Wednesday 12th
Great excitement in the City today at the news of the Battle of Roanoke Island. No great particulars yet, but it must have been a desperate fight. “Secesh” is now receiving nothing but hard knocks, many more are in reserved [sic] for her. Norfolk will soon be taken, it is expected. The boys called upon Mrs McClellan today, the Genl was out. Mrs M said tha[t] he could hardly help from swinging his hat in the Street he was so elated at the war news. I wrote to Col Mirrick today in reference to the apples &c which he sent me. I have not been out tonight. Willie has a bad cold. I have made him a little box tonight for his “Man and ass.” The head turns on a pivot in the box. One side of the head is is [sic] a mans face, the other is the asses face. Tad Lincoln gave it to him. This has been a delightful day.
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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.
