Washington Friday January 30th 1863
Not an unpleasant day over head but the Streets are in an awful condition, being unpaved they are almost impassible. Assisted Mrs Reed in the “N York Soldiers Relief association” Room in packing a Box to send to one of the Regts over the River. The room is in the basement of the Pat office and is cramed with all sorts of things which have been sent from NY State for the Soldiers from NY. Some member of the association visits each Hospital and ascertains what is needed and gives his order to some Soldier who goes with it to the room where it is honored. Sometimes the Visitor takes the articles himself to the Hospital and distributes them. But frequent impositions are practiced by the soldiers and playing “destitute” is quite a “game.” There are plenty of jews here to buy the articles of clothing and the money brings whiskey and the guard house also. Spent an hour at the Ascension Hospital talking with the boys. They are generaly cheerful and contented. There are many there badly wounded but doing well. Called at Doct Munsons. He joins the Army tomorrow much against the will of himself and family, but he is ordered away. Was in at Willards awhile, talked with the celebrated Gift Enterprize Man, Genl Perham. He has his plan for subdueing the Rebels. I have his pamphlet. He goes for an armed occupation by Sutlers from the North. He will provide Excursion Tickets for them on all Rail Roads!! Got back to my room about eight o’clock. Wrote an article for a morning paper & this page, 11 o’clk.
Thursday Jan’y 29th 1863
It has been a wintery day, the snow still lying on the ground but it has frozen very little. The streets are deep with “slush.” The City is very quiet. All are in anxious expectation of hearing important news from some quarter, either from Rosecrans in Tennessee, or from Grant at Vicksburgh. From Hunter in S.C. or from Genl Foster in N.C. The “Army of the Potomac” is near by and will move when it can get out of the Mud. A little excitement in the Senate for the past day or two. A motion to expel Senator Saulsbury of Delaware for disorderly conduct on the floor was postponed today upon his making an apology. The Bill in the House to authorize the raising of Negro Regiments for the War creates much excitement there and the House did not adjourn yesterday, but sat all night and adjourned this morning without coming to a vote upon the question. I have not been out of my room since dinner. The side walks are too wet for walking. Doct Barnes called upon me today on his return from Rochester. I paid him $15.00 which I owed him. He is on his way back to his Regt. Business in the office has not been very brisk today, and the “Examining Board” have not had much to do. I have been reading and writing most of the day. Wrote “The Last Salute” for one thing and another article for a newspaper in reference to Hospital Funds. Pay Master Austin returned from the Army today, left there this morning.
Washington Wednesday Jan’y 28th 1863.
It has snowed all day without cessation, but it has melted about as fast as it has come. It is a little colder tonight and the snow is three or four inches deep on the ground. Mr & Mrs Bemis called on me again today and I took them to the Agricultural Department and introduced them to the Commissioner Hon Isaac Newton who was quite attentive to them and the interview was very pleasant and quite interesting. He gave Mrs B. a number of specimens of paper made from the common cornhusk and recently rcd from Germany, proveing beyond a doubt that the best of paper can be made from the husks of indian corn. The Dutch have got ahead of the Yankees in that thing. They then went with me to the Ascension Hospital. She was anxious to see the patients. She was also highly pleased to see Charley, who was one of her old Sunday School scholars in Lyons. He was just using the “Hypodermic Syringe,” an instrument for injecting medicine under the skin instead of swallowing it. It is used in cases of billious cholic, Neuralgia & Rheumatic pains with much success. He was injecting a highly concentrated Morphia Solution for rheumatic pains. There is no particular news today. But things look a little more hopeful for the future, altho gold is 1.55 today in NY. I went out and have spent the evening at Charleys room, held the baby some, read some, and played a game of chess. It snows still and if it freezes we shall have sleighing tomorrow. O the poor soldiers in the field, how they must suffer tonight.
