SATURDAY 23
Another pleasant morning but rainy towards night. I had numerous calls today in the office from NY friends and two or three letters requesting me to attend to business for the writers. Mr Lincoln arrived today by the morning train direct from Harrisburg without stopping in Baltimore. It is said that a dispatch was sent him from here to come immediately. He is here at Willards and seeing his friends at his room. The Hotel seemed jamed full tonight. I went to market with the black “chattel” behind me, a feat on her part which seems to satisfy her ambition entirely.
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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 22
This has been a delightful day, rather cool, but pleasant. The celebration of Washingtons birth day called out a grand display of the Military of the District in the morning. The U.S. troops paraded afterwards by themselves. The order for their appearance in the morning with the Militia was for some reason not now understood countermanded. Wife and family went to the Ave at 10. o’clock and witnessed the display from C Woodwards Balcony. I dined by invitation at the National with some Gentlemen from NY City. A salute of 34 guns was fired, and the “Stars & Stripes” were flying from every point today. Spent the evening at home.
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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, FEBRUARY 21, 1861.
Nice, bright, cool day, a bracing air, and I have felt unusualy well, but I attribute it (partly at least) to a good cold bath this morning. I cannot get along well without a good wash, all over in cold water and a thorough rubbing with the flesh brush or a coarse towel, two or three times a week. I was at “Willards” and the “National.” Saw Lighthall, [Low. S Seely?] Ranslaer Van Valkenburgh of Albany & others. Came home before 9 o’clock. Tomorrow is a Holy day [Holiday] throughout the City and a great Military parade is expected. The city seems to be very quiet, but getting well filled 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.
WEDNESDAY 20
It has been a pleasant bright day. M. 36. Rain last night and the Streets wet. Doct G P Eddy of Lewistown NY called upon me today, old friend. I was glad to see him. My old friend J C Smith of Canandagua NY, formerly of Lyons, spent the evening with me and my family at my house. He is member of the Peace Convention now in session here. I was down at Willards after dinner, great crowd there. Chas & Miss Sally Woodward called this evening and spent an hour. Mis Doct Everitt sent in a gold fish for our Aquarium. It is a “Whale among the minnows.” Bed at 11 o’clk.
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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 19
Rather a cold day. M. just below freezing with cold wind. Nothing in particular now attracts public attention. Mr Lincoln is slowly moveing towards the Capital and is expected here on saturday next. The Inaugural Speech of Jefferson Davis, President of the “Confederate States,” was published here today. The Peace Convention get on but slowly and not very harmoniously. I was at the office all day, had a good many calls. Was down at “Willards.” Saw W VanMaster, H B Stanton, Mr Butterfield & others, bot a “Times” and read aloud an hour to wife.
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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, FEBRUARY 18, 1861.
The forepart of the day was bright but the air cold and chilly, the latter part cloudy, windy and cold, freezing a little. Gov Polk of Missouri was in our room this morning. He is M.C. now. I was introduced to him. Mrs & Miss Butterfield were also at the pat off this morning. Mr B. left them with me and I attended them round the building. Put stove up in our third story after dinner, have had some stove pipe stolen from the celler the past week. Went down to the “National” and “Willards,” bothe Houses seem quite full. Conversation much less excited than a month since.
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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 17
A very pleasant morning. M. 40. Colder the middle of the day and quite a snow storm in the afternoon. Went to Church in the morning with wife & Boys, heard Doct Smith preach. Sunday School performance in the afternoon. Wife & Boys went. Myself and Willie staid at home. Took a walk with the Boys in evening. Tea at 7 o’clock. Spent the evening at home reading and explaining portions of Revolutionary History of U.S. Wife has played on the piano some and the Boys have read aloud & written some.
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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 16
A delightful and bright warm day, but muddy in the streets. Worked pretty busily in the office today. Prof Rogers was in with a working model of his Steam and air Engine operating upon the principle of the “Jefford Injector” for Steam Boilers. In Rogers Engine the Steam took in a current of air into the Steam chest. He claims a gain of nearly 100 pr cent over the Comn [common?] S Engine. A boy brought a Box of excellent Cigars, present from W A Lighthall. Was in at Willards this evening. Saw W VanMaster from Lyons there, bot “Times.”
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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.
The strain upon the affections, and the anxieties that tried the separated members of many a Kansan family in those days, are apparent in the next letters.
Mrs. Brown wrote to her husband, on February 15th, from Utica, New York:
The world seems dark to me, so long without you. When shall we meet? . . . What do you conclude? I little thought of such a long separation when I left you. If I had one hundred dollars I would go back in April—unless you conclude it is best to come here. … I am feeling so distressed about Spencer that it takes the spirit all out of me, but I do try to commit him to my Saviour and trust that He will take care of him. If you come, if we can learn whether he is still at Newport, Kentucky, would it not be well for you to come by way of Cincinnati and get a proper situation for him, and take him, he being under age?
Appended to the letter given above is one to Mr. Brown from his eldest daughter.
My Dear Father: . . . I presume you have about made up your mind to come this way as soon as possible. I want to see you very much, and a change will perhaps do you good; but I hope you will not take final leave of Kansas, because a roof there, though humble, is better than no roof at all—to say nothing of a farm. . . . With a friendly President, who knows but brighter days are dawning for us? After living in the West, the East does not seem so pleasant, unless one is very rich.
What do you think about Spencer? It seems dreadful to me.
Monday morning, February 18, 1861. We received your letter Friday evening, and a portion of it was published in this morning’s paper. . . . There also came a letter from Spencer, from Newport Barracks, Kentucky. He has been sick. Grandpa seems to feel very bad about him, and says he thinks you could claim him, as he is under age. . . . Could you not write and claim him?
Your loving daughter,
Kitty.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1861.
This has been a peculiar day as regards the weather. Sunshine and rain alternating all day with high wind and threatening Cloud occasionaly. No particular news. The Peace convention will not I fear amount to much in the end. As it regards the question of Slavery, I think, it & Congress may agree upon terms of settlement. But as regards what the south Claims viz the right of Secession the north will never agree with the south. Hon M Butterfield M.C. from NY, wife & daughter, Doct Everitt, wife & Brother, spent the evening with us. All very pleasant. Bed 11 1/2 o’clock.
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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.
