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by John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 20TH.—A man by the name of Dibble, the identical one I passed on my way to Montgomery last spring, and whom I then thought acted and spoke like a Yankee, is here seeking permission to go North; he says to Halifax. He confesses that he is a Yankee born; but has lived in North Carolina for many years, and has amassed a fortune. He declares the South does not contain a truer Southern man than himself; and he says he is going to the British Provinces to purchase supplies for the Confederacy. He brought me an order from Mr. Benjamin, indorsed on the back of a letter, for a passport. I declined to give it, and he departed in anger, saying the Secretary would grant it. He knew this, for he said the Secretary had promised him one.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

THURSDAY 19

Foggy morning but warm during the day. No particular news today. I have been in the office as usual. The boys have been up to the Presidents most of the day. The two Lincoln boys were here after them. They did not return till dark. I have made a wooden model of my Portable Door fastener this evening. Prof Sparks called and brot Julia a French Book. She has spent the evening at Mr Hartleys. I called there with the Prof and staid an hour or so. People are very anxious to know the contents of the dispatches rcd from our Minister, Mr Adams, in reference to the Mason & Slidel affair.

by John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 19TH.—Judge Perkins came in to-day and denounced in bitter terms the insane policy of granting passports to spies and others to leave the country, when every Northern paper bore testimony that we were betrayed by these people. He asked me how many had been permitted to go North by Mr. Benjamin since the expiration of the time named in the President’s proclamation. This I could not answer: but suggested that a resolution of inquiry might elicit the information. He desired me to write such a resolution. I did so, and he departed with it. An hour afterward, I learned it had been passed unanimously.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1861.

The weather continues delightful but there are today indications of rain. We have heard all day heavy guns. Some in the distance are the rebel guns at Centreville. They are practicing too. Troops have been moveing about the City a good deal today. We are expecting important news from various quarters, and the public mind is considerably agitated just now. Our forces now appear to be nearly ready to Strike at various points, in Missouri, Kentuckey, and at the South. I have been at home all the evening.

by John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 18Th.—Men escaped from the Eastern Shore of Virginia report that Mr. Custis had landed there, and remains quiet.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

TUESDAY 17

Most beautiful day, warm as May, in the office all day. Two dead Soldiers carried out of the Hospital. They say that there is about one death pr day there. Tonight myself and wife went to the Presidents Levee, first of the Season. Genl McClellan & Lady was there and we were frequently near him and had a good opportunity to observe him. He was the “observed of all observers.” Many other distinguished personages were there. The crowd was not very oppressive. Got home 1/2 past ten, took a cup of tea & and sic to bed at 11.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

MONDAY 16

Delightful day. Some excitement in the City at the news from England in relation to the arrest of “Mason” and “Slidel.” Some predict a war with her. But I do not. It is only giving her a dose of her own Medicine. The Law of Nations is also on our side, and She has always insisted upon the right of Search for herself. I have spent the evening at home making Willie a picture frame. Matty Hartly spent the evening here. Mr H called about 9 for her. Chas & Sallie also called. Put a night latch on the Hall Door.

by John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 16TH.—We hear to-day that the loyal men of Kentucky have met in convention and adopted an ordinance of secession and union with our Confederacy.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1861.

Pleasant as ever today and the nights are now brilliant with a full moon and clear atmosphere. The Military Band in our vicinity performs almost every night an hour or two, discoursing most splendid music last night. They were Seranading Com Wilkes, the Captor of Slidel & Mason. I did not go out to Church, family went. Both the Lincoln boys were here this afternoon looking over the pictures with Bud & Holly. They are evidently not kept on Sundays with puritan Strictness. They like to come here and feel quite “free and easy” with our boys. Went down town this evening, called at Charleys an hour.

by John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 15TH.—The President’s private secretary, Capt. Josselyn, was in to-day. He had no news.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

SATURDAY 14

Weather fine yet, dry and not freezing. Nothing new of any great importance. I was in the Office all day. One of the Halls in the Patent Office is used as a Military Hospital, about 100 Soldiers from the Indiana Regts are sick there. Two Dead were carried out today. Prof Sparks, the Linguist, called at our home and spent an hour or two this evening. I have spent the rest of the evening in makeing a foot Stool for the Pew in Church. I work in the Wood House.

by John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 14TH.—Nothing.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

FRIDAY 13

Another fine cool day, just comfortable with a fire. Was in the office all day. Prof Sparks called upon me and spent sometime. Mr Daws M.C. also brot a Mr Eldridge to me (from Williamstown) to me, who also had a letter of introduction from C R Taft. He is here after office. Think he will have a “hard road to travel.” I have been at work this evening and made a wash bench for the Kitchen. I have plenty of tools and like the exercise. There is no particular war news. It is singular how still a half million of soldiers can keep. But they are all in the field.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1861.

