Washington Saturday Jan’y 10th 1863
It has been a miserable cold rainy day, tonight it has poured right down since dark and has not ceased raining all day. I ran to my room from the office after three o’clock and by virtue of rubbers, cloak, and umbrella did not get wet much. One of our Boarders here is named George Johnson, an Englishman who was in the Crimean War and what is more was one of the immortal “Six hundred” which made the celebrated “Charge at Balaclava.” He is about 28 years old, very modest & I should think a thorough Soldier. He is Captain in the Penna Cavalry. We do not dine till five o’clock, that is too late for me. It suits Englishmen to eat their dinner after dark. But not Americans. However our dinners are very nicely gotten up and the dishes are of the best in market & well cooked. There is said to be small pox occasionaly breaking out in the Hospital over our heads in the Patent office. That is not a very pleasant idea. Such cases (I presume) are immediately sent off to the irruptive Hospital at Kalorama, the former home of the celebrated Joel Barlow of revolutionary memory. Barlow was Minister to France afterwards and died on his way to meet the Emperor Napoleon at Wilna in 1812. No news of importance. “All quiet on the Potomac.” Banks getting ready at Baton Rouge to go up to Vicksburgh to help Sherman take that stronghold. Rosecrans is in pursuit of the Rebels since the Battle at Murfreesboro. Some movement is said to be on foot from Suffolk V.A. towards North Carolina. I could not go out tonight on account of the rain to take my accustomed walk. I fear I shall not be able to sleep well tonight.
