Washington Friday March 13th 1863.
It has been quite a cold day with Snow in the middle of it and freezing hard tonight. News by the papers that there has been a battle at Yazoo City Miss and that we have taken 7000 Rebels prisoners. I think the Report needs confirmation. No other news of any particular importance today. Most of my time in the office has been occupied with my friends who have called, among whom were Col Sol Bulkley, L Short of Buffalo (formerly) now of Phila and Seelye, formerly of Sodus, now Syracuse. I have been down to the “National” this evening writing a Specification for Short for a Patent for his “Greek fire.” He seems to be making something out of it by furnishing it for filling “Shells” for the Govt. Called today to see Mrs Burch, the owner of the House I am in. She is one of the F.F.Vs and of course “secesh” and was somewhat frightened when I enquired about the property thinking no doubt of the awful “confiscation” act and other penalties which the disloyal have to fear. She did not “let out” any of her rebel Sentiments to me. I called at Charleys also a few minutes. Met Col Close of Fort McDowell at the National. He invited me over to see him at the Fort. I should think him a pretty wide awake officer.
