Feb

14

February 14, 1862, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office

Filed Under Civil War, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office | Leave a Comment

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Friday Feb 14th

Nothing of note has occured today in the City. Arrests are made of Secessionists almost every day and many more might be made with propriety. The roads are getting better and exciting news is expected all the time from almost every point of the Compass. Went down on to the Ave this evening. “Holly” went with me. We were at Willards and the “National,” bot the papers, home at 8 o’clk. The north side of the Ave is crowded like Broadway, N.Y.

Feb

13

February 13, 1862, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office

Filed Under Civil War, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office | Leave a Comment

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Thursday Feb 13th 1862

A bright pleasant day. No particular news, but many rumors of fighting West. I have been in the office, am there every day filling out Patents or Deeds & recording them. Julia has Miss Hartly and two of the Miss Middletons here tonight. I have been down to the National. Called at Chas on my return from the Ave –. Mr Hartly called for Mat at 1/2 past 9. Willie coughs a good deal. Bud & Holly went to the Capitol today.

Feb

12

February 12, 1862, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office

Filed Under Civil War, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office | Leave a Comment

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Wednesday 12th

Great excitement in the City today at the news of the Battle of Roanoke Island. No great particulars yet, but it must have been a desperate fight. “Secesh” is now receiving nothing but hard knocks, many more are in reserved for her. Norfolk will soon be taken, it is expected. The boys called upon Mrs McClellan today, the Genl was out. Mrs M said tha he could hardly help from swinging his hat in the Street he was so elated at the war news. I wrote to Col Mirrick today in reference to the apples &c which he sent me. I have not been out tonight. Willie has a bad cold. I have made him a little box tonight for his “Man and ass.” The head turns on a pivot in the box. One side of the head is is a mans face, the other is the asses face. Tad Lincoln gave it to him. This has been a delightful day.

Feb

11

February 11, 1862, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office

Filed Under Civil War, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office | Leave a Comment

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Tuesday 11th

Cloudy today and snow towards evening. Dispatch rcd today by the War Dept that Burnside had taken Roanoke Island with many prisoners, particulars perhaps tomorrow. Went up to the RR Depot after dinner and then up the Ave to Willards Hotel. Quite a crowd there, a great many army officers. The Statuelike Dragoons were stationed all along the Ave not, as the corrispondant of the London Times (Russell) says, to prevent a “rising” of the people, but to prevent fast driving and to keep order in the streets.

Feb

10

February 10, 1862, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office

Filed Under Civil War, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office | Leave a Comment

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Monday Feb 10th 1862

Genl Chas P Stone was arrested yesterday for Treason and sent to Fort Lafayette. News through Norfolk that a Battle was going on at Roanoke Island, Genl Burnside having attacked it. No particular news from the West. It has been a beautiful bright day. Mercury this morning stood at 20. Lieut Gould from the 27th came over today and is stopping with us tonight.

Feb

9

February 9, 1862, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office

Filed Under Civil War, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office | Leave a Comment

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Sunday 9th

Have been out to church all day with all the family but Holly, he has a very bad cold. The air has been cool and Bracing today and the sun has shown nearly all day. The sight of the sun again has been here quite reviveing. Ed Dick & Alex Tower called this afternoon while we were at church, did not stay till we returned. Charles & Sallie spent the evening. Chas re-vaccinated all of us. Yesterday for the first time we tried the “ariated Bread” baked in Baltimore. It is certainly a great improvement in the Bread line. It is soon to be made here. We are sure customers for the “New kind of Bread.”

Feb

8

February 8, 1862, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office

Filed Under Civil War, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office | Leave a Comment

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Saturday 8th

Nothing new at all today, a little skirmishing over the River. Some Rebels killed and sixteen prisoners taken and brought in here last night. I have not been out and have not been on Pa. Ave for some days past.

Feb

7

February 7, 1862, A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

Filed Under Civil War, Rebel War Clerk's Diary | Leave a Comment

by John Beauchamp Jones

FEBRUARY 7TH. —We have vague rumors of fighting at Roanoke. Nothing reliable.

Feb

6

February 6, 1862, A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

Filed Under Civil War, Rebel War Clerk's Diary | Leave a Comment

by John Beauchamp Jones

FEBRUARY 6TH. —The President is preparing his Inaugural Message for the 22d, when he is to begin his new administration of six years. He is to read it from the Washington Monument in Capitol Square.

Feb

6

February 6, 1862, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office

Filed Under Civil War, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office | Leave a Comment

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Thursday 6th

No news yet. All quiet. Misty day, snow all gone, more mud. In the office as usual. Went down this evening and got the NY papers & Frank Leslie for the boys. Mailed some letters for wife & Julia. Have been reading all the evening. Have put some oyster shells into the coal stove, it is said they will clear the stove of clinkers, we will see.

Feb

6

February 7, 1862, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office

Filed Under Civil War, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office | Leave a Comment

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Friday Feb 7th 1862

News rcd today of the capture of Fort Henry on the Tennessee River by Comodore Foot and his Gun Boat Squadron. The news created quite a Sensation in the City as it is considered an important point. Weather damp & chilly and the Roads & crossings awful. When the roads dry up or are at least passable I intend to go over the River and visit the Camps with my family. It will be a new thing for the Boys to visit the Forts. Spent the evening at a Party at Doct Everitts. Julia was with me. Music, dancing & a late supper, did not get home till 1 o’clock a.m.

