Washington Sunday March 1st 1863
Old winter has taken his flight and left us deep in mud and water and a dense fog. But we will now look for clear weather and the usual drying winds of March will soon render the roads passable and the armies can move. Armies did I say? (for I sometimes forget that we are in the midst of a gigantic War, and following the usual routine of daily duty I awake as from a dream to realize that fact). Yes, Armies, three or four, each numbering near a hundred thousand, besides tens of thousands of men scattered all over Slavedom. We cannot have at present less than six hundred thousand Soldiers under arms altogether, engaged in sustaining the Union and puting down rebellion. Attended religious Service at the “House” Chamber this morning. After the service John A Fowle and Miss Rumsey (the Singer) were married before the congregation. An Episcopal clergyman performed the Ceremony. After the newly married couple had received the congratulations of their friends a few minutes, the first thing the new wife did was to sing (alone) the “Star Spangled Banner” for the crowd. I spent an hour at A B Williamss with Alexander Tower and his wife Harriet W. that was. Went in the evening to Doct Gurleys church. A Stranger preached. I do wish that Preachers would learn to read.
Saturday Feb 28th 1863
There does not seem to be anything in particular to note down. We hear of some skirmishing with the rebels at various points but nothing of much consequence. At Vicksburgh, where perhaps the largest forces are opposed to each other, I think the plan is not to attack the Batteries but to invest the place and cut off their supplies and starve them out. No attack on Charleston or Savannah yet. There appears to be some trouble with the Commanders as to precedence or rank. Genls Hunter and Foster are the officers. This question of rank together with the jealousy existing betwen West Point officers and Volunteers has led to an infinite deal of trouble during this war. Some Genls have been so unpatriotic as to wish to see some other Genl defeated rather than assist him to be successful. For this and for acting in this way, Fitz John Porter was cashiered and dismissed the service. He was a Maj Genl. There are now about twenty Indians here from the western borders of Minnesota holding a talk with the Prest and the Indian Commissioner. I think there is but little sympathy for them anywhere since the Massacre up there last summer. Mrs Swisshelm stated that not less than fifteen hundred men, women, and children fell victims. She lives in St Cloud Min. It is said that the Indians were instigated by the Southern rebels to rise on the whites.
Washington Friday Feb. 27th 1863.
The rain fell in torrents last night and increased the depth of the flowing mud in the streets. It has been a dull day. Very little news stirring, nothing of a decisive character. Congress will adjourn next Wednesday and it will have done a good deal of important work this Session. The Conscription Bill and the Finance Bill embracing the uniform Currency bill are of a most important Nature. Elections soon come off in Conn. & N Hampshire and some other states and the disunionists or “Copperhead” Democracy are straining every nerve to carry them. Should they succeed many good men apprehend that forced resistance will be made in such States to any further raising of troops should they be called for. Much depends upon the organization of “Union Leagues” in combining the loyal strength in those States to act in concert against their Enimies. This is a trying time for our Country. Enimies in front with arms in their hands, and Enimies in the rear giving those Enimies comfort and support. God grant we get safely delivered from the perils which surround us. That our Country may survive her present trials, and emerge from the firey ordeal, more glorious than ever & purified, though baptised anew in the blood of her choicest sons.
Washington Thursday Feb 26th 1863
O Mud Mud. I have waded over crossings today where composition was at least six inches deep and of the consistency of thick cream. The snow has all melted and the water is mostly still on the surface of the ground. I had letters from Julia and the boys this evening, and I wrote to my Sister Androus today. I am having my old Indigo blue cloak made into an over coat. I think the Tailor has stolen about one third of the cloth, for there is nothing left to speak of. I hardly know whether to submit to the cheat, or have a quarrel with him. There is a good deal of confusion tonight down below. It is past eleven, and the loud talk still keeps up. I think there must be whiskey there, for that is the origin of about all the disorders in the City. I must leave this house by Monday next. It is reported tonight that Genl Siegel has resigned. I hope the report is not true as such an officer cannot well be spared at this time. I attended the League meeting this evening. There was a large attendance and much enthusiasm. “Honest Truman Smith” of Conn. was initiated and afterwards made a speech query, Is any old polititian (as he is) entitled to the prefix “honest” to his name? The papers contain no particular news today. Gold 168. Yesterday 172.
Washington Wednesday Feb. 25th 1863.
A bright pleasant day but the Snow has mostly melted and the thin mortar composition lies from four to eight inches in depth in the streets. Little boys are at the crossings broom in hand trying to keep back the flood from a narrow path and saying “Please give me a penny.” I fear they do not get many, few will give a five cent “shin plaster” or “stamp” and cents are scarce which is bad for the boys. Went up to the Capitol after leaving office and the “Enrolment Bill” passed while I was in the chamber of the “House.” It now only needs the signature of the President to become a law. Wrote to my sister Harriet and to (?) today. Sent Agricultural Reports to Capt Budd Sag H. and to Dr Ford of Chemung NY. This evening I have been to hear the celebrated Mason–Jones, the Irish Orator. He was a fine speaker and all that I had expected. He spoke about one hour and a half without the least hesitation and without a note or scrap of writing. His subject was “John Philpot Curran.” The House (Willards Hall) was crowded. Four Soldiers have called upon me today for assistance in getting their discharge papers, or pay, or for clothing. A stream of discharged soldiers has been flowing through the R Road Depot for the past two months, from one to two hundred pr day. It is astonishing how prevalent the heart disease has become since this war began. I think it should in most cases be called the “faint heart” disease.
