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

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“It is a very commanding position and the “works” well advanced, Ditch & Breastwork.”—Horatio Nelson Taft

June 7, 2011

Diary of US patent clerk Horatio Nelson Taft.

FRIDAY 7

Offices all closed today in respect to the Memory of Judge Douglas. Took the occasion to visit Alexandria with my son H N Jr, and Mr Vansantvoord. We visited the “Marshall House” first where Col Ellsworth was killed. Got a pass there to go to the Camps of the Mich Regt and the Zuaves on [“Shooters Hill”?] about a mile back of the City. It is a very commanding position and the “works” well advanced, Ditch & Breastwork. Got home about 4 o’clock, found my nephew E.P. and Capt Welling from Lyons. Saml Androus also paid paid [sic] us a visit from the Camp. He returned.

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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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