Feb

5

February 5, 1862, A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

Filed Under Civil War, Rebel War Clerk's Diary | Leave a Comment

by John Beauchamp Jones

FEBRUARY 5TH. —I am sorry to hear that Gen. Wise is quite ill. But, on his back, as on his feet, he will direct operations, and the enemy will be punished whenever he comes in reach of him.

Feb

5

February 5, 1862, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office

Filed Under Civil War, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office | Leave a Comment

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Wednesday 5th

This has been a bright and pleasant day, the first in a long time. M. this morning stood at 20. The snow has mostly thawed off in the streets. G W Prentice went home yesterday. Mr Bright was Expelled from the U.S. Senate today by a vote of 32 to14, a deserved disgrace for disloyalty. No news today, but hourly expect from the “Burnside Expedition” and also from the West.

Feb

4

February 4, 1862, A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

Filed Under Civil War, Rebel War Clerk's Diary | Leave a Comment

by John Beauchamp Jones

FEBRUARY 4TH.—Burnside has entered the Sound at Hatteras with his fleet of gun-boats and transports. The work will soon begin.

Feb

4

February 4, 1862, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office

Filed Under Civil War, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office | Leave a Comment

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Tuesday 4th

Colder, but not much frost. M. stands 26 tonight. Chas got letter from Frank, he is now on a RRoad. I got a letter from Brother C R. Mat[ty] Hartly has been spending the day here. Less excitement in the City now about the small pox. I suppose people have got used to it. I have been revaccinated but without any effect. Cloudy and damp today. Nothing new in the papers today. Indications in the U.S. Senate that Mr Bright will be Expelled.

Feb

3

February 3, 1862, A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

Filed Under Civil War, Rebel War Clerk's Diary | Leave a Comment

by John Beauchamp Jones

FEBRUARY 3D. —We have intelligence of the sailing of an expedition from Cairo for the reduction of Fort Henry on the Tennessee River.

Feb

3

February 3, 1862, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office

Filed Under Civil War, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office | Leave a Comment

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Monday Feb 3rd 1862

No particular news today. The streets are in a woful condition but the boys who are anxious to gain a penny — keep the crossings in tolerable condition for footmen. The hundreds of army wagons which are constantly passing keep the road way mud well stirred up.

Feb

2

February 2, 1862, A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

Filed Under Civil War, Rebel War Clerk's Diary | Leave a Comment

by John Beauchamp Jones

FEBRUARY 2D.—The rumor of yesterday originated in the assertion of a Yankee paper that New Orleans would be taken without firing a gun. Some of our people fear it may be so, since Mr. Benjamin’s friend, Gen. Lovell, who came from New York since the battle of Manassas, is charged with the defense of the city. He delivered lectures, it is said, last summer on the defenses of New York—in that city. Have we not Southern men of sufficient genius to make generals of, for the defense of the South, without sending to New York for military commanders?

Feb

2

February 2, 1862, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office

Filed Under Civil War, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office | Leave a Comment

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Sunday 2nd

Froze a little last night but has thawed in the sun all day. Went out to church with wife and boys. Chaplin Booth of the 5th Regt Sickels Brigad preached, a pretty smart man. A crazy man in the church made a disturbance by giving an Extra discourse. He was hustled out by one of the Deacons. Ed Dickerson came up and spent an hour or two this evening. The roads are in such an awful condition that a “movement” or an “advance” would seem to be simply impossible. Drills and Dress parades in the Camps are in most cases dispensed with. There is a great deal of sickness in the City, but we hear less about the Small pox than we did a month ago. Our family is in good health.

Feb

1

February 1, 1862, A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

Filed Under Civil War, Rebel War Clerk's Diary | Leave a Comment

by John Beauchamp Jones

FEBRUARY 1ST.—We had a startling rumor yesterday that New Orleans had been taken by the enemy, without firing a gun. I hastened to the Secretary and asked him if it could be true. He had not heard of it, and turned pale. But a moment after, recollecting the day on which it was said the city had fallen, he seized a New Orleans paper of a subsequent date, and said the news could not be true, since the paper made no mention of it.

Feb

1

February 1, 1862, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office

Filed Under Civil War, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office | Leave a Comment

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Saturday January February 1st 1862

Nothing of any particular note has occured today. The ground was covered with Snow this morning, but it has thawed all day. Went down after dinner and with the three boys and got them all new boots with which they were highly pleased, paid $4.25 for the lot. Got “Bud” also a pair of pants $2.50, paid the Baker $4.25, Milkman $1.90. Got my Drawings today, shall put in my application in two or three days. I have not been out since dark, have been reading the papers, writing &c. Wife rcd a letter from her Uncle Sullivan & Mis Reb. Cooke. It is now 1/2 past ten. The boys went to bed at 8. Wife busy mending as usual evenings. Julia is writing off Poetry from a newspaper and I am going to bed.

← Previous Page