Tuesday Jan’y 27th 1863
This has been a wet drizzly day, one well calculated to give a person the “blues,” and I think that almost every one has the “blues” in view of our present state of affairs. The future looks as dark and unpromising as ever. The rebellion seems to be just as far from being “crushed” as it did a year ago, in fact much farther, for we as a Nation are much more divided among ourselves. Where the end will be no one human can divine. All sorts of opinions prevail in reference to the changes in the “Army of the Potomac.” Some think it is all for the best and some that there will be a general dissolution of it and that it will soon fall to pieces. But we may soon hear of important successes in the South West and Hooker may soon strike a successful blow, and then, all will be right again, but today gold is 154. Got letters from home today, family all well. “Willie” would like to come back to Washington. He doubts the Safty of his present location as in the late terrific storm the “Waves of the Sea roared so loud.” I have spent most of the evening at Maj Williams eating apples & nuts and talking about Lyons people. The Maj has gone done to Suffolk to pay a Regiment. Mrs W. told me that her daughter (Mrs Townley) was to have been married to Henry T. Tower this morning at Lyons. She expects they will visit Washington. Mr & Mrs Bemis called upon me this morning at the office and I went through the Pat office Museum with them. A few Patients still remain in the Hospital there, too sick to be removed. It is raining quite hard now, 10 o’clock P.M.
Washington Monday Jan’y 26th 1863
Well, Genl Burnside has resigned and “fighting Joe” Hooker is in command of the “Army of the Potomac,” and Genls Sumner & Franklin are relieved of their commands. What this last thing means remains to be seen, Court Martials possibly. I dread the effects which these movements may have upon the Army. Every Genl has his favorites and devoted friends who are always ready to Swear by him. Hooker is a gallant officer, he may be the Man for the place, we shall see soon. No other particular news today. Gold 150, the highest yet. The Banks of the Country are likely to defeat the measures for a niform U.S. Currency. Too many truckling M.C.s looking to a re-election, or interested in Banks at home. It would cut off their sale of exchange and then they could not “burst up” once in awhile and leave their worthless trash in the hands of the Laboring Classes. When will the people learn wisdom and proffit by experience. Little Kate Williams called on me today and staid an hour or two in my office after I had shown her through the Pat office. I called after dinner upon Judge Scott on NY Ave. Ex Gov Fairwell of Wis. was there. He is in the Pat O as Examiner, did not see Ex Gov Bashford, he being out. On my return called and spent the rest of the evening with Chas & Sallie, returned to my room after 10 o’clock. The weather is quite warm and I am writing at this time (near eleven o’clock P.M.) without fire, and am not uncomfortable. Weighed 142 lbs today on the Pat office Scales. Am in good health.
Sunday Jan’y 25th 1863
Attended religious Service in the Senate Chamber this morning, heard Mr Conway from Cincinnati. His Sermon was most excellent till he began to treat upon the subject of Slavery. On that he was most ultra. Altho a Virginian he was fairly driven out of Washington a few years ago for preaching Anti Slavery sermons in the Unitarian Church. He makes Slavery his “hobby,” and vies with Wendal Phillips in his extravagant views. We dine at two on Sundays after which I spent a couple of hours in the Ascension Hospital, and then called upon Mr & Mrs Bemis at the “Herndon House” where I spent an hour. Capt Denison and Judge Phelps from Canandagua were there. From there I went down to “Willards” to hear any news which might be stirring. It is reported there tonight that Genl Burnside has resigned the command of the “Army of the Potomac.” If it is true, it is well. I do not think he has confidence enough in himself, and I doubt whether the other officers have enough confidence in him. Who is to follow Joseph Hooker, I think. Conversed awhile with Mr Hatch who has two sons (officers in the Army). He thinks they are the smartest and the bravest in the Army. Saw and talked awhile with Doct Sheldon, of the Medical Directors office. He understands that Doct Taft (Charley) has made out all of Doct Dorrs reports. Dr D is the Surgeon superintending the “Ascension Genl Hospital,” 4 churches formerly, now only two. No War news at all today. We are expecting to hear from our army in N.C. every day now, and also from the south western armies.
Washington Saturday Jan’y 24th 1863
Mild and pleasant today, not much like winter. We have passed a quiet day, no Stirring news afloat and no startling rumors. Some successes of our Western gun Boats under the gallant Porter on the White River are published. The news boys cry it as “another Union Victory.” Let us take it as such for we need them badly just now. I cannot imagine where we are drifting to as a Nation. An immense Army and (I may almost say) nobody competent to command it. A country with inexhaustable resources and (I may almost say again) nobody competent to direct and apply its energies. In the present fearful crisis, we have realy no Talented Statesman, no public Men (who are up to the “times”) directing the affairs of the Nation, no Military genius to direct our great “Army of the Potomac,” and the army itself is now melting away by resignations of officers, and desertions, at a fearful rate. When drafting in the States has proved a failure, how is it ever to be recruited or preserved from utter ruin unless it soon wins a victory. I have spent the most of this evening with Vanmaster at his office on the Avenue. Bouge came in (quite sober). He is the pink of assurance and self confidence, but poor and needy. Poor Bouge. Twenty years ago he was the (“nice young man” the Ladies Man in Lyons) now geting old, living as it were by chance, the wreck of his former self, the sad effects of “wine & women.” I have not been interupted by any calls today, have worked some & read a good deal.
