Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

Post image for “There seemed to be signal lights there on the hills this evening, one very large fire.”—Horatio Nelson Taft

“There seemed to be signal lights there on the hills this evening, one very large fire.”—Horatio Nelson Taft

September 13, 2011

Diary of US patent clerk Horatio Nelson Taft.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1861.

I have been much of the day at the Treasury Dept waiting to see the Sec’y on business. While there saw Prof (now) Genl Michel, the Astronomer, who is now in the Army. Also saw and conversed with Genl Burnside of R.I. Genl Pomeroy of Kansas notoriety I saw also. It is reported that our pickets on the other side of the River have been driven in. There seemed to be signal lights there on the hills this evening, one very large fire. Called with wife on Chas & Sallie. Mr Kendig of Phila was there. Walked up to Franklin Square.

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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.

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