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by Horatio Nelson Taft

TUESDAY 31

The old year goes out today, bright and dry. I have been in the office nearly all day. The boys called about 1/2 past two. I came home with them, stopped and bought Bud a cap. After dinner, bought some coal, and went down to the Ave with Holly and bought him a suit of clothes, and an overcoat for Bud, paid $12.00. Paid my fuel bill for Dec $9.00, grocery bill $24.00. Bud (H N Jr) went up to the Presidents this evening. The boys have a Dark lantern to exhibit. The President looked in at the boys show. Genl McClellan is sick abed. A fight is expected over the River now anytime. The Army seems to be getting ready. The Banks in all the Cities and also the U.S. Treasury have suspended specie payments today. No particular excitement in the City tonight, but the Ave & 7th St are swarming with people and business was never so brisk. I have been over to Mr Hartlys after Julia. The Band of the Regulars on Franklin Square are performing now and do every night. VanMaster called today, Col is improving. The health of our family is now good.

by John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 31ST.—Northern papers, received in this city, show very conclusively that the enemy are pretty accurately informed of the condition of our defenses and the paucity of the numbers in our regiments.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1861.

We have had no winter weather as yet. No snow at all to lay on the ground. Today has been cool and fine. Troops are moveing some across the River, and we may soon expect lively times. I have been in the office as usual today. Col Merrick is improving, has been out doors today. I was on the Ave this evening at Willards, Browns & the National Hotels. Nothing new in particular. At almost every corner on the Ave the mounted guard (Cavalry) stand as still & immovable as the Bronze statue on Lafayette Square. Their business is (principaly) to prevent rapid riding & Driving.

by John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 30TH.—Some of our officers on furlough complain of the dullness of the war. The second year will be different.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

SUNDAY 29

A mild cool day. All the family went to church but myself. I staid with the Col who is improving and has spent most of the day down in our family room. It has been quite a still day. No soldiers (in bodys) have passed and but little druming and Bugle blowing has been heard. I went out awhile this evening. Called at Charleys, eat some pear preserves in cream, a little rich cake, a pickel, and drank a cup of milk, besides a [sic] eating a little mince pie. If my stomach dont rebel at such treatment it will be well for my rest tonight. I do not often treat it so badly.

by John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 29TH.—Persons are coming here from that portion of Western Virginia held by the enemy, with passports from Gen. Cox, the Yankee commander. They applied to me to-day for passports to return to Kanawha, which I refused. They obtained them from the Assistant Secretary of War, Mr. Ould.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

SATURDAY 28

A good deal of excitement in the City in reference to the surrender of Mason and Slidel. I suppose it was the only way to avert a war with England, which at this particular juncture would be an increase of business for the Country not very desirable. But a War with England on the “Trent affair” question would be very popular and unanimously supported by the Country. We shall have to have a fight with England before long, no matter how soon, after the Rebellion is crushed out. Col Mirrick is a little better today, will be well by Monday.

by John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 28TH.—The fathers and mothers and sisters of our brave soldiers continue to send their clothing and provisions. They do not relax in the work of independence.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1861.

Rather cooler today and windy this evening. Col Mirrick has been in bed all day and complains of his head very much. I think it originates from a billious stomach, it may be congestion. A fire last night destroyed some Govt Stables and burned up some 150 230 horses. Genl Scott has arrived at N York from France, will be here tomorrow. Nothing new from the army but news expected all the time. The game now seems to be with the Govt troops and they have only to move to meet with Success, as our soldiers are now up to the fighting pitch. They have made up their minds that the War is no holiday affair, and that it is necessary that “somebody” should be “hurt.”

by John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 27TH.—Notwithstanding the severe strictures, and the resolution of Congress, there is an increase rather than a diminution of the number of persons going North. Some of our officials seem to think the war is over, or that England will do the balance of our fighting!

by Horatio Nelson Taft

THURSDAY 26

Another moderate day, went to the office as usual. About 10 a.m. Col Ira Merrick from Lyons called with Ed Dickerson. E. went on to Baltimore and I went to the Capitol with the Col, visited both Houses of Congress. The Col came up to Dinner with us in the evening, he was taken quite ill with a dizziness in the head and is quite ill yet. We have spent the evening at home. Matty Hartly has spent the evening with Julia. Mr & Mis Barlte called and spent an hour or so. Nothing new today.

December 26, 1861, Arkansas True Democrat
Little Rock
A preacher presented a revolver to a soldier before his departure to the seat of war with the following injunction:
If you get in a tight place and have to use it, ask God’s blessings if you have time, but be sure and not let your enemy get the start of you. You can say amen after you shoot.

by John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 26TH.—I have been requested by several members of Congress to prepare a bill, establishing a passport office by law. I will attempt it; but it cannot pass, unless it be done in spite of the opposition of the Secretary, who knows how to use his patronage so as to bind members to his interest. He learned that at Washington.

edited by G.W. Cable

Dec. 26, 1861.—The foul weather cleared off bright and cool in time for Christmas. There is a midwinter lull in the movement of troops. In the evening we went to the grand bazaar in the St. Louis Hotel, got up to clothe the soldiers. This bazaar has furnished the gayest, most fashionable war-work yet, and has kept social circles in a flutter of pleasant, heroic excitement all through December. Everything beautiful or rare garnered in the homes of the rich was given for exhibition, and in some cases for raffle and sale. There were many fine paintings, statues, bronzes, engravings, gems, laces—in fact, heirlooms, and bric-à-brac of all sorts. There were many lovely Creole girls present, in exquisite toilets, passing to and fro through the decorated rooms, listening to the band clash out the Anvil Chorus.

