Washington County Historical Society version (1965)1 Nov. 13—The Pin Indians2 are stealing everywhere. The Arkansas Historical Quarterly version (1947)3 Nov. 13, 1862 To-day I am at Nani’s. Fred (Karl) and Dannenberg were here part of the day. Dannenberg told us much about how Indians have robbed and stolen. Julius and John, everybody in fact, seem [...]

November 13th. To-day the French Admiral came on board. Saluted him as he was leaving, with thirteen guns, which the French steamer returned.

NOVEMBER 13th.—The President has rebuked the Secretary of War in round terms for ordering Gen. Holmes to assume the command on this side the Mississippi. Perhaps Mr. Randolph has resolved to be really Secretary. This is the first thing I have ever known him to do without previously obtaining the President’s sanction—and it must be [...]

November 12th, Wednesday. Once more a cripple and consigned to my bed, for how long, Heaven only knows. This is written while in a horizontal position, reposing on my right arm, which is almost numb from having supported me for some sixteen hours without turning over. Let me see if I can remember how it [...]

Washington County Historical Society version (1965)1 Nov. 12, 1862—We live in constant fear and danger. It is said that all men must join the Southern army. A negro stole horses, saddles and took my Melinda with him. We have been considered Sympathizers for the South so far but if the Northern troops come we will [...]

NOVEMBER 12th.—The heavy firing heard did no execution. Letters from Gen. Lee indicate no battle, unless the enemy should make an egregious blunder. He says he has not half men enough to resist McClellan’s advance with his mighty army, and prefers manœuvring to risking his army. He says three-fourths of our cavalry horses are sick [...]

November 11th. The Admiral left the ship to go on board the English sloop-of-war Rinaldo. At noon the Englishman manned yards for Rear Admiral Farragut.

NOVEMBER 11th.—More projects from the Southwest. Mr. Jno. A. S. has just arrived from New Orleans, where, he states in his communication to the government, he had interviews and correspondence with the U. S. authorities, Butler, etc., and they had given him positive assurances that he will be permitted to take any supplies to the [...]

November 10th. Everything quiet; weather clear and pleasant. This morning a mail steamer arrived from the North.

November 10th, Monday. In spite of its being Sunday, no sooner was dinner concluded yesterday than we adjourned, as usual, to the sugar-house to see how much damage we could do. Each took from a negro his long paddle, and for more than half an hour skimmed the kettles industriously, to the amazement of half [...]

NOVEMBER 10th.—A day or two ago some soldiers marched through the city without shoes, in the snow. A committee of citizens to-day obtained an order from the War Department, for the impressment of all the boots, shoes, blankets, and overcoats in the shops. What a commotion among the Jews! It is certain that the enemy [...]

November 9th. Arrived off the city of New Orleans at noon, and came to anchor. Here we were saluted again by a French and an English man-of-war which were laying at anchor here. We are once more occupying our old position as the Flag Ship. As a matter of course all business for the fleet [...]

Sunday, November 9th. I hardly know how these last days have passed. I have an indistinct recollection of rides in cane-wagons to the most distant field, coming back perched on the top of the cane singing, “Dye my petticoats,” to the great amusement of the General who followed on horseback. Anna and Miriam, comfortably reposing [...]

NOVEMBER 9th.—It is too true that Charleston, Va., and the great Kanawha salt works have been abandoned by Gen. Echols for the want of an adequate force to hold them, If the President had only taken Gen. Lee’s advice a month ago, and ordered a few thousand more men there, under the command of Gen. [...]

November 8th. Came to anchor off South-West Pass at nine A. M. We were saluted with thirteen guns by a large French man-of-war which was lying to anchor at this place. We returned the salute. At three thirty P. M., Richmond got under way and attempted to cross the bar, but unfortunately she grounded; signalized [...]

NOVEMBER 8th.—The European statesmen, declining intervention in our behalf, have, nevertheless, complimented our President by saying he has, at all events, “made a nation.” He is pleased with this, I understand. But it is one of the errors which the wise men over the water are ever liable to fall into. The “nation” was made [...]

Camp at Lagrange, West Tennessee, November 7, 1862. To say that we have been crowded, jammed, put through, hustled, skited, etc., don’t half express the divil-of-a-hurry headquarters has shown and is showing us. We left Peoria one week ago last night, crossed the bridge at precisely 6 o’clock p.m. Since that we have traveled one [...]

November 7th. It is just two months and eighteen days since we first cast our anchor in Pensacola Bay. Up to the present time nothing has occurred worthy of note. It was the general impression on our arrival here that we came to Pensacola for the purpose of making every necessary preparation for an attack [...]

NOVEMBER 7th.—Yesterday I received from the agent of the City Councils fourteen pounds of salt, having seven persons in my family, including the servant. One pound to each member, per month, is allowed at 5 cts. per pound. The extortionists sell it at 70 cts. per pound. One of them was drawing for his family. [...]

November 6th. We three girls fancied a walk last evening, and immediately after dinner prepared to walk to Mrs. Breaux’s, only a mile, and get her to come to the sugar-house. But as we put on our bonnets, Captain Bradford, brother of the one who left in the morning, was announced, and our expedition had [...]

NOVEMBER 6th.—I believe the commissaries and quartermasters are cheating the government. The Quartermaster-General sent in a paper, to-day, saying he did not need the contributions of clothes tendered by the people of Petersburg, but still would pay for them. They were offered for nothing. The Commissary-General to-day says there is not wheat enough in Virginia [...]

NOVEMBER 5th.—Major Ruffin, in the Commissary Department, says the army must go on half rations after the 1st of January next. It is alleged that certain favorites of the government have a monopoly of transportation over the railroads, for purposes of speculation and extortion!

November 4th, 1862. O what a glorious time we had yesterday! First, there were those two gentlemen to be entertained all day, which was rather a stretch, I confess, so I stole away for a while. Then I got the sweetest letter from Miss Trenholm, enclosing Jimmy’s photograph, and she praised him so that I [...]

NOVEMBER 4th.—An exposé of funds in the hands of disbursing agents shows there are nearly seventy millions of dollars not accounted for! The members of the legislature are fearful of an attack on the Southern Railroad, and asks that Gen. Mahone be sent to Petersburg. The government is impressing flour at $12 per barrel, when [...]