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by Horatio Nelson Taft

Tuesday March 18th

News from Genl Burnside today. He has taken Newbern N.C. after a severe battle, 100 killed & 400 wounded, rebel loss not known, the Victory decisive. No news today from Comd Foot, only that he was bombarding Island No 10. Julia is selling tickets for the Church Festival, Pres[byteria]n 4th (Doct Smiths). I gave the Ladies committee $2.00 to assist in getting it up, the church is in debt.

by John Beauchamp Jones

MARCH 18TH.—A Mr. MacCubbin, of Maryland, has been appointed by Gen. Winder the Chief of Police. He is wholly illiterate, like the rest of the policemen under his command.

edited by G.W. Cable

March 18, 1862.—There has been unusual gayety in this little village the past few days. The ladies from the surrounding plantations went to work to get up a festival to equip the new company. As Annie and myself are both brides recently from the city, requisition was made upon us for engravings, costumes, music, garlands, and so forth. Annie’s heart was in the work; not so with me. Nevertheless, my pretty things were captured, and shone with just as good a grace last evening as if willingly lent. The ball was a merry one. One of the songs sung was “Nellie Gray,” in which the most distressing feature of slavery is bewailed so pitifully. To sing this at a festival for raising money to clothe soldiers fighting to perpetuate that very thing was strange.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Monday March 17th 1862

Nothing new has transpired today that we know of. The Telegraph announces that a Battle is in progress on the Miss. Com Foote is Bombarding the Rebels at Island No 10 with his gun boats. Troops are embarking on the Steam Boats to go down the River. The long trains of Govt Wagons which used to obstruct our Streets have nearly all left, and are over the River having followed the Army. I called down to Mr Morrisons on D st this evening for Julia. It is now 101/2 o’clock, the children are all in bed since 1/2 past 8. A fine Band of music is playing in the street, some Seranade I presume.

by John Beauchamp Jones

MARCH 17TH.—Col. Porter has resigned his provost marshal-ship, and is again succeeded by Capt. Godwin, a Virginian, and I like him very well, for he is truly Southern in his instincts.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Sunday March 16th 1862

Has not rained today. A Regt passed this morning with Band playing &c just as people were going to church. Col Dutton had his horse sent down and he left for the Camp (as he said) cured. Col Durkee left early this morning. Col Dutton had an ambrotype of his family, self, wife & five children. I noticed that he was very attentive to it this morning. We think him a very fine warm hearted man. It is probable that he will be called into active service very soon. Maj McCamby of Oswego and Q Master Francis of Bridghampton LI called today, they belong to the 81 NY Regt.

by John Beauchamp Jones

MARCH 16TH.—I omitted to note in its place the gallant feat of Commodore Buchanan with the iron monster Merrimac in Hampton Roads. He destroyed two of the enemy’s best ships of war. My friends, Lieutenants Parker and Minor, partook of the glory, and were severely wounded.

by John Beauchamp Jones

MARCH 15TH.-For several days troops have been pouring through the city, marching down the Peninsula. The enemy are making demonstrations against Yorktown.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Saturday March 15th

The River is full of Steam Boats for transporting troops down the River, probably to “Old Point”. It has rained incessantly and this evening it pours. Col D. is well (he says). We went down to “Browns,” saw Maj Williams, Maj Fletcher & other officers. Col Durkee came in about 8 o’clock and is to stay all night. Our House for the time being seems to be the Head Quarters. Col Dutton is acting Brigadier Genl.

by John Beauchamp Jones

MARCH 14TH.—The Provost Marshal, Col. Porter, has had new passports printed, to which his own name is to be appended. I am requested to sign it for him, and to instruct the clerks generally.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Friday March 14th

Col Dutton is better today. Lieut Col Durkee and nearly all the officers of the Regt have been here to see the Col. The Regt has rcd marching orders and the Col is very uneasy. Mr Short called on me today. He is going down to Fortress Monroe, an attack is to be made upon Norfolk it is supposed. Troops are returning from Virginia to embark down the River.

by John Beauchamp Jones

MARCH 13TH.—Nevertheless, I am (temporarily) signing my name to the passports, yet issued by the authority of the Secretary of War. They are filled up and issued by three or four of the Provost Marshal’s clerks, who are governed mainly by my directions, as neither Col. Porter nor the clerks, nor Gen. Winder himself, have the slightest idea of the geography of the country occupied by the enemy. The clerks are all Marylanders, as well as the detectives, and the latter intend to remain here to my great chagrin.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Thursday March 13th

