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by Horatio Nelson Taft

Friday 31st

A cloudy damp day, in the office as usual. Engaged the Pat office Draughtsman to make drawings for my Door Fastener. I shall make application for a pat next week. Remained at home this evening except going to Mr Hartleys for Julia at 9 o’clock. I have been writing the specification for my Patent. The boys are all happy in the promise of new Boots tomorrow. Paid some Bills today, ought to have more money. Wood & coal bill for Jan’y $9.00, two fires only. Oak wood $10.00. We are very saving of fuel, no Servants this winter to waste it. We are all servants this winter. Indications of snow tonight which means more mud if that were possible.

by John Beauchamp Jones

JANUARY 31ST.—What if these men (they have passports) should be going to Washington to report the result of their reconnoissances in Tennessee? The Tennessee River is high, and we have no casemated batteries, or batteries of any sort, on it above Fort Henry.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Thursday 30th

Rain again today. The Lyons friends left for home this evening. The boys have staid in the house and attended to their lessons better than usual. I Have not been out tonight, been drawing some and reading the “Star” aloud. No particular war news but a good deal expected soon. The Boys went to bed at 8 o’clock, Julia at 10, it is now near 11. Wife is mending boys clothes, has a great deal of that business to do.

by John Beauchamp Jones

JANUARY 30TH.—Some of the mysterious letter-carriers, who have just returned from their jaunt into Tennessee, are applying again for passports to Baltimore, Washington, etc. I refuse them, though they are recommended by Gen. Winder’s men; but they will obtain what they want from the Secretary himself, or his Assistant Secretary.

by John Beauchamp Jones

JANUARY 29TH.—What we want is a military man capable of directing operations in the field everywhere. I think Lee is such a man. But can he, a modest man and a Christian, aspire to such a position? Would not Mr. Benjamin throw his influence against such a suggestion? I trust the President will see through the mist generated around him.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Tuesday 28

Rain today and the streets again in a bad condition. Mr Fenwick and Lady, Miss Lucy Munson (Mrs Fenwicks Sister), and Mr Cobb spent the evening here. Mr VanMaster & Lady, Mis Williams and Ed Dickerson called in a carriage for Julia to go with them to the Presidents Levee, so she got ready while the ladies waited for her (in the house) and went. There is no particular news in the papers tonight. Everything seems to move along as usual. Genl Burnside has at last been heard from at Hatteras Inlet. One vessel & cargo lost in the Storm last week. Three lives also lost (officers), Col Allen, a Surgeon, and Mate.

by John Beauchamp Jones

JANUARY 28TH There must soon be collisions in the West on a large scale; but the system of lying, in vogue among the Yankees, most effectually defeats all attempts at reliable computation of numbers. They say we have 150,000 men in Tennessee and Kentucky, whereas we have not 60,000. Their own numbers they represent to be not exceeding 50,000, but I suspect they have three times that number. The shadows of events are crowding thickly upon us, and the events will speak for themselves—and that speedily.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Monday January 27th 1862

A pleasant day, a good air & cool. There has been no news afloat. I have been in the office all day as usual. Mrs Williams, Mrs VanMaster, D Griffiths & Ed Dick’n visited the Presidents with my wife, saw the President and the “White House.” This evening myself and Julia spent the evening in their (or with them) in Maj Williams Room. Mr W & VanMaster were also there and Mr Pomeroy, the Member from Cayuga. We got home about 10 o’clock. Wife was pretty well tired out tonight and could not go. The Boys have been at the Presidents today riding the Poney. Some of the “sympathizers” with the rebellion are in the habit of starting reports of terrible disasters to our arms. Last evening it was reported at all the Hotels that our troops in Kentucky had be totally defeated. It mad some long faces for a while and some jubilent ones.