This morning I joined the B.’s and their party in a visit to the new fortifications below the city. It all looks formidable enough, but of course I am no judge of military defenses. We passed over the battle-ground where Jackson fought the English, and thinking of how he dealt with treason, one could almost fancy his unquiet ghost stalking about.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

WEDNESDAY 25

This has been “Christmas day” and a very pleasant day, not cold enough to freeze, but the air clear and braceing. I have spent the day at home fixing up things and did not go out till evening when I spent a couple of hours at Chas room with Mr Copersmith, Mis Wells and Chas & Sallie. It has been quite a noisey day about the house. Our three boys and the Two Lincoln boys have been very busy fireing off Crackers & Pistols. Willie & Thomas Lincoln staid to Dinner at 4 o’clock. Julia has been practiceing some with her pistol.

by John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 25TH.—Mr. Ely, the Yankee member of Congress, who has been in confinement here since the battle of Manassas, has been exchanged for Mr. Faulkner, late Minister to France, who was captured on his return from Europe. Mr. Ely smiled at the brown paper on which I had written his passport. I told him it was Southern manufacture, and although at present in a crude condition, it was in the process of improvement, and that “necessity was the mother of invention.” The necessity imposed on us by the blockade would ultimately redound to our advantage, and might injure the country inflicting it by diminishing its own products. He smiled again, and said he had no doubt we should rise to the dignity of white paper.

by John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 24TH.—I am at work on the resolution passed by Congress. The Secretary sent it to me, with an order to prepare the list of names, and saying that he would explain the grounds upon which they were permitted to depart. I can only give the number registered in this office.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1861.

A fine Cool day, just freezing. Everybody preparing for “Christmas.” Turkeys from $1.75 to $4.00 a piece, rather “strong” that. Office not open tomorrow, it will be a general hubbub all over the City. The day will open with guns and fire crackers. Were it not for the shoulder straps one meets on the Ave and at the Hotels, the War would almost be lost sight of. The Army of at least a quarter of a million of men near this City remain very quiet. The long trains of Army wagons how[ev]er remind one that there is Something unusual going on. The boys stockings are stuffed with nuts, candy, fire crackers &c., past 11 o’clock.

by John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 23D.—Gen. T. J. Jackson has destroyed a principal dam on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. That will give the enemy abundance of trouble. This Gen. Jackson is always doing something to vex the enemy; and I think he is destined to annoy them more.
It is with much apprehension that I see something like a general relaxation of preparation to hurl back the invader. It seems as if the government were waiting for England to do it; and after all, the capture of Slidell and Mason may be the very worst thing that could have happened. Mr. Benjamin, I learn, feels very confident that a rupture between the United States and Great Britain is inevitable. War with England is not to be thought of by Mr. Seward at this juncture, and he will not have it. And we should not rely upon the happening of any such contingency. Some of our officials go so far as to hint that in the event of a war between the United States and Great Britain, and our recognition by the former, it might be good policy for us to stand neutral. The war would certainly be waged on our account, and it would not be consistent with Southern honor and chivalry to retire from the field and leave the friend who interfered in our behalf to fight it out alone. The principal members of our government should possess the highest stamp of character, for never did there exist a purer people.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

MONDAY 23

Cold and windy with some snow but not enough to remain on the ground. News from England looks squaly. England is seeking a pretext for engaging in the quarrel on the Side of the rebels. We are likely to have our hands full. Our people are “fighting mad” with England whether the fight comes off now or not. Nothing new from the War. Genl Scott has returned probably on some important business connected with the matter with England. He comes from Paris. I have been home all the evening puting the boys through their lessons, &c.

by John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 22D.—Dibble has succeeded in obtaining a passport from the Secretary himself.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

SUNDAY 22

It is colder today but rains tonight with a prospect of a long rain. I have not been out to church today but staid at home to keep up fires &c and boil hominy. Went down to Willards, found a great crowd. Met Capt Dexter of the R.I. 1st Regt which came here in June (3 months men). He is not now in the Service. Edd Dickerson came up tonight and spent an hour or two. There is no news of importance but news is hourly expected of a fight in Kentuckey. Almeron Field was here this morning. He is on Mass Ave (his old quarters). It rains steadily tonight.

by John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 21ST.—Col. Bledsoe was in to-day. I had not seen him for a long time. He had not been sitting in the office two minutes before he uttered one of his familiar groans. Instantly we were on the old footing again. He said Secretary Benjamin had never treated him as Chief of the Bureau, any more than Walker.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1861.

It is cooler tonight and freezes some. The news from Missouri is rcd with great Satisfaction. It now looks as though the Rebels would receive but little else than hard knocks everywhere our troops have got up to the “fighting pitch” and have become too wary to be caught in any more traps. The mail bag which was seized the other night on the River contained letters from many people here, implicating some of them in Treasonable practices. Some have been arrested, and more of the writers will be. I have been at home all the evening with the boys. Wife & Holly went to Market. It is a place which I abominate and this living from “hand to mouth” is no way to live independantly.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

FRIDAY 20

Warm and pleasant but indications of rain, in the office as usual. News tonight of a Union Victory in Missouri. Other Union Victories will soon be heard from. I called at the “Chronicle” office this evening & subscribed for the Chronicle and the “Phil’a Press.” Called over to the Clarendon Hotel, and then upon Hon Mr Daws M.C., then got the evening papers. Called at Charleys Room on my return home. Miss Hartly has spent the evening here. Mr H called at 1/2 past 9 for her. 10 o’ck (weather clear).

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