There is no particular news today in the papers. Col Dutton concluded to come down and stay with us until he gets better. Doct David came with him. He appears better tonight, but Doct D stays with him all night. It has been a little wet this evening and there seems to be more rain in prospect. McClellan is, it is said, pursuing the fleeing rebels.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Wednesday March 12th 1862

Walked up to the camp of the 98th at Meridian Hill with Julia after dinner. Saw all our officer friends there. Called upon Col Dutton who is sick at the old Comodore Porter Mansion. He appeared quite sick and was as I thought very uncomfortable. I invited him down to our house where he could have quiet and rest for a few days. He declined. Said he would be “all right” in a day or two. Mr Seward was at the camp of the 103rd German Regt nearby. We got home before dark, pretty tired.

by John Beauchamp Jones

MARCH 12TH.—Gen. Winder moved the passport office up to the corner of Ninth and Broad Streets.
The office at the corner of Ninth and Broad Streets was a filthy one; it was inhabited—for they slept there—by his rowdy clerks. And when I stepped to the hydrant for a glass of water, the tumbler repulsed me by the smell of whisky. There was no towel to wipe my hands with, and in the long basement room underneath, were a thousand garments of dead soldiers, taken from the hospi¬tals and the battle-field, and exhaling a most disagreeable, if not deleterious, odor.

March 12, 1861; Richmond Enquirer

The people of Virginia must now realize the humiliating and alarming fact that they are living under Black Republican rule; the rule of men who as soon see a conflagration sweep over the land, or an earthquake sink it as to protect the slaveholder in his right of property. Just look at the caste of the committees of the Senate, as they were reported on Friday last! Sumner, of Massachusetts, heads the Committee on Foreign Relations; Fessenden, of Maine, the Committee on Finance; Wilson, of Massachusetts, on Military Affairs; Hale, of New Hampshire, on Naval Affairs; Wade, of Ohio, on Territories; and so on to the end of the chapter. thus it is manifest that the Lincoln-Seward President has the Senate entirely ‘at his heels,’ and that the Government which was intended t provide for the common defence and to promote the general welfare of the slave as well as the free States, is to be made the mere instrument of the degradation and oppression of the former. Will old Virginia, the proud mother of States and of statesmen, be an unresisting victim of Northern cupidity and tyranny! Will she allow the brand of disgrace to be placed on her forehead by the Sewards, the Sumners, the Wilsons and the Hales who rule the councils of the Northern Confederacy. No! Her of lineage forbids it. Her memory of the past, her appreciation of the present, her love of the future, all, all, forbid it. She will yet proclaim, trumpet-tongued to her enemies that Virginia is what Virginia was.

edited by G.W. Cable

March 11, 1862.—The serpent has entered our Eden. The rancor and excitement of New Orleans have invaded this place. If an incautious word betrays any want of sympathy with popular plans, one is “traitorous,” “ungrateful,” “crazy.” If one remains silent, and controlled, then one is “phlegmatic,” “cool-blooded,” “unpatriotic.” Cool-blooded! Heavens! if they only knew. It is very painful to see lovable and intelligent women rave till the blood mounts to face and brain. The immediate cause of this access of war fever has been the battle of Pea Ridge. They scout the idea that Price and Van Dorn have been completely worsted. Those who brought the news were speedily told what they ought to say. “No, it is only a serious check; they must have more men sent forward at once. This country must do its duty.” So the women say another company must be raised.

We were guests at a dinner-party yesterday. Mrs. A. was very talkative. “Now, ladies, you must all join in with a vim and help equip another company.”

“Mrs. L.,” she said, turning to me, “are you not going to send your husband? Now use a young bride’s influence and persuade him; he would be elected one of the officers.” “Mrs. A.,” I replied, longing to spring up and throttle her, “the Bible says, ‘When a man hath married a new wife, he shall not go to war for one year, but remain at home and cheer up his wife.’” …

“Well, H.,” I questioned, as we walked home after crossing the lake, “can you stand the pressure, or shall you be forced into volunteering?” “Indeed,” he replied, “I will not be bullied into enlisting by women, or by men. I will sooner take my chance of conscription and feel honest about it. You know my attachments, my interests are here; these are my people. I could never fight against them; but my judgment disapproves their course, and the result will inevitably be against us.”

