro Regt (one thousand Strong) passed through the Av’e yesterday. I never saw a new Regt march better. We are expecting that communication will be cut off (with Baltimore) by tomorrow morning.

Monday June 22nd 1863

I have hardly fulfilld my purpose of noting down “important events as they occur” for many important events have occured since my last writing. No very important Battle has been fought by the “Army of the Potomac” with the exception of that while Hooker was across the Rappahannock about the first of May. Vicksburg has not yet been captured, but Genl Grant has it closely invested and I think there is no doubt of its capture in a very few days. Genl Banks is also investing Port Hudson with a like prospect of success. There has been much hard fighting at both places and near them. Genl Rosecrantz has remained quiet at Murfreesborogh Tenn. the past two months watching Genl Bragg. For the past few days it has been quite exciting times here as the Rebels are again in Maryland and Pennsylvania in force. They crossed above Harpers Ferry. They have been to Chambersburgh P.a. and now hold some points in that State and Frederick City, and other places in the Western portion of Maryland. Hookers and Lees armies have been near each other for the past week not far from the old Bull Run Battle ground. There has been much heavy skirmishing betwen the Cavalry the past few days and it is supposed that there was a sharp fight yesterday some twenty miles from here in the direction of Bull Run, as heavy guns were heard for some hours in quick succession. A general Battle is expected to occur very soon. They (or rather) we are fortifying Harrisburg P.a. and at Baltimore the Streets are Barricaded and prepared for cavalry “raids.” The sick and wounded from the Army of the Potomac were all sent up here when the Army moved from Falmouth, some seven thousand in number filling the Hospitals. But they are being sent North rapidly. Chas goes every day with his train coming back nights. He still runs to Phila. Frank has been here and stayed some weeks. He came in April and returned to Waterloo the forepart of this month, he writes that he was married to Miss Stiles on the 16th Inst. I intend to make a visit home by the first of Agust. My health is good but I am falling off in weight some as I usualy do in the summer. I am rooming at Mr Bartletts 379 11 St betn K & L Streets. I Board at Doct Munsons, my old Boarding place. I will endeavor to note down events oftener in future and the “events” are likely to take place.

Washington April 4th (Saturday)

I left Washington on the 16th March on a two weeks leave of absence and spent the time visiting my family at Sag Harbor L.I. I returned the 2nd Inst (Thursday). I had a very pleasant visit and regreted leaving home more than I ever did before. This is a miserable life to live, away from home. I must manage to live with my family and if I stay in Washington we must make it our home here after next Summer. Not much of importance has occured as regards the War during the past two or three weeks. Matters are very much as they stood when I left here. No decided and important Battles have been fought but considerable skirmishing, and some rather hard fighting, at Port Hudson on the Miss River and quite a success at Sommerset in Kentucky under our Col Gilmore. No movement from Falmouth or on the Rappahanock yet or upon Charleston S.C. that we have as yet heard of, altho an attack is daily expected. I will hereafter note down important events as they occur in regard to the War without confineing myself to a strict diary of events which have no particular interest in themselves. As my absence has broken my Journal I may consider myself more at liberty since the fence is down.

Washington Sunday March 15th 1863.

I saw today what has of late become quite common here, a Company of thirty or forty Prisoners and refugees from Virginia march through the City under guard to the Provost Marshalls office. The most of them were refugees from Richmond, foreigners, some of them with their families. Some of the party were Virginians fleeing from the Rebel conscription and eight or ten were prisoners taken up as Spies near Fairfax Court House, residents of that neighborhood accused of being Spies or giving information to the Enemy. The refugees from Richmond said it was nearly impossible of laborers to live there, provisions were so dear. The Hotels chgd $6.00 pr day and coffee and butter were rarely seen on their tables. It was quite pleasant till about noon when it began to hail, and it hails still (10 o’clock) this afternoon. We had for an hour very sharp lightning and very heavy thunder with hail instead of rain. Tonight the ground is covered. I presume it will turn to water and mud tomorrow. I was at Charleys during the thunderstorm. “Sallie” was much frightened. Spent an hour at Maj Williams this evening. No further news from Vicksburgh or the South. Everything looks favorable now for the Union cause. I shall be disappointed much if we do not soon hear of important successes, and that is what we must have.

Saturday March 14th 1863

News that Vicksburgh is evacuated by the Rebels comes tonight pretty well authenticated. Nothing further from “Yazoo,” but we are expecting good news from that section all the time. I am rather in hope that Vicksburgh is not evacuated. I think its Capture by Genl Grant a sure thing and I would like to have the Rebel Army captured too. I realy hope they will not be allowed to take away all of the three hundred cannon which they say they have there. The rebels had captured the Gun Boat “Indianola” but blew her up on the approach of a Sham “Iron Clad” which was made out of an old barge and sent floating down the River in the night. They are now mourning over it. I have attended to some business today for Mr Short. Went on to the Av’e after leaving the office and purchased a pocket Dictionary. I am frequently bothered and in doubt about my spelling and have had nothing to refer to. I suppose my folks are much disappointed that I am not at home tonight as I presume they expected me. I must go the forepart of the week. I have been quite busy this evening. Called at Charleys, at Doct Munsons & Mr Reeds, Mr Schrams who was not at home and spent most of the evening at Mr Haws on I Street. They are very pleasant people. Got back to my room about 11 o’clock.

Washington Friday March 13th 1863.

It has been quite a cold day with Snow in the middle of it and freezing hard tonight. News by the papers that there has been a battle at Yazoo City Miss and that we have taken 7000 Rebels prisoners. I think the Report needs confirmation. No other news of any particular importance today. Most of my time in the office has been occupied with my friends who have called, among whom were Col Sol Bulkley, L Short of Buffalo (formerly) now of Phila and Seelye, formerly of Sodus, now Syracuse. I have been down to the “National” this evening writing a Specification for Short for a Patent for his “Greek fire.” He seems to be making something out of it by furnishing it for filling “Shells” for the Govt. Called today to see Mrs Burch, the owner of the House I am in. She is one of the F.F.Vs and of course “secesh” and was somewhat frightened when I enquired about the property thinking no doubt of the awful “confiscation” act and other penalties which the disloyal have to fear. She did not “let out” any of her rebel Sentiments to me. I called at Charleys also a few minutes. Met Col Close of Fort McDowell at the National. He invited me over to see him at the Fort. I should think him a pretty wide awake officer.

Thursday March 12th 1863

A bright pleasant morning but followed by snow and wind, quite cold tonight. Capt Swan came up from the Army and called on me today. Maj E. P. Taft got a furlough to go home and was in one of the Govt offices this morning haveing his papers approved when he fell down in a fit in the office and was insensible for some time. He recovered however after an hour or two and started for home on the 61/2 train. The attack was occasioned no doubt by mental excitement on account of dispatch which he had read relating to his little boys sickness together with considerable physical debility. Met Norton Spencer, son of A.O.S., formerly of Lyons. I have not seen him for some years. He was one of McClellans aids on the Peninsula last summer. Also met at the National my old friend A B Dickerson, U.S. Minister to Nicaragua, just returned, had a long conversation with him in reference to that country. He has just been appointed US Marshall of the Northern District of NY. No news of any great importance today. The N.H. Election came off on the 10th, result uncertain. I fear there will be trouble in some of the Northern States on account of the Conscription. It is thought by many that a Draft will be resisted with arms. I think that those who go into that will get into bad business and come to grief.