Saturday Jany 4th 1862
Nothing in particular has occured today. The morning was the coldest yet this winter. M. stood 23. At [sic] little sleet in the night with a little snow. The ground was nearly covered, it has been quite wintry. Lieut Swan called just before dark and staid about an hour. Col Merrick was out and Swan did not see him. I went with Swan dow[n] to “Willards,” Quarter Master Hamilton was there waiting for him. Col Bartlett of the 27th was also there on his return from home after a severe fit of sickness, invited him up to spend Sunday with me. The Hotel was quite full, saw some officers of the “Buck Tail” Regt (P.A.) who were in the Drainsville fight. The Capt I saw gave quite a graphic description of that brilliant affair. The Burnside Expedition is now about ready to leave Annapolis and the public is on the “qui vive” to know its destination. Much is expected from it. I came home, went to market and then called down to Mr Hartlys fro [sic] Julia who had been spending the evening there, to bed at 11 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.
