THURSDAY, JULY 18, 1861.
Rather too warm today for comfort but a good air stirring. It is supposed that a great Battle has taken place at Mannasses junction — as our troops were near there this morning. On account of the diminished business of the Patent office a number of the Examiners were removed today, myself among the rest. The Pat office fund is pretty well exhausted, the expenses being about $10,000.00 per month in excess of receipts for the last six months. Called at Willards to see Mr A D [Polhamus?], an immense crowd.
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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.