This morning the only Irishman left in the village presented himself to H. He has been our woodsawyer, gardener, and factotum, but having joined the new company, his time recently has been taken up with drilling. H. and Mr. R. feel that an extensive vegetable garden must be prepared while he is here to assist or we shall be short of food, and they sent for him yesterday.

“So, Mike, you are really going to be a soldier?”

“Yes, sor; but faith, Mr. L., I don’t see the use of me going to shtop a bullet when sure an’ I’m willin’ for it to go where it plazes.”

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Tuesday March 11, 1862

The “Stars & Stripes” are floating over Centreville & Mannasses, the Rebels having ran away. McClellan is there with over two hundred thousand men. News this morning of a desperate battle in Arkansas betwen our forces under Genl Curtis & Price, McCullochs army. The Rebels were totally routed with great loss. It has been a delightful day. Tonight Comodore Smiths son (Capt Smith of the Frigate Congress, killed in the fight with the Merrimac) was brought up to his fathers, funeral tomorrow. Took a walk with Julia & Willie tonight after dinner. “Bud” & “Holly” have gone out to the camp of the 98th Meridian Hill to see their Lyons friends. They stay in the camp tonight. I think one night in the tent will satisfy them.

by John Beauchamp Jones

MARCH 11TH.—I have summed up the amounts of patriotic contributions received by the army in Virginia, and registered on my book, and they amount to 31,515,898.* The people of the respective States contributed as follows:
North Carolina $325,417
Alabama, 817,600
Mississippi 272,670
Georgia 244,885
South Carolina 137,206
Texas 87,800
Louisiana 61,950
Virginia* 48,070
Tennessee 17,000
Florida 2,350
Arkansas 950
* Virginia undoubtedly contributed more than any other State, but they were not registered.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Monday March 10th 1862

This has been an exciting day. The troops commenced moving last night about midnight and have been going over the River nearly all the time since. It is said that not less than fifty thousand have crossed into Virginia today. It is confirmed that the Rebels are running from Manasses & Centreville, so our troops will have no fight there. The exploits of the Rebel Iron clad Steamer Merimac yesterday at Hampton Roads destroying the frigates Cumberland & Congress created a good deal of excitement in the City. But the exploits of the little Iron Boat Monitor (Erricksons Boat) eclipsed all as she fairly drove the Merrimac back to Norfolk. The son of our next door neighbor, Comodore Smith, commanded the Cumberland congress and was killed. They are in great grief. I was down to Willards tonight, two Regts of Regulars passed on their way over the River. Wrote today to Brother C.R. Taft & to Col Mirrick, home tonight 1/2 past 9.

by John Beauchamp Jones

MARCH 10TH.—One of the friends of the Secretary of War came to me to-day, and proposed to have some new passports printed, with the likeness of Mr. Benjamin engraved on them. He said, I think, the engraving had already been made. I denounced the project as absurd, and said there were some five or ten thousand printed passports on hand.

by John Beauchamp Jones

MARCH 9TH—Gen. Winder has appointed Col. Porter Provost Marshal,—Godwin not being high enough in rank, I suppose.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Saturday March 8th

The weather is now fine & the roads are drying up. Troops are coming into the City and crossing over the River. Rumors afloat of fighting today near Mt Vernon. Nothing is published and little is known publicly of War operations. The prospect now is that there will be a desperate Battle near here soon. The Rebels will try to retrieve their recent losses, and will fight with desperation. McClellan is well prepared and has an immense army near here all ready and anxious for a fight. Went up to Franklin Square with wife & the boys after dinner. Wife & myself continued our walk to Lafayette Square pass [sic] Genl McClellans home. He was standing at the Window. I did not go down to the Ave tonight, got a “Tribune” of the news boy & read Carl Shurze Speech at the Cooper Institute NY.

by John Beauchamp Jones

MARCH 8TH.—Gen. Winder has appointed Capt. Godwin Provost Marshal

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Friday March 7th 1862

A beautiful clear day but rather cool out, in the office as usual. Nothing new in the city that I hear of tonight. I have been down to Charleys. He has been doing some writing for me, my work in the Land office. Troops are coming into the City and moveing about a good deal. We may expect lively times soon over the River. All seems to be quiet now.

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