by John Beauchamp Jones

JANUARY 27TH.—The Secretary of War has issued such a peremptory order to Gen. Wise, that the latter has no alternative but to attempt the defense of Roanoke Island with 3000 men against 15,000 and a fleet of gun-boats. The general is quite sick, but he will fight. His son, Capt. O. Jennings Wise, who has been under fire many times already, commands a company on the island. He will deserve promotion. The government seems to have proscribed the great men of the past and their families, as if this government was the property of the few men who happen to wield power at the present moment. Arrogance and presumption in the South must, sooner or later, have a fall. The great men who were the leaders of this revolution may be ignored, but they cannot be kept down by the smaller fry who aspire to wield the destinies of a great and patriotic people. Smith and Lovell, New York politicians and Street Commissioners, have been made major-generals, while Wise and Breckinridge are brigadiers.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Sunday 26th

Rather pleasant today. Went out to church in the morning with Julia & the Boys. Wife went in the afternoon. Met Ed Dickerson & took him to church. The two Lincoln boys were here after our boys to go up there to see their new poney. Our boys could not go on Sunday. Ed D. came home with wife and staid to tea. Mr VanMaster & Lady and Mrs Alexander Williams of Lyons came in and staid a couple of hours. They are down at Browns Hotel.

by John Beauchamp Jones

JANUARY 26TH.-President Tyler has been elected to Congress by an overwhelming majority.

by John Beauchamp Jones

JANUARY 25TH—The French players have been permitted by the Secretary to leave the country. But British subjects are now refused passports.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Satturday Jan’y 25/62

Weather more favorable today, a cool fine air, but plenty of mud in the streets. No news worth mentioning. The news papers are dull for want of some new sensation. Got set of chairs, one bedstead, mattress & Rocker today. Cane seats are the best I can afford for my parlor. Went to market and to Adamss for groceries & staid at home the rest of the evening.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Friday Jan’y 24th 1862

Colder today but still freezes but little. Tonight the wind blows from the north bringing rain and sleet. It is a terrible bad night out, and I cannot but think of the hundreds of poor sentries on duty who have to stand and take it. No particular news today in the City. Genl McClellan is either going to advance soon or intends to make the rebels believe that he is. I am inclined to think that it is his policy to hold Still at present. By so doing he holds the bulk of the rebel force at Mannasses, who are daily geting more and more in a desperate case, and at the same time is giving them hard blows in every direction and cuting off their communications with the West and south. The roads are in such a condition now that a “Movement” is simply impossible.

edited by G.W. Cable

Friday, Jan. 24, 1862. (On steamboat W., Mississippi River.)—With a changed name I open you once more, my journal. It was a sad time to wed, when one knew not how long the expected conscription would spare the bridegroom. The women-folk knew how to sympathize with a girl expected to prepare for her wedding in three days, in a blockaded city, and about to go far from any base of supplies. They all rallied round me with tokens of love and consideration, and sewed, shopped, mended, and packed, as if sewing soldier clothes. They decked the whole house and the church with flowers. Music breathed, wine sparkled, friends came and went. It seemed a dream, and comes up now and again out of the afternoon sunshine where I sit on deck. The steamboat slowly plows its way through lumps of floating ice,—a novel sight to me,—and I look forward wondering whether the new people I shall meet will be as fierce about the war as those in New Orleans. That past is to be all forgiven and forgotten; I understood thus the kindly acts that sought to brighten the threshold of a new life.

by John Beauchamp Jones

JANUARY 24TH.-Beauregard has been ordered to the West. I knew the doom was upon him! But he will make his mark even at Columbus, though the place seems to me to be altogether untenable and of no practicable importance, since the enemy may attack both in front and rear. It would seem that some of the jealous functionaries would submit to any misfortune which would destroy Beauregard’s popularity. But these are exceptions: they are few and far between, thank Heaven!