A fine cool day but not freezing. No special event has happened that I know of. I have been engaged in the Office as usual. Tonight I put up my Shelf in the lower Hall for a Hat Shelf. I brot it from one of the Camps over the River. Much of the furniture in John A Washingtons house was destroyed, he being a rebel. This Leaf of a Table was brot to the Camp and presented to me. Wife went to meeting this evening. The Lincoln Boys have been here twice today after our boys to go there. Chas & Sallie called this evening & spent an hour.

by John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 12TH.—More of Gen. Winder’s men came with a Mr. Stone, whom they knew and vouched for, and who wanted a passport merely to Norfolk. I asked if it was not his design to go farther. They said yes, but that Gen. Winder would write to Gen. Huger to let him pass by way of Fortress Monroe. I refused, and great indignation was manifested.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

WEDNESDAY 11

Quite cool and very windy today. “Willie” is quite Smart today. The trouble with him was all owing to his stomachs having rebelled against the unconstitutional demands which he in his voracity made upon it. A dose of castor oil quelled the insurection and all his internal operations returned to their accustomed quiet state. Nothing new today. Went down to the Ave and made some small purchases, bot some Iron brackets for the mahogany shelf which is a leaf from a Table of John A Washington, brot away from his abandoned house by the soldiers.

by John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 11TH. —Several of Gen. Winder’s detectives came to me with a man named Webster, who, it appears, has been going between Richmond and Baltimore, conveying letters, money, etc. I refused him a passport. He said he could get it from the Secretary himself, but that it was sometimes difficult in gaining access to him. I told him to get it, then; I would give him none.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

TUESDAY 10

Too warm today for comfort. The Sun was quite oppressive in the middle of the day. Nothing new has taken place that I am aware of worth mentioning. I have spent the evening at home. Miss Mary Middleton called and at 9 o’clock I went over on to NY Ave for Julia, she being at Mr Hartlys. Julia and Martha H seem to be inseparable companions. Willie is quite unwell tonight, complains of his head. All the family except myself were up to the Presidents today. “Bud” brot home a water Lilly for the Aquarium. There were Indians from the west at the Presidents last night.

by John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 10TH.—Nothing new.

by John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 9TH.—Gen. Winder informed me to-day that he had been ordered to release Mr. Custis; and I learned that the Secretary of War had transmitted orders to Gen. Huger to permit him to pass over the bay.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1861.

The day has been warm and soft as May. No fires necessary in the house. The northern soldiers are highly delighted with this kind of winter. Nothing new in the City. The immence Army near the City keep so quiet that we hardly realize that 250,000 Soldiers are within a few miles of us. There is a great deal of practicing with the guns at the Forts. Some days it is a constant Cannonade. I did a little glazeing tonight, then called with Julia at Mr Fenwicks and spent an hour or two. Mr Munson, owner of “Munsons Hill,” was there. He is the Fatherinlaw of Mr Fenwick. Very inteligent man.

by John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 8TH.—I saw Mr. Benjamin to-day, and asked him what disposition he intended to make of Mr. Custis. He was excited, and said with emphasis that he was investigating the case. He seemed offended at the action of Gen. Winder, and thought it was a dangerous exercise of military power to arrest persons of such high standing, without the clearest evidence of guilt: Mr. Custis had signed the ordinance of secession, and that ought to be sufficient evidence of his loyalty.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

SUNDAY 8

A warm pleasant day, too warm for an overcoat. Went to church all day with the Family. Doct Smith preached in the morning, Mason Noble in the afternoon. Doct Smith attended the funeral of an old member of the Col[or]ed Pres[byteria]n Church. Walked with wife up to Franklin Square, called on our return at Mr Bartletts and at Mr Pecks. In the evening went down to the National and spent an hour with Aldrich of Palmyra and T Mosely of Detroit (formerly of Lyons).

by John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 7TH.—Quite a commotion has been experienced in
official circles by the departure of Mr. W. H. B. Custis, late Union member of the Virginia Convention, without obtaining a passport to leave the city. Some of his secession constituents being in the city, reported that they knew it was his purpose to return to the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and avow his adherence to the United States authorities, alleging that he had signed the ordinance of secession under some species of duress, or instruction. Under these representations, it seems Gen. Winder telegraphed to Norfolk, whither it was understood Custis had gone, to have him arrested. This was done and it is said he had passports from Gen. Huger to cross the Chesapeake Bay. I must doubt this. What right has a military commander to grant such passports?

by Horatio Nelson Taft

SATURDAY 7

Another very delightful day. But it was a foggy morning, busy in the office all day. There has been heavy firing heard all day over the River. There has been no Battle and they are only practicing at the Forts. The force over the River is now said to be 200,000 men. There are many on this side, probably not less than Fifty Thousand. They keep coming all the time. I have not been on to the Ave tonight. The boys go to bed at 8, the rest of us about 1/2 past 10. We get up about 1/2 past 6. Breakfast at 8.

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