Friday Jan’y 23rd 1863
It has been quite pleasant today overhead but muddy and bad at the crossings of the streets. No particular news from the Army or from any other quarter. Congress seems disposed to meet Mr Chases views and I think that his financial scheme will be adopted in the main. That is for the Gov’t to furnish the circulation for the whole country to give a uniform currency, and tax the present Bank circulation (Bills) out of existence. The Gov’t would gain the interest on such circulation as it would be equivalent to a loan without interest. The people would gain from it the enormous amt now paid for exchange, as the Govt Bills would be current everywhere and a legal tender, and to prevent any redu[n]dancy of circulation any surplus could be converted into 6 pr cent twenty year Govt Bonds. These Bonds would act like a Safty Valve to the circulation. I spent and hour or two at Doct Munsons with Mr & Mrs Bemis of Canandagua. Her husband is Lieut and stationed at one of the Forts near the City. His wife (Kate Adams) is on a visit to him. She is a very lovely woman, as she was an amiable girl. They endeavor to flatter me very much at Doct Munsons by speaking in very high terms of me almost before my face. Perhaps they feel all they say. They are certainly very good friends to me. Their company is rather more after my style than that which I am in – in this English house. But the people here do all they can to please me, and know how to set a good table. Met G W Scott of Newark NY today. He is in the State Department. Boards on NY Ave. I must call there soon.
Washington Thursday Jan’y 22nd 1863
Another chilly, wet, misty, muddy day. It has passed off very quietly. But we were somewhat startled to learn tonight that Maj Genl Fitz John Porter was “cashiered and dismissed from the Service.” The verdict of the court is said to have been unanimous. McDowell will come out better. There is a rumor tonight that there has been another Battle near Fredericksburgh and that Genl Hooker is mortaly wounded, but I think it is only a rumor. The evening “Republican” contained it. Genl Burnsides address to the Army of the Potomac is in the “Star” this evening. My old friend John Merchant (& Lady) from Lyons called on me this morning. I showed them round the Pat office and this evening called and spent an hour or two with them at Mr Wm Ormes where they are stoping on E St. Mrs Merchant (who was Harriet Cole, daughter of Joseph Cole deced) is a cousin of Mrs Orme. Mr O is one of the wealthy men of Washington, has lived here near forty years. A girl who has been with the army and acted as female scout in “Seigels Corps” called here while we were at dinner to see Capt Johnson of the “Light Brigade” distinction. The Capt would not see her. She claims that he promised to marry her and seemed quite disconsolate. I did not see her. I weighed 142lb today. Am well and hearty as I ever was. For dinner today we had a nice meat pie, chickens & Beef, potatoes (Irish & sweet), turnip, cabbage and celery. For desert Rice pudding with a cup of tea. We dine at 5 o’clock. $30.00 pr month for room and Board, fire & light.
Washington Wednesday Jan’y 21st 1863
No snow storm but a cold, windy, rainy day. All last night it seemed to pour down, and as the wind drove the rain against my window I could not help thinking of the thousands of poor Soldiers who must be lying on the ground with only a partial shelter from the storm, and had I been as young and vigorous as I was twenty years ago I should have felt almost guilty as I drew the covering around me in my warm bed, so comfortable and secure from the hardships and dangers which I should have felt it my duty to share in the present crisis. Capt Swan called at the office and staid a little while with me. My roommates insist upon my having charge of the Room and Signing my name first to all documents. Well, neither the responsibility or the labor is very great. I went to hear Geo Vanderhoff read this evening at Willards Hall. He read from “Les Miserables” & “Oliver Twist.” The opening of the former and the trial at “Arras,” and the Courtship of Mr Bumble and Mrs Corney from the latter. It was most admirable. He excels Murdoch in giving all the delicate touches of feeling by countenance and gesture, his face expressing as much as his words, but his voice is not as clear and distinct as Murdochs. Yet he is evidently a more cultivated and better educated man. The Hall was full altho it rained. There is nothing new today. We as yet know nothing from below or whether the army has moved. Wrote quite a long letter to H. N. Jr, counseled him in reference to his Reading and Studies. Memory was like an elastic bag &c.