by John Beauchamp Jones

JANUARY 23D.—Again the Northern papers give the most extravagant numbers to our army in Kentucky. Some estimates are as high as 150,000. I know, and Mr.: Benjamin knows, that Gen. Johnston has not exceeding 29,000 effective men. And the Secretary knows that Gen. J. has given him timely notice of the inadequacy of his force to hold the position at Bowling Green. The Yankees are well aware of our weakness, but they intend to claim the astounding feat of routing 150,000 men with 100,000! And they suppose that by giving us credit for such a vast army, we shall not deem it necessary to send reinforcements. Well, reinforcements are not sent.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

p>Thursday 23d 1862

In the office as usual. No rain today and a little cooler, but does not freeze. Geo W Prentice was an hour in our room today, quite sociable. Thinks Schoepf did the fighting at “Somerset” whether he gets the credit of it or not, and I think so too. I must call upon Mis Schoepf tomorrow. A Senatorial Committee visited the rooms of the Land office today, in company with the Comr. I have spent the evening at home. Put a stove in Julias room, fixed a lock for Buds Box, and put a lock on a cupboard door for the better preservation of the barrel of apples. They will undoubtedly keep better under lock and key with three boys about the house. Troops are moveing about in the mud and Expeditions are now on the move in all directions and “Secesh” is getting into a “tight place.” A great deal is expected of the force now in the field the month to come, and I think that a great deal will be done towards quelling this infernal rebellion.

by John Beauchamp Jones

JANUARY 22D.—Some of the letter-carriers’ passports from Mr. Benjamin, which have the countenance of Gen. Winder, are now going into Tennessee. What is this for? We shall see.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Wednesday Jan’y 22d 1862

Nothing new today. Saw two of “Shorts & Smith” “Greek fire Bomb” burnt south of the Presidents House. It was (or appeared to be) quite a success. The Streets and crossings are worse than I have ever seen them before in this City. Called at Mr Hartleys for Julia on my return from the Prests, staid there an hour. On reaching home we found Ed Dickerson, who spent an hour or two here. He made my wife a present of a Bll of fine apples today, sent up by a cartman. They were very acceptable, and very fine quality “Baldwins.”

by John Beauchamp Jones

JANUARY 21ST.—A great number of Germans and others are going to Norfolk, thinking, as one remarked, if they can’t go to the United States the United States will soon come to them. Many believe that Burnside will get Norfolk. I think differently, but I may be mistaken.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Tuesday Jan’y 21st 1862

Weather continues soft and unpleasant, a light rain nearly all day. Battle in Kentucky and death of Zollicoffer confirmed. “Sesesh” must now take a succession of hard Knocks. Our troops are now disciplined and more in Earnest. In the office as usual. Went down to the National this evening, spent an hour or two in Mr Shorts room. Saw his partner in the “fire Bomb,” Lyman B Smith, Mr Jewett the Engraver of Buffalo, Maj Chapin from over the River, the “Ellsworth” Regt. I came home about 10 o’clock. The Maj thinks there is to be an advance soon. People are waiting for it with a great deal of impatience. Our armies are in good condition and eager for a “fight” everywhere.

by John Beauchamp Jones

JANUARY 20TH.—Mr. Memminger advertises to pay interest on certain government bonds in specie. That won’t last long. He is paying 50 per cent. premium in treasury notes for the specie, and the bonds are given for treasury notes. What sort of financiering is this?

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Monday January 20th 1862

Another wet mudy day. The Govt Teams are in constant motion and the streets are a complete bed of mortar three or four inches deep over the roadway and two or three inches over the crossings. News rcd today of a Victory of my old friend Schoepf over Zollicoffer in Kentucky. Will get more news in reference to it tomorrow (probably) if true. The citizens are much alarmed now on account of the prevalence of the Small pox in the City. It is in fact all over the City. Betwen my house and the patent office, down 9th street which I travel every day, there are five cases. The Small Pox Ambulance with the Yellow flage carrying Soldier patients is seen every day in the streets. It is generaly given a wide berth. Called with wife this evening at Mr Pecks and Mr Bartletts. Wife got a letter today from Mrs Brownson which was quite gratifying with its photograph of Willie Brownson as Midshipman at the Naval School at Newport R.I.

by John Beauchamp Jones

JANUARY 19TH.—There has been a storm on the coast, sinking some of the enemy’s ships. Col. Allen, of New Jersey, was lost. He was once at my house in Burlington, and professed to be friendly to the Southern cause. I think he said he owned land and slaves in Texas.

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