Tuesday Feb. 24th 1863
Pleasant overhead and snow and water under foot and freezing tonight. Went down to Addis Photograph Gallery this morning and sat for my picture. Julia insists upon having my Photograph in her Album. Capt Henry Androus of 17th Mich called on me today. He is a fine looking officer, has been in five or six Battles and not been wounded. He has been home and is now on his way to join his Reg’t in “front.” Called at Maj Williams this evening. Mrs W. is getting much better and is now up all day. Was in to Willards an hour talking with friends. Just before nine, I called at Doct Munsons from whence I did not make my escape till eleven. They had a room full of Company as usual. The three Albany ladies are still there, had a long conversation with Mrs Pruyn discussing Morals and Religion. We agreed in the main, especialy upon the point, that Society is responsible for the Morals of the Community, and that it is Society, the public, that is to blame and guilty of most of the crimes Committed, at least partakers of the guilt. I wrote to Wife today, sent Julia two more Photographs, Genl Havelocks and Henry Androus. I think her Album must be full by this time. I have tonight written a letter to Sis Northam in answer to hers of yesterday.
Washington Monday Feb 23rd 1863
A cold winters day, but thawing in the sun. Some faint attempts at sleighing in the streets and some jingling of bells which sounds like old times. The like has not been heard here for the past two or three years. But the snow will all be gone in a day or two and then it will be mud. The dearth of news still continues. Nothing from the armies today. Genl Hooker is in town tonight perhaps concocting some scheme to bring the rebels to grief. I think the weather for the past two or three days has been severe enough to bring his own army to “grief.” But I have great faith in Hooker. I have spent most of the evening with Genl Havelock at his room. He gave me his “cart de visite” for Julia and showed me his Medals and his Commission from the Sultan, presented in a silk bag with a large Medal. Took wine with him and sat and conversed for two hours. Capt Thornett called with me. Rcd a letter from my dear Sister Harriet Northam, which gave me much pleasure. Also rcd one from Home & from “Willie.” Sent ten photographs by mail to Julia, postage two cents. Shall be glad if they arrive in safty. Business dull in the office, plenty of time to read and write letters. Spent an hour at Charleys after I left the office, baby improves every day.
Sunday Feb 22nd 1863.
Another severe Snow Storm. All day long has it fell and tonight it is deeper than it has been before this winter and it is cold and freezing. Bitter weather for the poor soldiers in the field, as well as for the poor horses in the service. I have not been to church nor hardly out of the house today, have been reading and writing most of the day. Capt Thornett has spent an hour or so in my room, he has given me a little of his history. He is a man near forty and has been a long time in the British Army. Served in India and through the Crimean War. His Father was a Naval officer, his Mother is still living in “Kent,” spends half the year in France with a daughter. At the age of 16 she was in Brussels during the Battle of Waterloo and was at the Celebrated Ball described by Byron, “There was a sound of revelry at night.” I obtained the Sunday morning Chronicle but there is no news. We are waiting, waiting. We must have Victories. I shall be much disappointed and pained if we do not. It seems now as tho a defeat would be ruin to us. Vicksburg, Savannah, Charleston & Wilmington are all invested by our troops. Rosecrans has 100,000 men in Tenn. and Hooker must have near that number near Fredericksburgh V.A. O for pleasant dry weather, and good roads.
Washington Saturday Feb. 21st 1863.
It was a mild pleasant morning but is quite cold tonight with indications of more snow. In the office all day as usual. Not much to do, read the news papers and old “Pepys Diary” about half the day, left him in the midst of the “great Plague in London” summer of 1664, more than a thousand per day dying of it. When it first broke out in a house, the House was closed and a red cross was Marked upon the door, and “The Lord have Mercy on us” written under it. He was an Educated man but like every body else at that time was realy ignorant and believed in charms. He was silly enough to carry a hares foot in his pocket to protect himself from the cholic to which complaint he was subject. I have been this evening to hear Mrs Swishelm Lecture upon the Indian Murders in Minnesota last summer. She is a small delicate looking woman. She has been a very beautiful woman and may still be called beautiful for a lady over 40 or 45 yrs. She had a crowded House and her lecture was fine and quite characteristic of the woman. It had many very fine hits in it at rebels of the South and sympathisers at the North as well as at the “Noble Indian” “as the puling sentimentalists of East call him.” She was frequently applauded and sometimes most vociferously. I took a walk on the Ave after leaving the office before dinner. The Ave seemed to be more crowded than ever. The “Currency Bill” pass the “house” last night, good so far.
Washington Friday Feb. 20th 1863.
Rather a dull day in the office there being but little to do on the Examining Board. I have spent most of the day reading old Saml Pepys Diary written two hundred years ago during Charles 2nds reign. It gives a not very flattering picture of English society at that time. In looking at that age and then at the present, any one must acknowledge that great progress has been made in the morals of refined Society. One is surprised at the conduct which was tolerated in that day, especialy in and around the Court. Pepys himself occupied a responsible position under the Crown, something nearly equivalent to the Sec’y of our Navy. The old Villin was constantly accepting bribes for he notes down all He did and all his thoughts from day to day. He casts up his accounts at the end of every month and piously blesses God that he is getting on in the world so well, the hypocrite, full of pride and vanity and an ardent admirer of the Ladies. I am not through with him yet. There is no news today worthy of note. The French have invaded Mexico and from all accounts are getting roughly handled there. It is thought by many that we will be at War with France soon. Most assuredly we shall if she intervenes in our war with the south or acknowledges its Independance. I have spent most of the evening over to Charleys (or the Doctors) as he is called. Played a game of chess with him, in my room at 10.
